Press Release

Click HERE to close this window and return to the Union County Health Department site.

Healthy Eating, Healthy You

Eating is one of life’s greatest pleasures. There are so many foods and ways to build a healthy lifestyle-there is lots of room for choice. March is National Nutrition Month and the Union County Health Department joins the American Dietetic Association in promoting Healthy Eating, Healthy You and as a means to a healthy lifestyle.

The American Dietetic Association suggests the following tips for building a healthy lifestyles:
• Healthy eating helps you get the most out of life. A healthy lifestyle is the key to looking good, feeling great and being your best at work and play. It all starts with a healthy eating plan.

• Individual needs and preferences determine your personal food choices. Match your food choices to your lifestyle and individual requirements, choosing enough to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

• Actively pursue variety. Expand your range of choices and explore new tastes, within and among food groups. Eating a wide variety of foods not only promotes optimal nutrition, it provides the pleasurable aspects of eating.

• Make moderation your goal- you decide how much and how often. Healthy eating doesn’t mean feeling deprived or guilty. Look at the big picture, what you eat over several days-not just one day or one meal-that’s important.

• Develop a personal fitness plan that fits your lifestyle. The key is to find a variety of activities you enjoy. You don’t need expensive equipment or complicated fitness programs.

• Build a healthy lifestyle. Let the Food Guide Pyramid guide you so that you get the vitamins, minerals, energy and other healthful substances from foods your body needs each day. Make grains, especially whole grains, fruits, and vegetables the foundation of your meals. This forms a base for good nutrition and health. Foods that are safe from harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites, and chemical contaminants are vital for healthful eating.

For more information on nutrition and healthy eating, contact the American Dietetic Association via the web at www.eatright.org. The Union County Health Department has a licensed dietician available for nutrition counseling or information at (937) 642-0801.