Tag: Nutrition
Put best fork forward for National Nutrition Month
March is National Nutrition Month, and this year the focus is on putting your best fork forward. February ended with Paczki Day, or Fat Tuesday, and this month we can start fresh by choosing to fill our forks with more nutritious, better-for-you options. Putting our best fork forward this month can mean eating more fruits and vegetables with every meal, choosing more whole grains and reaching for more nutritious snacks. These are all simple ways we can improve our plates and step forward towards better health.
Time to check in on those New Year’s resolutions
January first came along, and you were packed full of motivation to make changes for the New Year. No matter how much momentum you had that first week, we all know that winter can be a hard time; sickness is traveling around, workloads are high after the holiday lull, chilly weather makes it hard to stay active, and before we know it — we are already two months into the year. Whether you are on the road to success, or have taken an unexpected detour from your goals, let’s take some time to do a check-in on ways you can take care of your mind, body, home and heart in 2017: Take care of your
Choose the right fats for your heart
Since February is American Heart Month, I would like to take an opportunity to debunk a myth about heart-healthy eating. One food group that is often questioned is fat. Can you eat fat while following a heart-healthy diet? Yes! In fact, your body needs fat to produce hormones, grow cells, protect your organs, insulate your body and absorb fat-soluble vitamins. What matters is how much, and what kind of fat, you eat. Moderation is key.
Working to make local workplaces 'well'
In January 2015, the Sheboygan County Activity and Nutrition (SCAN) Coalition, announced plans to pursue a “Well County” designation.
Local Support available to help prevent type 2 diabetes
There are a lot of things in our life that we cannot control or prevent. Fortunately, Type 2 diabetes is one thing that we can prevent or at least delay with some knowledge, effort and perseverance.
Encouraging children to eat veggies in fun ways
It’s no secret that children can be difficult to convince when it comes to trying new things. The website Choose MyPlate, sponsored by the US Department of Agriculture, recommends half our plate be filled with fruits and vegetables. This can be daunting to parents who struggle to get their kids to take a bite of vegetable at the dinner table.
Making the case for healthier food donations
What does “food insecurity” mean? It means people or households are limited in their resources to buy food. It can also mean they’re running out of food, cutting the quality of their food, eating unbalanced meals and maybe even skipping meals. Food insecurity is closely linked with high rates of obesity, diabetes and other health problems, and this is partly due to the lack of choices supplied by food pantries. As families depend on donated foods more and more for a greater share of their nutritional needs, the quality of those foods becomes more important. Local research has shown that one-third of all donated pantry food is of low nutritional value, damaged or very outdated.
Ways to spice up important family meals
Iowa State University reports that not only do family meals offer children a chance to learn about their family’s values and culture, but that children who eat with their families eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Even better? Teens who eat with their families are less likely to smoke, drink and use drugs, according to the research.
Eating healthy at school can be easy
In summer 2016, the Sheboygan Area School District approved eliminating reduced- price meal fees for families. This means all students under 185 percent of the poverty level now receive free lunches and breakfasts where available.