The theme for National Nutrition Month this March is Nutrition From the Ground Up, says LSU AgCenter nutritionist Beth Reames.

This year’s campaign focuses attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits, she adds.

National Nutrition Month is sponsored annually by the American Dietetic Association.

“We can build healthier diets and start down a path of health and wellness by choosing nutrient-rich foods that provide the most nutrients per calorie,” Reames says.

“The nutrient-rich-foods way of eating emphasizes choosing foods based on their total nutrient package, including vitamins and minerals, instead of choosing foods based only on what they don’t contain – saturated fat, sugar and salt,” she adds. “It offers a positive foundation to help build overall healthier eating habits and meet nutrition needs over a lifetime.”

Reames says choosing nutrient-rich foods first is a positive and realistic way to think about eating and focuses on enjoying food instead of avoiding it. Selecting nutrient-rich foods and beverages first is a way to make better choices within your daily eating plan.

Reames recommends first choosing among the basic food groups from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s MyPyramid, including:

– Brightly colored fruits and 100-percent fruit juices.

– Vibrantly colored vegetables and potatoes.

– Whole, fortified and fiber-rich grain foods.

– Low-fat and fat-free milk, cheese and yogurt.

– Lean meats, poultry, fish, eggs, beans and nuts.

Additional information about eating healthfully is available from LSU AgCenter agents in your parish and on the AgCenter Web site at www.lsuagcenter.com.

Rick Bogren