More Than Food

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March is Nutrition Month! This year, dietitians want you to know that healthy eating is about so much more than food - how you eat is important too! Canada’s Food Guide provides messaging around what to eat in order to meet your daily nutrient requirements, but it also speaks to supporting healthy eating in how we eat. Specifically,

Eat with others

Be mindful of your eating habits

Cook more often

Enjoy your food       

Eat with others has many positive benefits for health. Sharing the enjoyment of good food may encourage you to eat more of the foods that you need to stay healthy. Try:

  • joining a lunch group

  • eating with a neighbour

  • inviting a family member over

  • planning a potluck with friends

  • Check local seniors’ community centres and ask about monthly lunches or community kitchens you could join.

Mindful eating means being aware of how, why, what, when, where and how much you eat. It means listening to your own hunger cues, taking the time to eat and to enjoy your food, so your brain can get the signal you are eating. It also involves eliminating distractions or doing something else while you are eating. Being mindful can help you to:

  • make healthier choices more often

  • make positive changes to routine eating behaviours

  • be more conscious of the food you eat and your eating habits

  • create a sense of awareness around your every day eating decisions

Cook more often experimenting with new recipes and foods. Plan and cook with others. Batch cook to enjoy a meal today and freeze extra servings to have another. Keep simple, healthy ingredients on hand that can be used to create a quick meal such as bagged leafy greens, pre-cut vegetables for snacks and stir-fries, canned fish, frozen or canned vegetables and canned beans and lentils to toss into soups, salads and main dishes. And for those busy days, try ordering some of our frozen meals from our My Choice Menu to have on hand!

Looking for new recipe ideas?

In addition to a recipe e-book, there are 25 new recipes for Nutrition Month in Cookspiration that are perfect for sharing! Cookspiration is a free, bilingual app and website from Dietitians of Canada.

Enjoy your food, even if you are your own diner party. Sitting down to eat a meal by yourself can feel lonely. Try these ideas to keep it enjoyable:

  • Set the table

  • Buy a bouquet of flowers to enjoy

  • Use your good china!

  • Sit by a window for light and fresh air

  • Invite a friend to join you

  • Listen to some of your favourite music

Bringing our community together with food! Whether you receive our daily meal delivery - Our Chef’s Daily Special, or periodically order from our frozen My Choice Menu, you are joining thousands of other Calgarians who enjoy our meals to support their healthy eating goals. Our meals are nutritious and locally prepared for you, inspired by both traditional favourites and new cuisine flavours. We welcome you to our table and hope you enjoy our food and who you are eating it with!

Happy Nutrition Month, everyone!

Adapted from the Dietitians of Canada’s Nutrition Month materials. Find more information about Nutrition Month at www.nutritionmonth2020.ca

This information is provided by our Registered Dietitian and is not meant to replace advice from your medical doctor or health professional regarding your individual needs. It is intended for

educational and informational purposes only.

 

Brittney Edge