Last month we focused on heart health. This month we're celebrating "National Heart Month(r)" which is a trademarked nutrition education and information campaign created annually in March by the American Dietetic Association. In fact, the theme for this year is "Nutrition From the Ground Up." Well imagine that, isn't this what organic produce is all about?
Seems to me, we celebrate good nutrition, healthy hearts, and creative ideas every month, every week up here at the farmstand, I love it!
You can find a lot of great helpful information on their website
Here are some tips I found:
Focus on fruits and vegetables (fresh, organic, of course!)
Visit a farmer's market, which makes a fun family outing, too. (We are here every Friday and Saturday. Some moms make it a routine to bring the kids up after school every Friday, look for Amanda with her little Hula Hoopers!
Let kids pick out some new foods to try. (It helps if you bring them in when they are hungry, like after a Saturday game, they can eat something fresh!)
Make your calories count... make sure you're getting some vitamins and nutrients out of the deal.
For example, instead of eating ice cream, make some sorbet in your blender with fresh frozen fruit like strawberries, bananas, mangoes, and pineapple.
Test your tastebuds. Add new foods to your meals and snacks.
Try a new recipe, you might find a new healthy favorite!
Plan ahead, make a grocery list and plan 5-6 meals/week, including a night with left overs (my friend refers to them as "musgoes" because this stuff "must go" or it will go to waste!)
And stick to the plan!
Find new recipes. (I like to create them)
Many leading nutrition experts will tell you to eat more raw organic produce and less grains and sugar. I heard it said once that "You should avoid eating anything with a bar code on it."
That means wholesome and natural, not processed.
Guaranteed, anything at the farmstand in a package with a bar code is going to be a good for you, we do rigorous screening for nutritional terrorists so you don't have to worry!
Finally, remember, it's not just healthy eating, but an active, balanced lifestyle needed for optimal wellness.
Let's get moving, the weather has been great!
