National Nutrition month® is a yearly, educational
campaign to bring awareness of better dietary choices. This year’s theme is “Eat Right, Your Way,
Every Day,” and is a reminder to try and work healthy foods, that suit your
individual needs and preferences, into your daily lifestyle. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has
some great tips for eating right on the go and at restaurants, but many of their
suggestions can also be applied to eating well right here on campus:
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Think ahead
and plan where you will eat. Use the
myubcard.com website to look at menus for the different dining locations, and
also the nutrition facts, to help make a decision about where you want to eat.
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Read menus
for fat and calorie content. When
dining on campus, our website does list nutrition values for most food
items. You can also contact the
Registered Dietitian for more info or if you cannot find what you are looking
for.
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Order a child-sized
portion in place of the main course.
This is good advice for dining out at fast food places or restaurants,
as many portion sizes have gotten HUGE over the years. On campus, for serve-yourself options, be
aware of how much you are taking. Often
our eyes are bigger than our plates, but when people fill up their plate they
also tend to eat everything even after they are full. Start with a smaller portion – you can always
go back for more.
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Keep
healthy, portable snacks in your purse or backpack. Some ideas are granola bars, crackers with
peanut butter, a piece of fresh fruit, snack mix. Healthy snacking can keep you fueled during
the day and also can help prevent overeating at main meals.
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At the
salad bar, pile on the dark leafy greens, carrots, peppers, and other fresh
vegetables. Go easy on the cheeses,
creamy dressing, and higher-fat toppings.
Make healthier eating part of everyday living! For more information, check out the Academy
of Nutrition and Dietetics website, www.eatright.org. While geared towards nutrition professionals,
this website does have much information for the public. Click on the “Public” tab at the top to see
tips, fact sheets, and other resources.
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