It’s National Nutrition Month
Meals on Wheels Western Michigan has a new RDN! Her name is Amy Kumar, MS, RDN, and she is a graduate of Michigan State University. Go Green! She is here to help answer any questions about your nutritional needs within our meals program.
This March, we celebrate National Nutrition Month! The Academy on Nutrition and Dietetics is the largest organization of food and nutrition professionals in the world, and they have provided four key messages to make following a balanced diet more accessible and fun. Additionally, some tips & tricks are provided below.
Message #1: Power your day with nutrition.
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- Consume nutritious foods from all food groups, including fruits, vegetables, protein, and healthy fats. Try to get foods from each group in a meal and alternate choices to get a variety of benefits.
- Avoid fad diets with too many restrictions. These diets are often not necessary and may carry more risk than reward.
- Start your day right. Consuming breakfast is a way to prepare both your brain and body for wherever the day may take you!
Message #2: Find advice backed by science.
It may be tempting to follow nutrition-related advice from unreliable sources. When in doubt, speak to a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) to find what your body needs for health-related goals, or look for resources that have been provided by one. Meals on Wheels Western Michigan has an RDN on staff available for questions and concerns.
Message #3: Stay nourished on any budget.
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- Learn to cook and “meal-prep,” which means to prepare meals or meal components ahead of time for further use. Chop up multiple fruits and vegetables at a time or cook in batches.
- Eating healthy recipes at home limits avoidable exposure to excessive sodium, unhealthy fats, and calories and it is also often more cost effective. Meals on Wheels provides nutritious, home-cooked style meals for you with over 30 meal options to choose from.
- If needed, locate community-based resources such as Meals on Wheels, WIC, SNAP, and local food pantries.
Message #4: Feel good with healthy habits.
- Having a general food plan for the day can limit mealtime stress and help you make better choices. Planning for the next few days or for the week is even better!
- Choose physical activities that you enjoy and make it work for you. Sometimes some structure through planning or general routines can help build healthy habits.
