Dig into National Nutrition Month all through March

Whether it’s following a pyramid (old school) or a plate diagram, finding a good system for eating right is well worth the time and effort. And during National Nutrition Month, there’s no better time to slow down, look at your diet and see if there are changes to be made.

This year’s theme is “Put Your Best Fork Forward,” and there are loads of tips and tricks to be found in this toolkit put out by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Here you’ll find ways to get the community involved, plan your own nutrition awareness event and much more. If you’re a registered dietician, or work with one (or a team), consider partnering up to organize some fun, informational programming in the workplace.

What we eat, and how much we eat, is a big deal. Dining out often means huge portions, hidden fat and sugar, and much more. Consider starting to cook and eat at home as one way to get your diet under control — and save some cash at the same time. Who knows, that dusty veggie cookbook you got for Christmas a few years back may contain your new favorite recipe!

Exercise is right in there with diet, so as you’re looking for ways to up the ante in terms of mindful, healthy eating, explore putting your best foot forward as well. Even if it’s just a 30- minute walk after dinner, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator, every little bit helps.

And finally, keep in mind that diet and exercise are the twin pillars of good health. If you’re in good shape, keep those good habits up — and maybe add in one or two new ones/ Tired, run down, overweight or dealing with a diagnosis of hypertension, type 2 diabetes or other issue? Know that a healthy diet along with a sensible exercise program can help reduce or even eliminate these ailments, and all the worry that goes along with them.

Not sure where to start? Try talking to a registered dietician, a personal trainer — or both. Sure, it’s an investment, but getting professional help (and having someone to hold you accountable) is a terrific way to start down, or keep moving on, the path to a happier, healthier life.

Bon appetit!

American Heart Month reminds us to take care now — and plan for the future

We talk a lot about a “heart healthy" diet, or go to the gym for cardio classes — but what does all that mean?

If you’re not sure, or need some pointers on taking care of the ol’ ticker, then there’s no better time to get educated than American Heart Month, brought to us by the American Heart Association. First, some sobering statistics:

•          Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States
•          One in four deaths every year are caused by heart disease

And now some good news: Healthy choices when it comes to diet and exercise can go a long way toward preventing heart disease entirely, or slowing its progression. And this is a situation where everyone can work together to support each other on the journey to a healthier heart.

The Centers for Disease Control has a few great tips:

•          Schedule a doctor’s visit to talk about heart health (Had that annual checkup yet?).
•          Add exercise to your day; start slow at first, then try to work up to 30 minutes at least three times a week.
•          Cook heart-healthy meals at least three times a week — in particular, watch the salt.
•          Smoker? Stop. Nothing else to say, except to call 1-800-QUIT-NOW and know that you’re not alone.
•          Are you on medication for cholesterol or high blood pressure? Be sure to take it as prescribed.

Want to get the word out about the importance of heart health? The government’s Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion has put tougher a great toolkit with sample tweets, articles and other information that’s easy to grab and post to your social media channels. Take a look, find the right message you want to send, and join Scrubin Uniforms in the fight for healthy hearts everywhere!