Georgia health e-update, Mar. 2010

March 2010 E-Newsletter
March is National Nutrition Month
With Spring approaching, shedding our extra layers from winter can be a welcome relief. However, shedding the extra clothes may include a desire to shed a few pounds. With March being National Nutrition Month, making wise food choices now can pay off with a healthier and maybe even leaner you. The March edition of the Georgia Well cast includes tips from the American Dietetic Association that can assist you in making healthier, leaner choices when dining out. Click on the Wellcast icon to the right to learn more.
Cutting Calories Made Easy
As spring approaches, many people struggle with how to shape up and slim down once they are no longer hiding under heavy winter clothes. Reaching a healthy weight or just maintaining your current weight can really be done with some simple steps. Rather than trying a new extreme diet, make small changes to what you normally eat each day. The American Dietetic Association (ADA) has a list of some simple ways to cut calories:

Downsize Your Dishes: Using smaller plates and bowls will help you to eat less. People tend to fill up an entire large dish, even if they normally can not eat that much.
Savor Your Meals: Eating slowly helps you consume only what your body needs to feel satisfied.
Do Not Eat From the Bag: When you eat directly out of the package, you lose track of how much you have consumed. And you may not stop until the package is empty! Pour one serving into a small bowl so you can avoid over eating.
Full Glass: Watch the size of your glass as well. Shorter, wider glasses tend to be filled with more fluid, so we end up drinking more. Except for water, choose a slender glass for beverages.
Rethink Your Drinks: High-calorie beverages such as soft drinks, juices, energy drinks, specialty coffees and alcohol can help you to pack on the pounds if you are not careful. When possible, replace your high-calorie beverage with water.
Lighten Up! Add non-fat creamer or sugar-free syrup to your coffee; trim the fat from your meat or the skin from your poultry; try reduced-calorie or slow-churned ice cream; dip raw vegetables in salsa or fat free ranch dressing for a healthy snack.
Maintaining or reaching your healthy weight is all about balancing your food intake with physical activity. Taking in less calories, may even help you improve your energy level.
To learn more about heart health, log onto georgiahealthinfo.gov and click on the Healthy Living tab.