March Into Nutrition with Five Easy Tips

Following up with National Nutrition Month, we could all use reminders of ways we can make our plates more nutritious each day. Getting in more vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other nutrients do not have to be complicated. Read on to find learn tips on how to increase nutrition on your plate!

Healthy Tip Tuesday comes to you in partnership with Trinity Hospital Twin City.

Concentrate on a variety of foods

• Utilize the five basic food groups: fruit, vegetables, dairy, grains, and protein
• Try dark-colored vegetables: leaf lettuce, broccoli, carrots, and sweet potatoes
• Add in fish, beans, and lentils to your protein
• Go for whole-grain pasta, cereal, and crackers

Get to know the fats in your foods

• Look for low saturated and trans fat foods
• Make most of the fats monounsaturated and polyunsaturated oils

Eat Less Foods High in Solid Fats

• Switch out for lean beef, turkey, chicken, or fish
• Check out beans, lentils, and tofu
• Grill, broil, bake, or steam instead of frying
• Swap for low-fat or fat-free milk, yogurt, and cheese

Check out drinks with little or no added sugars

• Drink mostly water and add lemon or cucumber slices
• Aim for 100% fruit juice in moderate amounts
• Low-fat or fat-free milk
• Look for food labels that say “no added sugars”

Cut back on sodium

• Season with herbs and spices
• Measure out the salt when cooking with it
• Read the Nutrition Facts Labels to compare sodium content on pre-packaged meal

We are trying to reframe our mindset away from “good food and bad food” to foods that are more nutrient-rich, and fuel your body to reach its best potential.