Be Well. Live Well. Eat Well.

March celebrates National Nutrition Month, but statistics would say much of America prefers National Hamburger Week.

In the United States, 20% of young people aged 2 to 19 years and 42% of adults are obese, per the National Institute of Health. And, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an unhealthy diet is the leading cause of obesity and the many maladies that can come with it ‒ such as heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers.

In a deep-fried nutshell, bad nutrition is simply bad for your health.

Better nutrition starts by making changes ‒ if you haven’t already ‒ to the average American diet that is high in processed meats, sodium and sugar, and low in nuts, seeds and omega-3 fats. It ends up being an unusually expensive diet, costing us $50 billion each year in healthcare services.

Several alternative diets promote better health, including the Mediterranean Diet and the DASH diet. Better nutrition, mixed with a dash of regular exercise, can make a significant impact on your health and life expectancy.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, which certifies Registered Dietitian Nutritionists as medical professionals and created National Nutrition Month, offers several activities to put better nutrition on your front burner.

They suggest you try some of these activities in March and see if you can make a habit out of them in 2024:

• Commit to trying a new fruit or vegetable each week during National Nutrition Month.
• Give family members a role in meal planning and let them pick out different recipes to try.
• Plan to eat more meals together as a family during National Nutrition Month.
• Explore food recovery options in your community.
• If you watch TV, take breaks during commercials to be physically active.
• Practice mindful eating by limiting screen time at mealtime ‒ including phones, computers, TV and other devices.
• Try more meatless meals ‒ choices like beans, peas and lentils are versatile plant-based protein sources that work in a variety of dishes.
• Let everyone help with food preparation ‒ a skill for people of all ages. If you have kids, there are age-appropriate tasks they may enjoy learning how to do.
• Bring out the flavors of food by trying new herbs, spices, or citrus fruit like lemon or lime.

These and other tips can be found on The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website, EatRight.org.

If you need more personalized assistance, Bolivar Medical Center can help. To find a provider to help you live a healthier lifestyle, call us at 662.846.2227 or visit us at BolivarMedical.com.

We want you to live your best life through better nutrition. That’s why we’re here.