Small Steps to Better Nutrition
March is National Nutrition Month, so take some time to focus on what you?re eating and how to make it better for you! To get started down a healthier path, here are 3 easy steps to keep in mind.
1. Boost your fruit and veggie intake. Everyone can picture the lone fruit or veggie tray at a party, usually surrounded by many other rich, high-calorie foods. In such settings, it can be hard to say ?yes? to vegetables. Never fear- you can incorporate more veggies into your diet in more flavorful, easier to eat forms!
Tip! Smoothies continue to be a powerful tool for packing in fruits and veggies while optimizing taste and convenience.
2. Snack smarter. ?Snacking? means different things to different people, but we know that snacks are important to fill in the sometimes long gaps between meals, especially between lunch and dinner. When we become over-hungry we are more likely to overeat and might choose foods that are less nutritious. A well-planned snack that includes carbohydrates, proteins, and healthful fats is sure to stave off rumbling stomachs and keep energy levels up. Balanced snacks also help us boost our intake of important nutrients, supplementing what we get from meals.
3. Find your flavor. Most Americans consume in excess of the recommended 2,400 mg of sodium per day. This is especially challenging if you need to eat away from home, as many of us often do. When cooking at home, it?s actually surprisingly easy to infuse flavor into dishes without the need for added salt. The next time you?re whipping up a dish, consider one of these.
- Blend regular salt with fresh citrus zest to reduce total added sodium without a noticeable change in flavor.
- Utilize fresh herbs in soups, sauces, and rice dishes. Throw in the whole spring of herbs like thyme and rosemary and simply remove before serving.
- Try flavored vinegar or oils. Sesame oil adds a savory element to stir-fries and red wine vinegar can spruce up vegetable dishes.
