March is National Nutrition Month. Created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, this annual campaign invites everyone to learn about making informed food choices and developing healthful eating habits.
Developing healthful eating habits start by choosing healthy foods and beverages. Here are a few steps you can take daily:
- Stay hydrated. Getting enough water every day is important for your health. Because water has no calories, it can also help you reduce calorie intake when substituted for drinks such as sweet tea, fruit juices or regular soda. Although there is no recommendation for how much water you should drink each day, there are recommendations for how much daily total liquid intake should come from a variety of beverages and foods.
- Eat more fruits and vegetables. Eating a diet rich in a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables has health benefits and may lower your risk of many health problems, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure.
- Cut the sugar. Sugar is added to many prepared foods and drinks which can contribute to health problems. To minimize sugar intake, read Nutrition Facts label and ingredients list to choose foods with little or no added sugar.
- Make room for healthy fat. Replacing saturated and trans fats with healthier unsaturated fats can help protect your heart. Good sources of unsaturated fat include foods like nuts, seeds, and fatty fish like tuna, salmon, and sardines, as well as vegetable oils like olive and canola.
- Cut back on sodium. Eating too much sodium can raise your risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke. Instead of using salt, add flavor to your meals with a squeeze of lemon juice, a dash of no-salt spice blends, or fresh herbs.
Learn more about making healthy changes to your diet by visiting the MyPlate.gov website.
Always consult with your physician before starting any diet plan. If you have questions, please contact worklife@hq.dhs.gov.
Last Updated: 05/24/2024