National Nutrition Month™ – “Personalize your Plate”

™The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Posted on March 5th, 2021

There is a no one-size-fits-all approach to nutrition and health. We are all unique with different bodies, goals, backgrounds, and tastes. Personalizing our plate is important as we journey through our life stages and changing how we eat as our tastes change while maintaining a healthy balance of whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy and protein rich foods.

Tips to breakthrough change for healthier eating:

• Cook with dried spices and herbs instead of salt to add flavor to your dishes
• Mix up quality protein from animal and plant sources – beans and lentils are a good heart healthy plant-based protein
• Sprinkle chia or ground flax seeds on cereal, salad or toast to increase consumption of mega-3 fatty acids
• Add flavor using low sodium broths to food while cooking instead of oils
• Use vegetable oils for cooking and as seasonings instead of butter – small amounts are good
• Manage your portions – fill more of your plate with fruits and vegetables and quarter with grains and quarter with proteins
• Limit sugar, when sweetener is needed consider honey. Natural products are better than substitutes

A Registered Dietitian Nutritionists is your best source to help one navigate and fine tune a person’s personal plate for a health and wellness. For more information regarding dietary guidelines and myplate information go to https://www.eatright.org/food/nutrition/dietary-guidelines-and-myplate/get-the-facts-on-dietary-guidelines-myplate-and-food-labels?_ga=2.185990825.1278110923.1614794124-1045692902.1614198312