Tips for eating better, as a first step toward healthier living

Spring is right around the corner, and it’s a time for new beginnings. Maybe you’re thinking of planting a garden, or just imagining all the fresh fruits and vegetables that will soon be available.

Since March is National Nutrition Month, it’s a perfect time to focus on eating habits — and specifically on your nutrition.

We know that eating a variety of healthful foods and beverages can have a positive effect on your health, and will help you feel good, physically and mentally. Consuming foods and beverages that are less healthful can sap your energy, and over time can cause negative effects on your health.

Unhealthy eating patterns also can increase your risk for chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, some types of cancer, and heart disease.

Eating habits that include more vegetables and fruits are associated with better health. Unfortunately, most people don’t get enough fruits and vegetables. In Thurston County, we know that only 19% of middle school students consume enough fruit and vegetables. Adults generally do not do much better.

You can reduce your risk for getting a chronic disease by eating and drinking more foods that are healthier for you. Be sure to include foods from each of the five food groups:

• Fruits: fresh, canned, frozen, or dried
• Vegetables: fresh, frozen, canned, or dried/dehydrated
• Grains: any food made from wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, barley or another cereal grain; make half of the grains you eat whole grains
• Protein Foods: all foods made from meat, poultry, seafood, beans and peas, eggs, processed soy products, nuts, and seeds
• Dairy: all fluid milk products and many foods made from milk, foods made from milk that retain their calcium content, calcium-fortified soymilk (soy beverage)

To find out more about the five food groups, and how many servings you need from each, go to https://www.choosemyplate.gov/

Healthy eating is one of many topics covered in the Living Well Thurston Chronic Disease Self-Management 6-week workshop series that’s offered by Thurston County Public Health and Social Services. Living Well Thurston is a free program for people living with a chronic health condition like arthritis, chronic pain, depression, diabetes, heart disease, cancer or MS. Among the other topics covered in Living Well Thurston are physical activity, action planning, medication management, and pain/fatigue management.

These six-week workshops are free and intended for people with chronic health conditions and their caregivers. Participants can learn to set goals and better manage their health at the weekly 2½-hour sessions. They are based on the Self-Management Resource Center’s Chronic Disease Self-Management Program. Participants receive a free Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions book.

The next workshop series runs 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays from March 26 to April 30. Future workshops are being scheduled, at various times. For more information, or to register for the next workshop series, contact Lesley Price at 360-867-2515, or email PriceL@co.thurston.wa.us

Whether you’re taking a walk outside to enjoy some spring sunshine, or just relaxing with a healthy snack, spring is a great time to consider your nutrition, and make healthful changes in the foods you choose.