There’s a lot going on in March! As we make our way towards Spring, we can celebrate Red Cross Month, National Frozen Food Month, National Peanut Month, National Women’s History Month and National Nutrition Month, all of which take place in March. In an effort to tie all of these important themes together, we’ve gathered some important tips that MilSpouses should consider about nutrition. Created in 1973 by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, National Nutrition Month is intended to encourage healthy eating and living habits.This year’s theme is “Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day.” It’s easy to recommend that you follow the food guide pyramid, exercise regularly and get plenty of sleep. Not only is that boring, but who actually has time for that in 2013?
How to Make Nutrition Work for You
- You’ve probably heard it before: “breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” But why? Breakfast gets your metabolism going for the day The morning meal allows your body to begin burning the fuel you put in, burning calories while giving you the energy you need to face the day. A bowl of cereal topped with blueberries and banana slices will do the trick for those of you who prefer sweets in the morning. As for those who prefer something a little more on the salty side, try a bagel thin with low-fat cream cheese.
- Try to cut down on the breakfast meats and fried foods. Bacon, sausage and hash browns are packed with fats and tend to make you feel tired. If you’re a big breakfast sandwich fan, try whole grain toasted bread, a scrambled egg and a bit of low-fat cheese. Stay away from the frozen breakfast sandwiches, as they have very high amounts of salt and other preservatives.
- Try adding edemame and cranberries to your salad. These super-foods complement one another and add some interest to your meal. We recommend this super-salad: kale, edemame, dried cranberries, shaved almonds, olive oil, red wine vinegar (or balsamic vinegar), and lemon juice.
- Grilled chicken, smoked salmon and veggies (grilled or raw) are some other tasty salad toppers. Try to stay away from fried salad toppers.
- Everyone loves pizza, right? The vast majority of Americans have been in a love affair with pizza since we can remember. As a family fun activity, make pizza with your kids at home. Try an arugula and parmesan pizza; or a broccoli, red onion, bell pepper, tomato, mushroom and mozzarella pizza.
- Try to include some physical activity into your schedule, every day. If you have time to go to the gym each day, we salute you! If this isn’t in the cards for you, try yoga or pilates from the comfort of your own living room with some helpful DVDs. Take the kids and dog for a walk or jog. Download a Zumba class onto your iPad so that you can participate in the routine each morning. Studies show that daily physical activity not only helps your body to function better, it also helps you sleep better.
