March is (also) National Nutrition Month

Holy heck, March is one busy month.  It is home to 24 national “whatever” designations.  Of course, some are better known than others, such as National Women’s History Month and the previously discussed National Kidney Month.  Others, are, how shall we say, not so well known, such as National Celery Month or National Flour Month or National Umbrella Month or my personal favorite, National Breast Implant Awareness Month.  As my wife says, I must consider EVERY month National Breast Implant Awareness Month as evidenced by my wandering eyes, but that’s another story for another post.  We’re here to discuss March as National Nutrition Month, not my “awareness” of breast implants.

Waaaaaaaaaay back in 1973, by a presidential proclamation from Richard Nixon, National Nutrition Week was created with the initial slogan of “Invest in yourself – buy nutrition” (not the best slogan in the world, but who am I to judge?).  It was then expanded into a month-long event in 1980 and has remained so ever since.  Today, National Nutrition Month is under the purview of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.  Visit their 2018 site here:   https://www.eatright.org/food/resources/national-nutrition-month/national-nutrition-month

This year, the theme is “Go further with food” which is a far sight better than that lame slogan from 1973…I think Nixon had something to do with that.  This year’s theme is linked to your energy levels throughout the course of your day and how those levels are related to the foods you consume.  Some foods (see: junk) cause you to crash and burn early while others, consumed in moderation and throughout the day, provide you with lasting energy.  It is also linked, I think, to the notion that the food choices you make are yours and yours alone.

With that being said, here are a few tips from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s “Choose my Plate” website (https://www.choosemyplate.gov/national-nutrition-month ):  …not a frowny face, btw.

• When you eat, make sure half your plate is occupied by fruits and/or vegetables and then eat them. Also, try to snack on fruits and/or vegetables.
• Eat lots of different colors, like orange carrots, yellow peppers, red tomatoes, purple eggplants and blueberries…get the idea?
• Make half the grains you eat, whole grains.
• Consume low-fat or fat-free dairy.
• Vary the types of proteins you consume. Do not just eat red meats as your primary source of protein.  Incorporate other forms such as seafood, poultry, nuts, seeds, eggs, and beans.
• Eat less processed foods and when you do, read the labels to control the amount of sodium, calories, and saturated and trans fats you consume.
• Rather than patronizing the traditional fast food joints at the end of your busy day, try these alternatives: Panera Bread, FRESH Healthy Café, Food Grill, Extreme Pita, Noodles and Company and Smoothie King.
• Exercise at least 2.5 hours every week.
• This last recommendation is NOT from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but is from yours truly. Order healthy, nutritious and delicious meals from MagicKitchen.com.  We offer a variety of meals that include fresh ingredients prepared by our certified chefs and nutritionists.  We also offer low sodium, low fat and portion-controlled meals every month of the year, not just during National Nutrition Month.

So, this month, why not become more aware of what you eat and then make the decision to take control of your diet to create a new, healthier you?  Good luck and don’t worry, I’ll celebrate the fact that breast implants exist, not just during March, but every month, especially during those torrid summer months.