Get Your Plate In Shape

March is National Nutrition Month.  This year's theme is, "Get Your Plate In Shape."  The newly named Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association) chooses and promotes the National Nutrition Month theme each year.

The key messages of this year's Get Your Plate In Shape platform are:

• make half your plate fruits and vegetables
• make at least half your grains whole
• switch to fat-free or low-fat milk
• vary your protein sources
• cut back on sodium and empty calories from solid fats and added sugars
• enjoy your food but eat less
• be physically active your way

I like these messages, especially the last two, "enjoy your food but eat less" and "be physically active your way." The key pieces of these two adages are ENJOY and YOUR WAY.  It is healthier to focus on enjoying our meals, with less obsessing over control, restriction, or calorie counting.  And with exercise, the key will always be finding out what works for you.  I'm a big fan of the elliptical trainer whereas my sister finds that to be a modern day torture device - she likes group exercise classes like spin or cardio-kickboxing.

Which of the main messages from National Nutrition Month listed above mean something to you?
For more on National Nutrition Month, click here.