March into nutrition month
March is Nutrition Month, the perfect time to start thinking about how food choices can affect your health.
Small changes can pay off big by reducing your risk, and your family’s risk, for obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer. The Interior Health Authority has a few simple tips to help you make healthier food choices.
“Looking at recipes, reading flyers, and checking your kitchen inventory can help you decide what meals you would like to prepare and what you will need to prepare them,” said Alexis Blueschke, registered dietitian.
“When you have all the ingredients you need to make a healthy meal at home you will be less tempted to go out for dinner or order take out.”
Use a list when you shop. Once you know what meals you are going to eat, you are ready to make a grocery shopping list.
“A shopping list not only keeps you on track, it can also help you make healthier choices. Without a list, you might walk up and down the aisles filling your cart with less nutritious food that you don’t really need,” said Karen Graham, a registered dietitian.
“A list helps you avoid the temptation to buy heavily promoted processed foods which often are less nutritious.”
Grow some of your own food or visit your local farmers’ market.
“Growing your own food is a great way to have more fresh produce. You can grow your own food in your backyard, in a container or in a community garden,” said Cindy Bossio, registered dietitian.
“Our local garden store, community food action committee or food policy council can help provide information on how to get started.”
For more nutrition information, contact a registered dietitian at www.healthlinkbc.ca/dietitian.
You can visit the Dietitians of Canada website at www.dietitians.ca or check out the Shopping Sense virtual grocery shopping tool at www.healthyfamiliesbc.ca/home/articles/topic/grocery-shopping
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