National Nutrition Month in March With Caregivers in Philadelphia
Posted by PHC | Uncategorized
Don’t let the snow and ice drag your diet down…New month, new attitude! Celebrate National Nutrition Month with caregivers in Philadelphia and southeastern PA by reviewing our top 5 Health Tips courtesy of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (www.eatrightpro.org).
TOP 5 Health Tips of 2015:
- Eat Breakfast – Breakfast really IS the most important meal of the day. Start your morning with lean proteins, whole grains, fruits and vegetables! Try oatmeal with almonds and fresh berries, or a whole grain toaster waffle topped with low-fat yogurt and your favorite fruit.
- Fruit and Veggies on Half of your Plate – challenge yourself to fill half of your meal plate with fruits and veggies (about 2 cups of fruit and 2 ½ cups of vegetables/ day). Fruits and veggies not only add color and texture to your plate but they are loaded with vitamins, minerals and fiber that your body needs to stay healthy!
- Keep your Portion Sizes in Check – It is very easy to go overboard on portions sizes without even realizing it. To help keep your portions in check, get out a measuring cup and see how close your portions are to the recommended serving size. This will give you a good visual for all of your meals. Remember fill half your plate with fruits and veggies, and the other half with grains and lean meat, poultry, seafood or beans.
- Get Moving – Regular physical exercise lowers blood pressure and helps your body maintain a healthy weight and control stress. Start out small, about 10 minutes at a time, and build to 2 hours and 30 minutes/ week (adult) and 1 hour or more/ day (children and teens). Now that the weather is breaking, take this opportunity to get outside for a walk, or play a game of catch with the kids!
- Drink More Water – Follow the rule of 8’s…try to drink at least 8, eight ounce glasses of water per day. Drinking water in place of sugary or caffeinated beverages will help the body stay hydrated and keep you feeling good throughout the day!