By Andrea Wagner, MS, RDN, CD, CLS, Clinical Nutrition Supervisor, Aspirus Riverview Hospital & Clinics
Special to the City Times

Each March, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics encourages Americans to return to the basics of healthy eating. Aspirus Riverview’s Food & Nutrition Services Department and Diabetes & Nutrition Center have this same focus and commitment to the nutritional health of our patients, employees and community.

Andrea Wagner. (Courtesy Aspirus Riverview)

National Nutrition Month began as National Nutrition Week back in 1973. By 1980, it was so popular it became National Nutrition Month. Within National Nutrition Month is Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) day on March 8.

The 2017 National Nutrition Month campaign focuses on improving the health quality of our diets. The theme “Put Your Best Fork Forward” reminds us that each bite counts, and that making just small shifts in our food choices can add up over time. Whether cooking at home or eating at a restaurant, let this year’s theme inspire you to start making small changes.

Making small changes at home can sometimes be the easiest, as you have more control over what foods are brought into the home. Think about making small changes like:

• Baking instead of frying
• Choosing fruit for dessert or snacks in place of sweets
• Using beans in place of meat in casseroles, soups and stews
• Downloading new healthy recipes to try once a week

You can make healthier choices when out at a restaurant as well. Try small changes like:

• Ordering a side salad or baked potato in place of French fries
• Choosing water or an unsweetened beverage in place of regular soda
• Ordering from the “lite” section of the menu, if available
• Sharing your main course with a friend or family member

Join Aspirus Riverview and people across America in celebrating National Nutrition Month 2017 by embracing activities in your lifestyle that encourage good health! Some other activities you may enjoy include:

• Experimenting with your favorite recipes to add healthier ingredients
• Starting a new walking program or changing your current workout routine
• Making a list of your favorite healthy foods and incorporating them into new recipes
• Searching the library for new and interesting cookbooks
• Practicing cooking more foods at home

To learn more about healthful eating or the “Put Your Best Fork Forward” campaign, visit www.eatright.org/nnm or www.Choosemyplate.gov. Aspirus Riverview registered dietitians are also available to answer your nutrition questions or to schedule an appointment to discuss your individual nutrition needs. To learn more about Aspirus Riverview’s nutrition services and educational programs, call us at 715-421-7566. (Appointments with a registered dietitian may or may not be covered by individual insurance plans.)