March is National Nutrition Month. Maybe you have heard it said about the food you eat and nutrition that it’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle. You can’t just eat healthily for a month than stop and think you’re okay; you have to continue to eat right and practice good nutrition throughout your entire life.
#1 Sugar Is Okay
Our immediate thought is that sugar and desserts of any kind are horrible, but that’s not necessarily true. If you cut all sugar and dessert from your life, you’ll be tempted more to eat it than having something sweet once a day or once a week. Sugar also doesn’t have to consist of that triple chocolate double layer cake: it can be as simple as a fruit salad, since fruit has natural sugar.
#2 Moderation Is Key
All things should be done in moderation, not going from one extreme to another extreme. 1 Corinthians 14:40 says, “Let all things be done decently and in order.” This verse can apply to every aspect of a person’s life, but it can also apply to nutrition.
#3 Carbs
There’s always the dilemma about carbs and working out, so what do you do about that? If you live a more sedentary lifestyle, try to stay away from carbs like breads, rice, noodles, and potatoes, and lean more towards meat, fish, vegetables, yogurt, and eggs. On the other hand, if you lead a more active lifestyle, eat the carbs because they give you energy.
#4 Have a Balance
Another important thing to help your nutrition is to have a balance between the food groups. Maybe you remember the MyPlate diagram where it shows the different food groups and how much you should eat of each group; although it won’t be perfect, it’ll help you get on track for a healthy lifestyle through the foods you eat.
#5 Drink More
Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink; drink throughout the day. The standard amount of water to drink is 6-8 cups of water a day. Try to stay away from sugary drinks. [1] If you don’t like the flavor of water, try adding lemon or lime juice or berries to it. [2]
Bonus!
A bonus tip is to exercise regularly. It doesn’t have to be going to the gym six days a week, or running five miles a day, or participating in three different sports at the same time. It can be as simple as walking. Try to get out and walk for 30 minutes a day. Or, if you have the option, stand up instead of sitting down while at work or when with the kids. If you can’t exercise every day, try to do something three times a week for at least 30 minutes.
