March is National Nutrition Month and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is committed to providing you with resources about healthy eating habits. Last Wednesday we celebrated National Registered Dietician Nutritionist Day, and recognized our very own RDN, Kathryn Mock. This week, we get to hear straight from Kathryn about what it means to ‘personalize your plate’, how to add more variety, and her favorite go-to tips!
1. What Does It Mean to Personalize Your Plate?
“There is not a one-size-fits-all nutrition approach and thus, to personalize your plate means to use an individualized approach to eating. This type of approach will set you up for success and lead to overall health. Fruits and vegetables are nutrition power houses – loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, water and fiber. Incorporating these into your day will aid in reaching weight loss goals, increased energy levels, and impacting overall health positively!”
2. How Can We Add More Fruits and Vegetables to Each Day?
“To get more out of your breakfast, toss a handful of spinach in with a smoothie or add veggies into your scrambled eggs. Throughout the day, use snacks as an opportunity to bridge nutrition gaps by opting for carrots and hummus, celery or apple and peanut butter, or berries with Greek yogurt. At dinner, choose to include either a side salad or cook up your favorite vegetables as the side-dish. It might take some trial and error, but find what you like and stick with it – if you love spinach, use that as your go-to green salad. Lastly, most days of the week, opt to enjoy fruits for dessert!”
3. What Are Your Go-To Healthy Tips?
“My favorite go-to quick tips are to fill half your plate with fruits and veggies, watch portion sizes (learn more here), opt for healthy snacks, cook at home as much as possible to control portions and ingredients, and lastly, stay well hydrated!”
