It’s honestly perfect timing to stay healthy that National Nutrition Month kicks off right as spring starts. Everything is finally waking up, the days are stretching out, it’s actually getting warm again, and you can finally hear birds instead of just freezing wind.After a long, gray winter, spring just feels like the natural time to hit the reset button on how we take care of ourselves and stay healthy this Nutrition Month. This year, the focus is all about “Discovering the Power of Nutrition.” It’s more than just counting calories as we mentioned in our post A Journey Through the Complex Landscape of World Obesity; it’s about how the right food actually gives you the energy to get through your day and helps entire communities stay healthy. It’s a great excuse to look into where to find fresh, local food nearby and start small habits that make you feel better, not just today, but down the road, too.
Making these kinds of lifestyle changes can honestly feel overwhelming at first, but you don’t have to tackle it all at once. There are plenty of tools out there to help you build a plan that actually works for you.
A really simple way to kick things off is by rethinking your first meal. Try starting your day with a breakfast that gives you some solid, lasting energy, think lean protein, whole grains, and some fruit or veggies.
Speaking of veggies, try working more of them into your regular meals. If you aren’t a huge fan of them plain, a little flavor goes a long way. A squeeze of fresh lime, a splash of vinegar, a drizzle of olive oil, and a pinch of salt can make them taste amazing without packing on a bunch of extra calories.
Don’t forget to move around a bit, too! If you’re stuck sitting at a desk all day, make it a point to take a 10 to 20-minute break just to walk around the house or the office. It gets your blood flowing and gives your brain a much-needed reset away from the screen.
Finally, getting the hang of reading food labels is a total game-changer. Once you actually know what’s going into your food, making better choices gets so much easier.
Do you find it difficult to control your eating habits? Be aware that there is a condition called Binge Eating Disorder (BED) that can cause you to eat large amounts of food even when you’re not physically hungry. We have conducted clinical trials related to this condition in the past. If you suspect you may have this condition, it’s important to discuss it with your primary care physician.
If you want to dig into more tips or find some solid resources to help you along the way about nutrition, definitely check out the following pages for additional information:
