March, National Nutrition Month, invites everyone to learn about making informed food choices and developing nutritious eating habits. Consider implementing the following steps to prioritize your health:
- Use MyPlate.gov to create healthy meals that cover all five food groups. MyPlate offers over 1,000 healthy, budget-friendly, and tasty recipes to help you develop an eating style that meets your individual needs and can improve your health.
- Plan weekly meals ahead of time by writing out the ingredients you will need for each meal. This practice will help you incorporate all five food groups and can double as a grocery list for easy shopping.
- Find out your calorie needs to manage your daily food and beverage choices. Your calorie needs vary based on your age, gender, and physical activity level. To find out your specific calorie needs, use the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Estimated Daily Calorie Needs table.
- Read the FDA’s Nutrition Facts label when grocery shopping to compare ingredients in different food items. Select items that have higher amounts of vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber and lower amounts of sodium, saturated fat, and added sugars.
- Explore other FDA resources to simplify good nutrition and makes suggestions to make informed choices.
Always consult your physician before starting any diet plan. If you have questions, contact worklife@hq.dhs.gov.
Last Updated: 03/06/2024