Make eating fun and try a wide variety of recipes

March is Nutrition Month, a time to showcase a healthy eating theme brought to you by the dietitians throughout Canada. This years theme is “Take the Fight out of Food Spot the Problem, Get the Facts, Seek Support.”

Eating should be a fun, favourite event not a source of frustration and confusion. Nutrition Month promotes dietitians as the most qualified food and nutrition professionals. We want this year's theme to show Canadians accurate information about eating healthy and enjoying it too.

There is so much nutrition information out there right now. How do you know what to believe and if it’s a fad? This is the problem.

Let's look at the facts. The information is probably not reliable if:

* the information or website is promising a quick fix or a miracle cure — nothing is a cure-all for everything.

* you have reason to mistrust the person organization or company that runs the website.

* they are trying to sell something instead of educate you on how to make better food choices.

* the writers are not educated and qualified to give nutrition information

* the facts sound too good to be true.

* the information comes from personal opinions. instead of scientific evidence

* the information is based on a single study that may draw the wrong conclusion.

Seek support. Go to the Dietitians of Canada website to see if the facts you you read online are accurate. Consult with a regulated health-care professional.

There are 48 new recipes on Cookspiration at the Dietitians of Canada website www.dietitians.ca. You will find a wide variety so try as many as you can and keep your favourites close by to make many times over for future family favourites. Here is one that uses amazing lentils that I talked about in my last column. This salad would be a great addition to any meal and perfect as a leftover for lunch.

Joanne Smith is a registered dietitian.