Iredell Health System is offering guidance on how to tackle common challenges associated with healthy eating. This comes as part of National Nutrition Month, an initiative by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, which began as a week-long observance in 1973 and expanded to a month-long celebration in 1980.
Michele Privott, a registered dietitian at Iredell Health System, shared insights into making nutritious eating more accessible. She described time constraints as a significant hurdle for many individuals attempting to maintain a healthy diet.
“What I hear most often is ‘I don’t have time to cook.’ My response is always ‘healthy eating is not quick and easy,’” Privott said. She advises planning meals ahead of time and dedicating specific days for meal preparation.
Privott highlighted the ease of finding recipes that fit various dietary needs online, suggesting this as a method for efficient meal planning. She also emphasized the importance of kitchen essentials: “Kitchen essentials are a must. That may sound simple, but I’ve had patients who didn’t know what a colander was.”
To address cost concerns, Privott recommended shopping smartly by choosing sales and store brands, buying seasonal produce, and considering canned or frozen options which tend to last longer than fresh items.
“Less is best,” she advised regarding food choices. Privott suggested opting for foods with minimal ingredients like peanut butter containing only peanuts and salt.
Regarding beverages, she noted the high sugar content in many drinks: “The American Heart Association recommends that men limit their added sugar to nine teaspoons a day and women and children to six teaspoons a day.” As alternatives, she proposed low-sugar carbonated waters or pre-biotic sodas.
Finally, Privott encouraged people to listen to their body’s hunger cues: “It takes your stomach 15 minutes to let your brain know there’s food in there… Engage our senses. Eat until you’re satisfied, not until you’re stuffed.”
For those seeking further assistance with nutrition goals, consulting with a registered dietitian through one’s primary care provider could be beneficial.
