March is Nutrition Month! I am sharing simple and realistic ways to help boost your overall health and wellness through better nutrition on ABC Tampa!
My first tip is to snack smarter.
Snacks can absolutely fit into a healthy eating plan. They an provide an energy boost between meals and help fill in nutrient gaps. Build what I call a snack with staying power by pairing protein with fiber. Fresh Cravings hummus checks both of those boxes and is made with a short list of high quality whole food ingredients including chickpeas, savory tahini and Chilean Extra Virgin Olive Oil and comes in a range of flavors including classic and roasted red pepper. You can find Fresh Cravings Hummus in the deli section at Walmart. Build a satisfying snack by pairing hummus with whole grain crackers or sliced veggies like celery sticks. Dandy’s celery is sweeter, crispier, crunchier, and less stringy than any other celery brand on grocery store shelves. It’s available in a variety of pre-washed, pre-cut pack sizes to reduce your time spent meal prepping in the kitchen. Besides using it as a nutritious low calorie chip substitute for dipping, enjoy it stuffed with your favorite fillings like no added sugar nut butter or hummus and a sprinkle of paprika March is also National Celery Month, and Dandy celery is celebrating with a month long “stalk up for spring” sweepstakes. You can enter to win through March 31st at dudafresh.com.
Next, studies suggest that the majority of American adults fall short on meeting their recommended 1 ½ to 2 ½ cup servings of fruit and 2 to 4 cup servings of veggies for the day.
Help meet your needs by adding a handful of berries to your morning oatmeal, throwing leftover fruits and veggies from the fridge into a salad, or incorporating Suja’s cold-pressed juices into your daily routine. Suja offers cold pressed juices and functional shots that are crafted with daily wellness and nutrition in mind. They are blended with non-gmo, USDA certified organic fruits, veggies and functional ingredients like turmeric and ginger, to empower you with the essentials needed to take charge of you! Enjoy them on their own or incorporate into an all-day-energy smoothie using the formula from my new book, Mostly plant-based by combining fruit, protein, fiber rich fats and veggies like spinach, riced cauliflower or cold-pressed juice. You can find Suja at major retailers nationwide in the refrigeration section and at sujaorganic.com.
Next, make meal time easy by using the plate method to balance your plate with produce, protein and fiber-rich carbohydrates.
It can be as easy as shredded chicken tacos on whole grain tortillas with pico de gallo or black bean carnitas burrito bowls with vegetables and brown rice. The newly launched HERDEZ™ Refrigerated Entrées provide convenient and versatile on-trend protein options made with fresh and traditional ingredients, with no artificial flavors or added preservatives. These Mexican-inspired ready-to-serve Refrigerated Meat entrées allow you to recreate your favorite restaurant-style dishes at home in less than 10 minutes – from tacos and burritos to enchiladas and nachos. HERDEZ™ Refrigerated Entrées is now available in 15-ounce packages a Publix stores across the U.S.
Finally, satisfy your sweet cravings with better-for-you options
N!CK’S Swedish-style light ice cream is so creamy and delicious, you wouldn’t believe that it has less calories and net carbs than most other light ice creams in the freezer aisle and is keto-friendly. N!CK’S protein bars are coated in milk chocolate and feature 12 to 15 grams of protein per bar. Even though they taste like candy bars, they have no added sugar and are keto-friendly. You can find N!CK’S Swedish-style light ice cream and protein bars locally at Publix and Walmart.
