Nutrition For Your Sweetie- You!

Hi Everyone,
​
Happy February! February is always thought of as the month of Valentine’s Day and Love.  I offer the alternative of putting  a Nutrition Spin on it and think of it as Love for oneself and love for your body. It is a bit of an opposing concept when you  have been taught that wine, roses and chocolates  represent love.

 I know as a Nutritionist that taking care of your physical body is an even greater way of showing love to yourself,your family and even the people you work with. What would it be saying if you weren’t here in good health to share and be present with others?  We always have a choice. 

 For this heart month we have the reminder to follow a heart healthy diet as per the Guidelines of the American Heart Association.  Take a look at these:
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1.Use up at least as many calories as you take in.

· Start by knowing how many calories you should be eating and drinking to maintain your weight. Nutrition and calorie information on food labels is typically based on a 2,000 calorie diet. You may need fewer or more calories depending on several factors including age, gender, and level of physical activity.

· If you are trying not to gain weight, don’t eat more calories than you know you can burn up every day.

·  Increase the amount and intensity of your physical activity to match the number of calories you take in.

· Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity – or an equal combination of both – each week.

2.Eat a variety of nutritious foods from all the food groups.

You may be eating plenty of food, but your body may not be getting the nutrients it needs to be healthy. Nutrient-rich foods have minerals, protein, whole grains and other nutrients but are lower in calories. They may help you control your weight, cholesterol and blood pressure.

Eat an overall healthy dietary pattern that emphasizes:

·    a variety of fruits and vegetables,
·    whole grains,
·    low-fat dairy products,
·    skinless poultry and fish
·    nuts and legumes
·    non-tropical vegetable oils

Limit saturated fat, trans fat, sodium, red meat, sweets and sugar-sweetened beverages. If you choose to eat red meat, compare labels and select the leanest cuts available.

One of the diets that fits this pattern is the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) eating plan. Most healthy eating patterns can be adapted based on calorie requirements and personal and cultural food preferences.

3.Eat less of the nutrient-poor foods.
The right number of calories to eat each day is based on your age and physical activity level and whether you're trying to gain, lose or maintain your weight. You could use your daily allotment of calories on a few high-calorie foods and beverages, but you probably wouldn’t get the nutrients your body needs to be healthy.

Limit foods and beverages high in calories but low in nutrients. Also limit the amount of saturated fat, trans fat and sodium you eat. Read Nutrition Facts labels carefully — the Nutrition Facts panel tells you the amount of healthy and unhealthy nutrients in a food or beverage.

4.As you make daily food choices, base your eating pattern on these recommendations:
· Eat a variety of fresh, frozen and canned vegetables and fruits without high-calorie sauces or added salt and sugars. Replace high-calorie foods with fruits and vegetables.

· Choose fiber-rich whole grains for most grain servings. 

· Choose poultry and fish without skin and prepare them in healthy ways without added saturated and trans fat. If you choose to eat meat, look for the leanest cuts available and prepare them in healthy and delicious ways.  

· Eat a variety of fish at least twice a week, especially fish containing omega-3 fatty acids (for example, salmon, trout and herring).

 Select fat-free (skim) and low-fat (1%) dairy products.
 
· Avoid foods containing partially hydrogenated vegetable oils to reduce trans fat in your diet.
 
· Limit saturated fat and trans fat and replace them with the better fats, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. If you need to lower your blood cholesterol, reduce saturated fat to no more than 5 to 6 percent of total calories. For someone eating 2,000 calories a day, that’s about 13 grams of saturated fat.
 
· Cut back on beverages and foods with added sugars.  ]

·Choose foods with less sodium and prepare foods with little or no salt. To lower blood pressure, aim to eat no more than 2,400 milligrams of sodium per day. If you drink alcohol, drink in moderation. That means no more than one drink per day if you’re a woman and no more than two drinks per day if you’re a man. 

5. Don’t smoke tobacco — and avoid secondhand smoke.
 
Still Considering Wine and Chocolates?
​ Take a look at these facts before you decide.
  Let’s see how the Nutrition Stacks up!

Alcoholic Beverages-
Chardonnay  50z = 125 calories
Pino Grigio  5 oz = 123 calories
Cabernet   5oz= 122 calories
Beer  12 oz = 154 calories
Brandy 1.5 oz-= 104 calories
Cordial (sweet) 1 oz= 100 calories

Sweets for your Sweetie?
Chocolates-  1 oz= 150 calories
1 pound box of chocolates= 2400 calories
4 hershey  kisses = 100 calories
1 Godiva chocolate truffle= 100 calories
4 chocolate dipped strawberries= 164 calories
 
For more information on Nutrition Counseling contact Nancy at 904-687-0720 
or info@feedingthebodyfeedingthesoul.com
Nutrition in St Johns, Nutrition in St. Augustine, Nutrition in Jacksonville

Proud to be a Registered Dietitian RDN LDN

Nutritional counseling for food allergies: Nutrition, Focus, and You