Nutrition is about more than vitamins—it also includes fiber and healthy fats. March is National Nutrition Month®, a perfect time to learn simple ways to help your whole family eat healthier.

It can sometimes feel as if we’re bombarded with information about the latest eating trend or buzzworthy ingredient. But good nutrition is really about having a well-rounded diet, and it’s easier to do than you may think.

 

Here are some easy nutritious lifestyle changes:

 

Add Healthy Fats
Not all fats are bad. Foods with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are important for your brain and heart.

 

Cut the sodium
Sodium increases blood pressure, which raises the risk for heart disease and stroke.  Most Americans consume about 3,400 milligrams of sodium each day.  This is much more than the recommended amount of 2,300 mg per day (about one teaspoon of salt).

 

Bump up your fiber
Fiber also helps control blood sugar and lowers cholesterol levels.  Fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and legumes (beans and peas).

 

Aim for a variety of colors on your plate
Foods like dark, leafy greens, oranges, and tomatoes—even fresh herbs—are loaded with vitamins, fiber, and minerals.

 

 

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

John 6:35

 

 

Learn more about nutrition at the CDC Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity