How to ‘go further with food’

National Nutrition Month is an annual campaign created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to promote informed and healthful eating habits. March was National Nutrition Month, but its message can be applied any time.

The theme of this year’s National Nutrition Month was “Go Further With Food.” This phrase can be interpreted to have many different meanings, hopefully sending an important message to folks in all walks of life.

Here are my tips on how you can practice better nutrition and “Go Further With Food.”

Eat breakfast

You can better meet the physical demands of your busy schedule by starting your day off right with a nourishing breakfast.

Don’t fret if you are short on time in the morning. A quick and easy meal like a bowl of oatmeal with fruit and nuts will give you the energy you need along with fiber, vitamins and minerals.

You can prepare an oat-based breakfast at night to be enjoyed on the go the next morning. Simply combine your favorite oats, seeds and a liquid like dairy milk or almond milk in a small container and place these overnight oats in the refrigerator for the next morning.

Eating well in the morning versus skipping breakfast can help adults maintain a healthful weight and normal blood sugar levels. Children who eat breakfast perform better in school and are more physically active.

Reduce food waste

Going further with food reminds us to make sustainable and economical food choices.

Up to 40 percent of the food grown and produced in the United States goes to waste. Whether it’s eating leftovers, donating unwanted nonperishable items to a food pantry or cooking smaller portions, we all can play a part in reducing food waste.

Billions of pounds of nutritious fruits and vegetables are thrown out each year because they are too ugly to sell at grocery stores. The company Imperfect Produce sources and delivers unattractive but otherwise fresh and tasty produce to their customers’ doorsteps at a significantly reduced price.

Fuel your body

For many of us, eating is so routine that we can lose sight of how important nutrition is for our bodies to feel well and stay healthy and energized.

Being mindful about planning balanced meals to fuel yourself right helps you be the best version of yourself.

Unfortunately, poor diet is a leading cause of premature death for Americans, more so than both tobacco consumption and high blood pressure. Consuming a diet that is based in whole grains, vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds along

with lean sources of protein, while limiting highly processed foods, gives the body sustained energy for good health.

While we know that eating vegetables is more environmentally sound than eating commercially farmed animals, many omnivores continue to enjoy eating meat.

However, joining the Meatless Monday movement and eating a plant-based dinner once per week can have a positive environmental effect while providing health benefits, too.