March 14 - Nutrition Month Highlights Healthy Eating, Active Living, Canada

Your mother was right! Eating your fruits, vegetables and whole grains will make you healthier and help you feel great. That's the message the Canadian Diabetes Association is helping to spread during the month of March, which is National Nutrition Month®, sponsored by Dietitians of Canada.

A good first step is to consult the Dietitians of Canada top 10 tips for what you need to know about food and nutrition, available here.

'The importance of healthy eating is a message that the Canadian Diabetes Association actively promotes,' said Sharon Zeiler, Senior Manager, Nutrition Initiatives and Strategies. 'I hope these tips will encourage everyone to follow a healthier lifestyle.'

For those who want to prevent chronic disease, such as type 2 diabetes, here are some key points from the dietitians' list:

- Give your food portions a makeover. Tune in to moderation in serving sizes. Larger servings add up to extra calories that can lead to weight gain. Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide and the Canadian Diabetes Association's Beyond the Basics resource can show you realistic portion sizes to help keep your body healthy.

- Want to feel your best? Eat well and get physical. Healthy eating AND physical activity are both essential to maintain and improve health.

- Colour your world with vegetables and fruit. Dark green and deep orange vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, squash and carrots are full of health -promoting anti-oxidants. Most vegetables without sauce are quite low in calories and so may help maintain a healthy weight.

- Quality counts. Whether at home, school, work, or play keep healthy food choices top of mind. Your body needs more than 50 nutrients each day to keep it working its best. Make healthy choices such as whole grain breads for sandwiches, colourful fruits for snacks, and yogurt to tide you over until dinner.

- Be a savvy shopper. Get the nutrition facts on foods from the label. All packaged food in Canada must now contain a Nutrition Facts table which gives you important information about serving size and 13 nutrients.

'National Nutrition Month is the perfect time to make a personal commitment to eat well and be active,' said Sharon Zeiler. 'I hope Canadians are encouraged to make and keep their commitment to healthier living all year long.'

Source: Canadian Diabetes Association

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