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Spring cleaning for healthy eating

Clean up your eating habits for a well-balanced diet

March is National Nutrition Month and a great time to look at your diet. A healthy diet is a key part of living a healthy lifestyle. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says healthy eating can lower your risk of some diseases, boost immunity and improve other areas of your health. There are lots of simple things you can do to make sure you are getting all the vitamins and minerals you need to thrive.

spring cleaning for healthy eatingSimple tips for healthy eating

Try following these tips from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to jump start your eating habits:

  1. Eat small, frequent meals throughout the day, rather than three large meals, to avoid overeating
  2. Try to fill half your plate with fruits and vegetables
  3. Eat slowly to enjoy each bite during your meals so that you know when you feel full – it can take up to 20 minutes to feel fullness
  4. Reduce screen time when you're eating – this helps you be more mindful of your eating habits
  5. Stay hydrated by drinking more water and avoiding sugary drinks like soda, sports drinks, energy drinks and juices
  6. Stock up on fruits, veggies, whole grains and lean protein, as these foods don't have a lot of added sugar, salt or solid fats
  7. Add dietary fiber with vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds and beans, peas and lentils to keep your gut healthy and improve digestion

Stay motivated

Keep yourself motivated by making these changes slowly. Doing a complete overhaul on your diet can burn you out, but making small changes over time can help you build healthy eating habits that stick. And if you have a day when you don’t eat as healthy as you would like, you can always get back on track during your next meal. The important thing is that you keep putting in the effort to eat healthy.

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Posted: March 4, 2022
Updated: February 23, 2023