MARCH is NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH!

Julie Harris, MS, RDN

Julie is an accredited Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with American Dietetics Association. She promotes healthy lifestyle choices to meet each individual’s wellness goals. She specializes in Diabetes care and education, Cardiovascular disease, and chronic disease prevention.

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March is National Nutrition Month! One great way to celebrate is by adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet.

​Diets rich in vegetables and fruits can have many positive effects on your health. Some benefits include a reduced risk of heart disease and certain cancers, lowering blood pressure, decreased risk of digestive issues, and a positive effect upon blood sugar. Eating non-starchy vegetables and fruits is a way to add fiber to your diet which can promote weight loss.

​Fruits and vegetables are an important part of your diet. As a group, they contain over 25,000 phytonutrients which can help prevent disease and keep your body working well. No single fruit or vegetable provides all of the nutrients you need so eating a wide variety is important. Aim to eat a rainbow of colors of fruits/vegetables a day.

Fruits and vegetables add flavor, variety, and texture to your meal. Build a healthy plate by making half your plate fruits and vegetables. Make 2 cups of fruit and 2 ½ cups of vegetables your daily goal.

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Tips to Increase Fruits and Vegetables Daily 

1. Keep fruit/vegetables where you can see them:  Place several ready-to-eat washed whole fruits in a bowl and cut up vegetables in your fridge 
2. Choose something new: Explore the produce section and choose a new fruit or vegetable to try each week. Aim to get a rainbow of colors of fruits and vegetables in your shopping basket. 
3. Add vegetables to your favorite meals: add vegetables to pizza, sandwich, omelette, smoothies, burgers, pasta, lasagna, stir fry, and burritos.  
4. Make it a meal. Try adding 2 vegetarian meals a week for example bean chilis, vegetable soup, spinach lasagna, and stir fry vegetables.  
5. Add fruit to breakfast and snack: Add fruit to your favorite cereals, smoothies, oatmeal, yogurts. Fruit is a portable, sweet snack such as apples, bananas, raisins, cuties, and grapes. 

Looking for more ways to incorporate fruits and vegetables into your diet?
​Contact us today to schedule a one-on-one with a Registered Dietitian!