Georgia health connection e-newsletter, Mar. 2009

March Newsletter
March is National Nutrition Month
Healthy Eating Can be a Colorful Way of Life
While shopping for fresh produce, have you ever stopped to notice the variety of colors in the fruits and vegetables? All these wonderful colors represent nutrients, vitamins and antioxidants that can help prevent chronic diseases and cancers. From the bright red raspberries, to the orange sweet potatoes, to the rich purple eggplant to the dark green broccoli, not only can you see the beautiful colors, but you can taste their wonderful flavors. Adding fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables to your daily diet is an easy and delicious way to help achieve a healthy lifestyle. Listen to the March edition of the Georgia Wellcast to learn more about the benefits of healthy eating habits. Click on the Wellcast icon to the right. Look for information each month pertaining to various health topics and visit georgiahealthinfo.gov to find what you need to become a Wise Health Consumer.
The Key to Good Nutrition is Balance
As Spring approaches, many of us relish the fact that the cold weather has come and gone for the year. With winter days behind us, so are the excuses for indulging in hearty and often unhealthy comfort foods. March is a great time to get back on track with healthy eating habits! National Nutrition Month, created annually in March by the American Dietetic Association (ADA), chose "Eat Right" as the theme for 2009. Eating right can make you feel good and give you energy. Plus it's a good way to fight heart disease and certain

cancers. According to the ADA, it's all about making informed food choices. The U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS) recommend balanced meals with servings from each food group: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy and lean protein. The most servings should come from the fruit and vegetable categories, with whole grains following as a close second. The MayoClinic.com advises that no single food provides all of the nutrients that your body needs, so eating a variety of foods within each group ensures that you will get the necessary nutrients.
What you don't put in your body is also very important. The USDA and HHS recommend limiting sweets and salts, and reducing your intake of saturated fats and trans fats as extremely beneficial for a healthy diet. For better nutrition, avoid fried foods, greasy chips, sugary snacks, white bread and refined pasta. Instead, choose foods that are closer to their natural state such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also remember to control your portion size and the number of calories you consume.
Eating right is as easy as making informed choices. Instead of reaching for a high-calorie snack, choose a piece of fruit. It will not only fill you up and satisfy your sweet-tooth, but it will give you the nutrients and fiber your body needs. Healthy eating habits are easy to achieve when you remember that balance is the key to good nutrition.
For more information on nutrition, log onto georgiahealthinfo.gov and click on the Healthy Living tab.