Small Steps to Better Nutrition
This March, The Little Clinic is celebrating National Nutrition Month� by inspiring one another to take small steps toward improving our nutrition. As they say, Rome wasn�t built in a day, and healthy habits take time to truly �stick.� The best approach is to look toward a few realistic goals that put you on the track to better eating. Research has shown us time and time again that �food is medicine,� and what we use to fuel our bodies has an impact on both long and short term health.
To get started down a healthier path, here are easy (and delicious) tactics!
1. Boost your fruit and veggie intake. Everyone can picture the lone fruit or veggie tray at a party, usually surrounded by many other rich, high-calorie foods. In such settings, it can be hard to say �yes� to vegetables. Never fear- you can incorporate more veggies into your diet in more flavorful, easier to eat forms!
Check out USA Pears Vitamix contest HERE!
2. Snack smarter. �Snacking� means different things to different people, but we know that snacks are important to fill in the sometimes long gaps between meals, especially between lunch and dinner. When we become over-hungry we are more likely to overeat and might choose foods that are less nutritious. A well-planned snack that includes carbohydrates, proteins, and healthful fats is sure to stave off rumbling stomachs and keep energy levels up. Balanced snacks also help us boost our intake of important nutrients, supplementing what we get from meals.
No Bake Granola Bars with Probiotics
Ingredients
3 cups natural oats
1 cup rice cereal
3/4 Naturally More Almond Butter with Probiotics
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup honey
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1/4 cup natural shredded coconut
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons Dark Chocolate Chips (optional)
Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix with a spoon. Line a 9x13 baking dish with parchment paper. Press mixture into dish. Freeze two hours. Cut into bars. Store in freezer, enjoy!
3. Find your flavor.Most Americans consume in excess of the recommended 2,400 mg of sodium per day. This is especially challenging if you need to eat away from home, as many of us often do. When cooking at home, it�s actually surprisingly easy to infuse flavor into dishes without the need for added salt. The next time you�re whipping up a dish, consider one of these tips:
� Blend regular salt with fresh citrus zest to reduce total added sodium without a noticeable change in flavor.
� Utilize fresh herbs in soups, sauces, and rice dishes. Throw in the whole spring of herbs like thyme and rosemary and simply remove before serving.
� Try flavored vinegars or oils. Sesame oil adds a savory element to stir-fries and red wine vinegar can spruce up vegetable dishes.
Content sponsored by USA Pears and Naturally More Peanut Butter.
By Stephanie Chelton, RDN, LDN
Retail Clinical Dietitian, The Little Clinic inside select Kroger stores