Nutrition Corner Fuel for the future

Happy National Nutrition Month!

As a registered dietitian nutritionist, National Nutrition Month is one of my favorite times of the year! The entire month of March is dedicated to teaching others about healthy eating and ways to improve their nutrition and health while considering our environment.

The theme this year is “Fuel for the Future.” To some, this may mean fueling your own future one, five, or 10 years down the road. For others, you might be thinking about teaching your children or grandchildren healthy eating habits to ensure that they have a bright and healthy future. A few of you may be thinking about how you can improve your current eating habits to aid the future of our environment and the Earth. You all would be right! When we start to view our food choices as a method to enhance or improve our health, we tend to make better choices overall. As a result, we can also make better decisions that help our environment.

Here are a few tips or ideas to help get you started on celebrating National Nutrition Month and practicing fueling for the future:

1. Utilize leftovers in fun and unique ways; add them to salads or use them to make soup.

2. Use a plate to aid in portion control and reduce waste by not using a to-go container.

3. Try “Meatless Mondays.” Choose a meat-free dish to serve on Mondays and substitute using items like beans, tofu, or tempeh.

4. Include more fruits and vegetables. Clean or cut them and place them in clear, reusable containers in your refrigerator for an easy snack idea.

Whatever way you decide to celebrate National Nutrition Month, focus on including whole foods, lean protein sources, a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats to provide your body the fuel it needs to move into the future, happy and healthy!