Healthier Food Choices
VA Dietitian works with a Veteran at the 2018 National Nutrition Day event.
Celebrate National Nutrition Month with these tips.
Many Americans resolve to improve their health each New Years, but find their efforts slumping by February and March. If we are so motivated to make changes, what keeps us from reaching our goals? Below are a few hints and tips to help keep your health goals on track in 2019.
Are you following a fad diet?
If you’re following a restrictive diet with rigid and specific food combinations in order to lose quick weight, you have found the latest “fad diet”. Popular fad diets currently are the keto diet, the intermittent fasting diet, and a variety of “cleanses”. When you hear about a new diet, ask yourself, “Could I eat like this every day?”. If the answer is no, meet with a VAdietitian to see what other nutrition options there are for you.
Is your goal achievable?
So how exactly do you plan to “eat better” and “exercise more”? What does that mean to you? Will you eat more vegetables? Choose smaller portions?
Drink more water? Make your goal SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound). Eat off of a 9 inch plate (you will save at the grocery store too). Start a walking program by walking four days a week.
Do you believe you “need to go extreme” in order to be successful?
Healthy weight loss is 1-2 pounds a week, despite what marketing ads say. While it’s easy to get discouraged with slower progress, take the opportunity to remind
yourself about the short term benefits of diet and exercise, such as increased energy and better sleep. Engage in activities that benefit mind and body, such as yoga or hiking.
Your health and wellness will be determined by the behaviors you engage in every day or most days of the week. Make 2019 your year of health by meeting with a VA dietitian at one of the clinics or at the VA hospital (phone appointments available and no referral needed) to set some SMART goals!
For more information on VA Nutrition and Food Services:
www.lasvegas.va.gov/services/Move_Program.asp
