You may have noticed by now that we have featured a few new nutrition-based articles from Heather Leger. N Good Health is excited to officially introduce her as a member of our team and a member of the Norton Healthcare family! As a Clinical Nutritionist & Registered Dietitian, Heather is excited to share her passion of health and wellness with others. She is also part of the RX For Better Health team at Norton Healthcare, which focuses on diabetes management. For more info and help with your nutrition needs, you can reach Heather at Heather.Leger@nortonhealthcare.org.
March is National Nutrition Month® and this year we celebrate everyone’s unique lifestyles, cultures, bodies and goals. The theme is Personalize Your Plate and as a registered dietitian, I’m here to help you create an eating plan that is special as you are! You can personalize your plate by including your favorite foods from each of the food groups. By eating a variety of foods, you can ensure you are getting all the nutrients your body needs.
Try these tips to help you get started:
- Fill up half your plate with fruits and vegetables. Here you should vary your produce selections by different colors and textures. Try this simple recipe for Colorful Roasted Sheet-Pan Veggies.
- For your grain, choose to replace any refined grains with whole grain options like barley, brown rice, quinoa, or whole-wheat pasta. This Whole-Grain Rice Pilaf is a higher fiber and lower sodium version of the original San Francisco treat.
- Choose a lean protein like beans, lentils, peas, seafood or other proteins like eggs or lean cuts of beef or poultry. A plant-based protein like this recipe for Sweet Potato-Black Bean Burgers is packed full of color, protein, and flavor.
- To round out your meal, add a healthy dose of fat from foods like avocado, nuts, seeds, or olive oil.