Community Corner

Get Your Plate in Shape This Month

Take steps toward healthy eating by taking a good look at your plate.

March is National Nutrition Month and this year the theme is "Get Your Plate in Shape."

The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans have been out for more than a year and MyPlate is just under a year old. Checking to see if your meal plate is balanced is more than overdue.

MyPlate focuses on more plant foods, leaner or low-fat animal food choices and of course appropriate portions.

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If you’ve thought about making changes in your eating habits but haven’t taken the steps yet, make National Nutrition Month the time to “Get your Plate in Shape.”

  • Make half your plate fruits and vegetables and choose a variety of colors like dark green, deep red and orange.
  • Make at least half your grains whole by choosing whole grain cereals, crackers, breads and pasta.
  • Switch to fat-free or low-fat milk, yogurt and cheese. If you are lactose intolerant choose lactose-free milk or calcium fortified soy beverages.
  • A few times a week enjoy seafood or beans instead of lean meat or poultry; eggs are also an option.
  • Monitor your sodium and added sugar by reading labels and watching how much you add to food.
  • Visit www.choosemyplate.gov to learn more about appropriate portions.

If you’re not sure about how your eating habits measure up, visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, formerly The American Dietetic Association, and evaluate your plate.

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Make this the month you “Get Your Plate in Shape.”


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