National Nutrition Month® 2017 - "Put Your Best Fork Forward"

March is National Nutrition Month® (NNM) and the theme for 2017 is encouraging all to “Put Your Best Fork Forward,” by making informed food choices, and developing sound eating and physical activity habits.

I am a fan of this year’s theme as it reminds us that healthy habits over time can truly have a great impact on our health. Small changes can lead to big, positive results for our minds and bodies. Celebrate NNM and all year around by:

• Following the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans by including a variety of your favorite healthy foods to meals and snacks. Include vegetables, fruits, whole grains, protein, and low fat dairy.
• Cook more at home. Replace unhealthy ingredients with heart-healthy oils, and herbs and spices to add flavor to your meals. Get a healthy cookbook, or just have fun experimenting!
• Eat to fuel and nourish your body. Don’t skip meals and stay hydrated. This year’s theme reminds us “how much we eat, is as important as what we eat.”
• Stay physically active most days of the week. Do activities you enjoy doing safely.
• Make small changes “one forkful at a time.” Each bite counts.

One way I am celebrating National Nutrition Month® is by adding variety to my favorite nutrient-packed foods, for example, lentils. In addition too having cooked lentils in soups, I also enjoy eating sprouted lentils as a snack. By sprouting the mung bean and mixing it with cucumbers, tomatoes, green onions, green chilies, cilantro, coriander powder, red chili powder, lemon juice, and black pepper; not only does it taste refreshing, it adds variety to my meals. Give it a try!

Reema Kanda is a Registered Dietitian at Hoag Orthopedic Institute. Her healthcare philosophy is to "focus on a life-long commitment that includes a variety of foods that fuel our minds and bodies, consuming appropriate serving sizes, and preparing foods in a way that are healthful while tasting great.”