National Nutrition Month 2017

Welcome to National Nutrition Month^® (NNM) 2017! The theme for this month is Put Your Best Food Forward. The goal of this year's theme is to remind us to make healthy food choices every time you pick up your fork.  

I'm a big proponent of small, healthy changes leading to big results. Every small, healthy change you make has beneficial health outcomes today and in the future. Each small change compounds over time to produce big changes.

This month, I'm sharing a few ways to put your best fork forward. The key themes for this month include: 

- Make healthy eating a habit. Include healthy foods in your meals and snacks.

- Healthy eating is about food choices and food quantities. What we eat is as important as how much we eat.

- Cooking at home can help you put your best fork forward. Try different cooking techniques and experiment with different ingredients. Try a new vegetable or spice.

- Include physical activity into your day. Choose something fun! Try a new sport or invite a family member or friend to walk and talk.

This month, we're going to focus on integrating healthy eating choices into a healthy lifestyle. Throughout the month of March, I'm sharing my RD tips for making healthy choices at the grocery store, during meals, and at snack time. Stay tuned for my tips, recipes, and more!

If you want to know more about NNM, here's a little history about how NNM started. And, these are the past themes for NNM since 2000.

2000 - Food and Fitness: Healthy for a Lifetime
2001 - Food and Fitness: Build a Healthy Lifestyle

2002 - Start Today for a Healthy Tomorrow

2003 - Healthy Eating, Healthy You

2004 - Eat Smart -- Stay Healthy
2005 - Get a Taste for Nutrition

2006 - Step Up to Nutrition and Healthy

2007 - 100% Fad Free
2008 - Nutrition: It's a Matter or Fact
2009 - Eat Right!

2010 - Nutrition from the Ground Up

2011 - Eat Right with Color
2012 - Get Your Plate in Shape

2013 - Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day

2014 - Enjoy the Taste of Eating Right

2015 - Bite into a Healthy Lifestyle

2016 - Savor the Flavor of Eating Right

For more tips, encouragement, and recipes for a healthy lifestyle, you can follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. 

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2017 Goals

Each new year provides a fresh start. Each new day provides an opportunity and blank slate. New is fresh. New is clean. Today, I'm sharing my goals for this new year. 

We've talked about setting goals and defining success. Here are my goals for 2017.

1) Try 12 new recipes.
In 2016, I tried more than 30 new recipes. I like to try recipes exactly as written the first time cooking them. Then, I like to tweak the recipe to my tastes. I'm planning to slow down on trying new recipes and work on perfecting a few recipes this year.

If you're looking for some yummy recipes, here are some of my favorite recipes from 2016:

Blueberry Thyme Crisp

Chicken Marsala

Chicken Cordon Blue Sliders

3 Hummus Recipes

Homemade Granola

Jalapeno Chicken Sliders

Fresh Summer Salad

Lasagna Bake

Grilled Shrimp Poboy

2) Read 10 books.
This goal means that I'm reading about 1 book a month. I gave myself a little grace to have more time for longer books or challenging books that take longer to read. I also know how busy certain times of the year are (aka the holiday season), so 10 books it is! 

I have a running list of books to read, but I would love to hear your recommendations. What books should I read in 2017?

Here are some of my favorite books from 2016:
- Bread and Wine by Shauna Neiquist
- Present over Perfect by Shauna Neiquist
- Let's All Be Brave by Annie F. Downs

3) Be physically active consistently.
I've discussed the benefits of physical activity and the American Heart Association's recommendations for adults. I know the benefits and want to continue to be physically active consistently. 

Its important to set short term goals and rewards for long-term goals. My physical activity goal is a long-term goal. So, I set rewards like purchasing new tennis shoes or a work-out outfit. I also motivate myself by making new playlists with fresh, new music, so I'm excited to work-out. What motivates you to be physically active?

4) Learn and improve a skill.
I haven't fully flushed out this goal, and I'm still working on making this a SMART goal. I may continue to take some cooking or baking classes. Or, I may try to learn a new skill like photography. You don't have to limit goal setting to just January. This goals is to be continues, so stay tuned.
 

Last year, I learned to make tortellini and ravioli pasta. 

I took a cake decorating class and a cookie decorating class. They were so fun! Stay tuned for more!!!

What are your 2017 goals? Comment below or share on social media using hashtag #healthyRD. For more tips, encouragement, and recipes for a healthy lifestyle, you can follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. 

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Setting Healthy Goals

Happy New Year! About this time of year, everyone is ready for a fresh start. The business of the holiday season is over. It's a new year. Time for goals. I like setting goals and resolutions; however, I do realize some people are anti-resolutions. You can read more about my love of goals here.

For those who have tried to set goals and not had success, here are my tips:

1) Make SMART goals.
SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely. Making specific goals is a way to set set yourself up for success. If you have a big or long-term goal like running a marathon, consider setting smaller, short-term goals. For example, your goal may be:
Long-term goals: Be more physically active. Run a marathon.
Short-term goals: Be physically active 30 minutes for 5 days a week. Run a 10-minute mile by February 28.

2) Define success.
What is your definition of success? How will you measure your success? If you've set SMART goals, your success will be defined in the goal. For me, any positive change or progress is a success.

3) Give yourself grace.
Many of my clients express frustration, anger, or are self-deprecating when they don't reach their goals. Goals are an opportunity to grow and change. Any positive change is a good change.

For example, let's say your goal is to run a marathon. If you run a 5K, is that success? I think any progress in a healthy direction is successful. Would you have been able to run a 5K before? If not, you met a small goal and made healthy progress. Celebrate it!

So, let's set goals for 2017. Start fresh. And, give yourself grace. 

What are your goals for 2017? Feel free to comment below or share them on social media with the hashtag #healthyRD. I'll be sharing my goals and progress with #RDTODgoals and #healthyRD. Join me in my journey to health.

For more tips, encouragement, and recipes for a healthy lifestyle, you can follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. 

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