By Rachel Rothman, M.S., R.D.
At Healthy Dining, we love talking about and celebrating nutrition! Sponsored by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, National Nutrition Month® takes place every March. It is a month-long celebration of good food and balanced nutrition. The emphasis is on making informed decisions when it comes to the food you are eating, and at Healthy Dining, we couldn’t agree more! This year’s theme for National Nutrition Month® is “Enjoy the Taste of Eating Right.” The focus is on combining good flavor with healthy food options, making your choices the tastiest and very best. Pick the flavors you love that also nourish your body. Here are some great ways to flavor and spice up your foods while keeping them healthy and low calorie:
- Add spices: Try salt-free spices such as basil, garlic powder or cumin. Feeling adventurous? Why not make your own spice blend at home? Mix your favorite flavors together and add them to your meats or vegetables. Try this great recipe for homemade taco seasoning.
- Use Greek yogurt in place of sour cream and mayonnaise in recipes. Save on fat and calories with a burst of added protein. Try Greek yogurt as a topping to burritos, or add it to homemade tuna salad.
- Enjoy brownies or cookies? Use applesauce in place of oil in baked goods. The applesauce adds a bit of sweetness without the added fat of oil or butter.
What are the flavors you love? And stay tuned for our Ask the RD blog post next week – we asked our team of registered dietitians for their favorite tips when dining out and how they are celebrating National Nutrition Month.