March is National Nutrition Month, a nutrition education and information campaign created annually by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The campaign focuses on the importance of making informed food choices and developing positive eating and physical activity habits. The theme for 2018 is “Go Further with Food” and making better nutritional decisions doesn’t have to take a lot of time and effort!
So as you “March” forward into spring, there are some steps to take such as eating a variety of foods, balancing your nutrients, and portioning out your meals. Today, one of the many problems Americans face is overdoing it on food. The average portion size for most people is 2-3 servings per meal instead of the recommended serving size.
Portioning out your food can be quite simple and if you don’t have a measuring cup nearby, you can use these tips for a quick reference:
- 3 ounces (one serving) of meat, poultry or fish is about the size of a deck of playing cards
- One serving (1 ounce) of cheese is equal to one thin slice of prepackaged cheese or a chunk about the size of your thumb
- One serving of chopped green salad is a small handful of greens.
Test out your knowledge by visiting www.choosemyplate.gov where you can take “MyPlate Quizzes” and get a grasp for how much you really know. (Quiz link: https://www.choosemyplate.gov/quiz)
http://news.aces.edu/blog/2018/03/02/march-is-national-nutrition-month-2/
http://www.safeteens.org/2012/03/22/march-is-national-nutrition-month/
Addison Resource Guide 