Welcome to week three of #NationalNutritionMonth. Thank you for coming back! This week we’ll be talking about trying new foods and flavors, the value of sharing meals together, and highlighting food safety. Read on.
You might not think that trying new foods can help us stay healthy. But there are so many (delicious) benefits in eating a variety of foods from all the food groups. Around the globe, people eat different kinds of meals prepared in a variety of delicious ways. Besides gaining an appreciation for other cultures it can provide more ideas for recipes if you ever feel like you’re stuck. Did you know that people in Vietnam, China, and Tunisia often start their day with soup? Check out our site for more recipe ideas and click on the links below for more:
https://www.mahealthyfoodsinasnap.org/healthy-foods
https://www.eatright.org/health/lifestyle/culture-and-traditions/global-foods-for-a-healthy-plate
What if you are interested in trying new foods but other members of your household are unsure? When introducing new foods, it can be great to include them as a snack and think of them as a *taste*. There is less pressure if it’s not part of a meal. If a new food is being introduced at mealtime, make sure to include other foods you know your household enjoys. Cooking food in a different way can make all the difference. Maybe that steamed broccoli isn’t a hit but roasted is! And remember, it can take trying a new food 10-12 times before *deciding* whether you like it or not. For more tips, click on the link below:
https://www.eatright.org/food/nutrition/eating-as-a-family/children-and-picky-eating
Did you know that sharing meals improve your household’s health? Studies show that sharing meals decreases our risk for chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease, increases the number of fruits and vegetables we eat, and our children are less likely to experience obesity in adulthood. Wow, that’s a lot for simply sharing a meal! Get started by scheduling mealtime together three nights a week. Get your family involved by having someone clear off the table and somebody else helps with meal prep. Turn off those electronics and enjoy one another’s company. Find out more tips below:
https://www.eatright.org/food/nutrition/eating-as-a-family/fake-a-homemade-dinner
What about food safety? We want to make sure the meals we’re preparing taste good and keep us healthy. We *don’t* want to expose our household to contaminated food! Let’s go over the four ‘C’s. And remember, this time, a ‘C’ is an ‘A’!
- Clean: wash your hands, clean the surfaces you prep food on, and wash your fruits and vegetables;
- Don’t Cross Contaminate: keep raw meat, chicken, and seafood away from foods that will not be cooked. Use separate cutting boards, knives, utensils, and plates for raw and cooked food. Wash your hands throughout meal prep;
- Cook: be sure to cook your food to the proper temperature using a thermometer. You can’t tell if something is cooked simply by looking; and
- Chill: foods need to be refrigerated within two hours.
For more tips, check out this video:
https://www.mahealthyfoodsinasnap.org/healthy-foods/food-safety
Thanks for stopping by. We are enjoying sharing #NationalNutritionMonth with you! Join us next week when we’ll have a special visitor!
