March is Nutrition Month!
This year, dietitians want you to know that healthy eating is about so much more than food. We want to encourage you to think not only about what you eat, but also how you eat.
Food is a very broad topic encompassing more than just nutrition. It’s about family, memories, and emotions. Part of the enjoyment of eating is choosing healthy foods that reflect your preferences. Embrace your own food culture and traditions by cooking more often, sharing with others, and enjoying food!
COOKING MORE OFTEN
Cooking more often not only helps you eat healthier and reduces your spending on restaurant or convenience foods, but also allows you to learn new skills and share your traditions with others.
Don’t forget to involve children in the kitchen and share important food skills with them. Children are more deeply involved when there is imaginative play. Make a theme night or turn your kitchen into a restaurant.
If you’re interested in cooking more but don’t know where to begin, start by planning what you eat. Planning is a simple step that can make it possible to eat healthy, save money, and cook more often. Involve others in planning and preparing meals to help nurture healthy eating habits that last a lifetime.
Need some inspiration to get you back in the spirit of cooking? Look no further than the Nutrition Month Recipe Book! It features recipes hand-picked by dietitians to help you celebrate nutrition month with your family, friends, and colleagues—and, it’s free to download!
From hearty vegetable soup, to easy chicken parm, to chewy ginger pecan cookies, and much more, there’s something for everyone! Visit nutritionmonth2020.ca to download your free copy today!
SHARING WITH OTHERS
Sharing healthy foods with family, friends, neighbours, or co-workers can provide many benefits and contribute to a healthy lifestyle. It is a great way to connect with others, explore new cultural or traditional foods, and add enjoyment to your life.
Sharing family meals doesn’t mean only dinner. If your evening schedule is hectic, share breakfast meals or have brunch together on the weekends.
Make time for sharing meals with others, because healthy eating isn’t just about what you eat, how you eat is important too!
ENJOYING FOOD
Enjoying your foods is an important part of healthy eating. You can increase your enjoyment by trying new recipes to maximize variety for your taste buds and by taking your time when eating. Being mindful can help you be more conscious of the food you eat and your eating habits. Listening to and following your feelings of hunger and fullness can help you decide when and how much to eat.
Be sure to enjoy the taste of your food and the many food-related activities that go along with eating. Remember: healthy eating is about so much more than food!
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