By Diane Ruyack of Winners Drink Milk
Start the New Year off with 3 tips for healthy
eating especially 3 Every Day of Dairy may help
to reduce the risk of osteoporosis, hypertension, obesity, colon cancer, and
metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that can lead to heart disease and
type 2 diabetes.
Nutrient-rich foods give you the most vitamins,
minerals and other nutrients for the fewest calories. To live well, build your daily
eating plan on a variety of nutrient-rich foods such as:
• Fat-free
and low fat milk, cheese and yogurt
• Brightly
colored fruits and 100% fruit juices
• Vibrant-colored
vegetables
• Whole,
fortified and fiber-rich grain foods
• Lean
meats, skinless poultry, fish, eggs, beans and nuts
These tips can help you get your Food Group
foods—fast:
• Order
a latte made with fat-free or low fat milk.
• Make
oatmeal or tomato soup with milk instead of water.
• Stock
up on cheese sticks, yogurt cups and yogurt drinks for calcium-rich snacks.
• Top
fruit with your favorite yogurt for a homemade parfait dessert.
• At
work keep some desk drawer stashes that will contribute nutrients and fiber to
your daily diet.
• Instant
oatmeal packets in flavors such as cinnamon, apple, banana and blueberry.
• Vegetable,
bean, split pea or lentil soups in heat-and-serve cans or instant dry soup
cups.
• Small
packs or cans of water-packed tuna and small cans of veggies (don’t forget the
can opener!).
• A
jar of peanut butter, almond butter or cashew butter and crackers.
• Light
microwave popcorn. Bonus: popcorn is a whole grain food.
• Raisins,
dried apricots and single-serve shelf-stable containers of peaches or pears
packed in water or juice.
• Single-serve
containers of 100% fruit juice such as orange juice.
In addition, you may want to keep an insulated bag
with string cheese, frozen yogurt and/or UHT chocolate milk for a great desk
side snack. The New Year is a great time to make changes in what you eat.
Remember it takes 21 days to change a habit so start now eating nutrient rich
foods and cut out or reduce those foods that have little nutrients but a lot of
calories. You will feel better and your body will thank you by having more
energy and hopefully less illnesses.
