Episode Number
121
Episode Show Notes / Description
Celebrate National Nutrition Month with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and discover how small, balanced choices can make a big impact on your health. This week’s focus, “Power Your Day with Nutrition,” highlights simple, practical tips like eating from all five food groups, enjoying a colorful variety of foods, and building sustainable habits that fuel your body for the long run.
Transcript
Good morning, this is your Wellness Wake Up Call with University of Illinois Extension.
National Nutrition Month started in 1973 as a National Nutrition Week and expanded to a month-long campaign in 1980. Every year, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics sponsors the educational campaign. The theme this year is “Discover the Power of Nutrition,” and includes weekly messages to focus on. This week’s message is Power Your Day with Nutrition, which could include:
• Incorporating all the food groups with meals and snacks. The 5 food groups are protein, dairy (or fortified dairy alternative), grains, fruits, and vegetables. Each food group contains different vitamins, minerals, and health benefits. If you miss a vegetable or fruit during dinner, make sure to incorporate them during snack time to reach your fruit and vegetable goals for the day.
• Include a wide range of nutrients by choosing a variety of foods throughout the day. Aim to “eat the rainbow” with colorful options and enjoy seasonal foods at their peak freshness. Each colorful subgroup has different health-promoting benefits. Try to include 30 different plants each week.
• Avoid diets that are highly restrictive and eliminate entire food groups. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Diets that offer a quick fix is not usually sustainable for long-term success. Instead, focus on healthy daily habits.
Remember, nutrition is about overall balance. This week, try something small to improve your nutrition, and help ‘power your day.’
Thank you for listening! I hope you have a happy and healthy day ahead. The content for this episode was provided by Rachel Mannen, Food and Nutrition Educator for University of Illinois Extension.
Resources
• https://www.eatright.org/national-nutrition-month
National Nutrition Month started in 1973 as a National Nutrition Week and expanded to a month-long campaign in 1980. Every year, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics sponsors the educational campaign. The theme this year is “Discover the Power of Nutrition,” and includes weekly messages to focus on. This week’s message is Power Your Day with Nutrition, which could include:
• Incorporating all the food groups with meals and snacks. The 5 food groups are protein, dairy (or fortified dairy alternative), grains, fruits, and vegetables. Each food group contains different vitamins, minerals, and health benefits. If you miss a vegetable or fruit during dinner, make sure to incorporate them during snack time to reach your fruit and vegetable goals for the day.
• Include a wide range of nutrients by choosing a variety of foods throughout the day. Aim to “eat the rainbow” with colorful options and enjoy seasonal foods at their peak freshness. Each colorful subgroup has different health-promoting benefits. Try to include 30 different plants each week.
• Avoid diets that are highly restrictive and eliminate entire food groups. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Diets that offer a quick fix is not usually sustainable for long-term success. Instead, focus on healthy daily habits.
Remember, nutrition is about overall balance. This week, try something small to improve your nutrition, and help ‘power your day.’
Thank you for listening! I hope you have a happy and healthy day ahead. The content for this episode was provided by Rachel Mannen, Food and Nutrition Educator for University of Illinois Extension.
Resources
• https://www.eatright.org/national-nutrition-month