“Enjoy the Taste of Eating Right”

March is National Nutrition Month ®. This year’s theme is “Enjoy the Taste of Eating Right.” It focuses on “how to combine taste and nutrition to create healthy meals that follow the Dietary Guidelines recommendations” (Source: National Nutrition Month page on Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website).

In a January press release, Constance Brown-Riggs, a registered dietitian and Academy spokesperson, said that “there is a whole world of tasty and nutritious foods available today that are just waiting to be discovered. Adding more nutrition and pleasure to each meal is as easy as expanding the range of foods you choose.”

The Academy offers these tips for trying new tastes in healthy meals:

At the grocery store:

When shopping, make it a point to try one new fruit, vegetable or whole grain every week. “You can start small by picking a different type of apple, a different color potato or a new flavor of whole-grain rice until you are comfortable picking entirely new things that you’ve never tried or heard of before,” Brown-Riggs says.

Eating at restaurants:

The next time you and your family head out to eat, choose a restaurant that features ethnic foods from Asia, Europe or Africa. These restaurants often feature menus filled with healthy options that will be new to you. “You can also find a local restaurant that specializes in using seasonal ingredients. Frequently you will be able to order your favorite dish but with a new and exciting flavor twist,” Brown-Riggs says.

Cooking at home:

Add variety to your staple dishes by varying the ways you cook them. Grill or broil the chicken you typically bake. Mash the potatoes you typically roast. Steam the vegetables you typically sauté. And get to know your spice cabinet. “A pinch of this and a dash of that can add a fresh zest to an old favorite,” Brown-Riggs says.

(Quoted from the above press release)

Here are several places to get tasty, healthy recipes (with a sample recipe from each):

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Recipe Page
-(sample: Cucumber-Mint Raita)

USDA’s SNAP-Ed Connection Recipe Finder
-(sample: Asparagus with Gremolata Sauce)

American Heart Association Recipe Page
-(sample: Devil’s Food Cupcakes with Almond-Mocha Topping on Raspberry Sauce)

American Cancer Society Recipe Page
-(sample: Greek Chicken with Tomatoes, Peppers, Olives, Feta)

Which nutritious foods taste best to you? Leave a comment below.

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Author: Shelly Najjar

MPH in Public Health Nutrition, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist // Freelance Writer, Community Builder // I have a very long Goal List (Bucket List) and I enjoy doing nail art. View all posts by Shelly Najjar