Create Healthy Habits, One Bite At A Time

March is here, bringing nutrition to the front of our minds; after all, swimsuit season is in sight. Dedicate the month of March to feeling your best, by listening to the needs of your body and being intentional about the energy you feed it. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has deemed March as National Nutrition Month, the perfect opportunity to let go of any guilt from not meeting your New Year’s Resolution goals, and start again on your path to a healthy body.

This year’s theme, “Put Your Best Fork Forward” is focused on the importance of every bite, and that even small adjustments to your eating habits can improve your health. We’ve paraphrased their highlighting principles and hope they help lead you to a healthier you.

Find Food Varieties That You Actually Like

We all know how hard it is to change our eating habits, especially when it means eating foods that we really hate. Of course some things might not be our natural go-tos (or they would already be a part of our routine), but by exploring new flavors, we can surprise ourselves. Discover new fruits, like UK Instagrammer AlphaFoodie, and start adding new flavors into your diet. 

Looking for some creative ideas, especially for healthy snacks? SDEntertainer has you covered. Find out how to snack happy all year long.

Experiment with Cooking At Home

Check out your local farmer’s market and grab some of the freshest ingredients in town. As your eyes land on a beautiful bunch of leafy greens, let it be inspiration for a new salad recipe. Have some fun and make a game out of it. Choose three items that you are drawn to, and find or create a recipe out of those items. It’s like your very own (less brutal) version of Top Chef. Creativity in the kitchen makes eating healthy fun, rather than a chore. San Diego blogger, Kellen, might help you get started. 

Choose the Right Portion Size For Your Body

Sponsored by the USDA, MyPlate helps you build a healthy lifestyle while offering educational resources and providing personalized health challenges. All bodies are not created equal, and MyPlate recognizes that. Let the combination of fruits, grains, vegetables, protein, and dairy proportionally fill your plate, not a triangle chart. 

Photo Credit: USDA- Flickr, Creative Commons

Choose Activities That Will Get Your Body Moving

Because San Diego is filled with sunny days, getting outside is rarely a problem. Rent a Deco Bike and explore a new neighborhood. Join a yoga class on Sunset Cliffs and stretch your body while enjoying a beautiful sunset. Head to a club in Downtown and dance the night away, going as long as you can without stopping. Exercise doesn’t have to look like running on a treadmill inside a stale gym–find out what makes you smile!

Find a Dietitian or Health Coach

Photo Credit: Army Medicine, Flickr-Creative Commons (Cropped)

We could all use a little extra guidance. It’s easy to get side-tracked and forget our health goals, especially when we are first getting started. Tell a friend that you are trying to get healthy, and have them ask you how the process is going each time they see you. Or hire a health coach that really knows what they are doing. Ask them to create a weekly menu and workout plan for you to help you get started, and learn how you can eventually adapt the plan to make it your own. The focus is on your health, which includes your mental and emotional well-being, so find a nutritionist that understands where you are starting and is dedicated to helping you grow.

In conjunction with this year’s theme, put your best fork forward and don’t let the long list of changes deter you from taking the first step. You got this!