Amongst all the craziness that is going on in the world today, many people have forgotten that March is National Nutrition Month. Does that mean to eat healthy only during this month or am I supposed to restrict my diet during this month? No. Instead, March is a time to help promote the importance of nutrition and how it can affect individuals’ lifestyles. Almost 38% of American adults and 17% of children are obese. Over time, this has nearly doubled in adults and tripled in children within the last 25 years. However, this can be stopped by focusing on nutrition and the effects it can have in order to help treat and prevent heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity.
Many people only think of exercise and physical activity as ways to help solve these issues; however, nutrition plays a major role during all this. Having a healthy lifestyle and maintaining it is key. People want that quick fix, but what do you do when you start to regain that quick fix weight that you lost? Maintaining a stable and adequate lifestyle is best. Does that mean I have to give up all the sweets and treats? No! Moderation is key and makes for a more sustainable lifestyle.
What are some healthy tips that help create a sustainable lifestyle? From the Academy of Dietetics and Nutrition, some tips include:
- Snack only when hungry
- Have snacks planned and portioned ahead of time
- Practice food safety
- Make half your plate fruits and veggies
- Make half your grains whole grains
- Drink and eat less sodium, saturated fat, and added sugars
- Enjoy your food but have portion control
- Be physically active
- Cook more and eat out less
These are just a few healthy tips that can be used to create a sustainable lifestyle and used to help keep things in moderation. You can enjoy those sweets and treats, just keep in mind proper portion sizes and only having those foods every now and then.
