eating

March is National Nutrition Month sponsored by the National Center for Nutrition and Dietetics of the American Dietetic Association (ADA) and its Foundation. The slogan for this month is " Healthy Eating , Healthy You," focusing on making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. In order to achieve this, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has provided the following guidelines:

Of particular note, the food pyramid developed in 1992 by the USDA to help Americans make dietary choices that would maintain good health and reduce the risk of disease is undergoing revision. Researchers have noted that some fats are healthy for the heart and many carbohydrates are not, bringing into question the pyramid's recommendations of plentiful carbohydrates and limited fats and oils intake. However, the high intake of fruits and vegetables is still appropriate as numerous beneficial health effects have been associated with the practice. For personalized assistance, you can call ADA's Consumer Nutrition Hot Line at 800-366-1655 for a referral to a registered dietitian (9 AM to 4 PM, Central time, Monday through Friday.) Also, check out some of the following websites for tips on healthy eating:

www.deliciousdecisions.org

Bon Appetit!

By Anuli Ajene, MPH. A woman who proved she could do without meat for a whole year.