March is National Nutrition Month. It’s a little like the holidays all over again for us nutritionists! Here are a few ideas to help you celebrate. The truly ambitious can try one each day, but for the rest of us, I suggest picking a few favorites and making them a part of a daily routine.
- Visit a local farmers market. Check out Local Harvest’s website to find one close by.
- Replace one cup of coffee a day with a cup of green tea.
- Bring your lunch one extra day a week instead of eating out.
- Celebrate Taco Tuesday with these Sweet & Savory Shrimp Tacos.
- Eat what is in season. To learn what’s in season in your area, visit Sustainable Table.
- Try a healthy, new recipe each week.
- Drink eight glasses of water a day. Here are some tips to make drinking more water a breeze.
- Involve your kids in the meal-planning process!
- Replace your evening ice cream with a blended banana soft serve.
- Try going meatless for a day.
- Plant an herb garden.
- Organize a healthy potluck at work.
- Eat the rainbow – challenge yourself and your kids to eat as many colors of fruits and vegetables as you can each day.
- Stock your home and office with healthy snacks!
- Go fast food free for a week!
- Take a break from eating in front of the TV or computer. Eat slowly and enjoy every bite!
- Organize your kitchen.
- Start your day with a green smoothie!
- Forgive yourself for falling off track.
- Curb your afternoon sweet cravings with fresh fruit & pb rather than a piece of chocolate!
- Stop eating when you are no longer hungry, rather than when you are super full.
- Experiment with a new vegetable each week.
- Dust off the crock-pot.
- Trade in your white rice, pasta and bread for their whole grain alternatives.
- Plan a family dinner night in which each member makes a healthy dish.
- Bring home-popped popcorn or a healthy alternative to the movies.
- Try quinoa instead of rice or pasta.
- Switch out your 9” dinner plates for 7” salad plates.
- Check out these tips to sneak more vegetables into your diet.
- Is there something that you decided that you hated when you were a kid? Try it again. You may like it this time around!
- Start. Often times we get overwhelmed when we think of improving our nutrition, however the most important thing is not what you do, but rather that you do something. I promise that if you start today and keep moving, you are going to look back in just a few weeks and be shocked at how far you’ve come.
And remember, a few small steps can lead to big changes.
