Happy National Nutrition Month!

It's that time of the year again! March is National Nutrition Month and this year's theme is "Enjoy the Taste of Eating Right." Research confirms that taste is the number-one reason why one food is purchased over another. However, eating tasty and healthy is not mutually exclusive! The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics encourages everyone to explore new foods and flavors, keeping taste AND nutrition on your plate at every meal.

Here are some easy steps to keep your taste buds excited while making sure your body is getting the nutrients it needs. Let's start trying these suggestions during the month of March!

At the grocery store: Try to get one new fruit, vegetable or whole grain every week. You can start by picking a different type of apple, a different color potato or a new flavor of whole-grain rice. Make a visit to an ethnic grocery store can be a fun and nutritious family activity!

Eating at the restaurant: Choose a restaurant that features ethnic foods from Asia, Europe or a healthy-theme. You will be able to choose your favorite entree (beef, chicken or fish) but with a new and exciting flavor twist. Don't forget to eat slow and enjoy every bite of it. If it's something that you like, go look up recipes on-line!

Cooking at home: Add variety to your staple dishes by varying the ways you cook them. Stir fry the veggies you typically steam, roast the potatoes you typically mash, grill the fish you typically bake. Or, simply try using spices to season your dish to add a fresh zest to an old favorite.

You will find more new ideas at www.eatright.org or my own website www.smarteater.net

I would also like to introduce a video. This cooking demonstration is done by Juan, a Nutritional Science Major at Cerritos College, who does a great job showing his fellow schoolmates how to do batch cooking and to prepare nutrition balanced meals for the busy week.

Interested in learning about weight goal and nutrition needs? Schedule a free body weight and fat% analysis with Hazel at 626-283-5128 or email to hazel@smarteater.net.