Spring into healthy eating

Spring is all about new beginnings as snow melts away and tree buds start to bloom.

March is National Nutrition Month, so if you’ve been thinking about freshening up some of your eating habits, now is a great time to start.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a healthy diet can lead to a longer life, support proper development, and help lower your risk of obesity and the chronic conditions associated with it — heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and certain cancers.

“Celebrate a World of Flavors” is this year’s theme for nutrition month, which aims to highlight global cultures and cuisines. Since some ethnic foods are high in fat and cholesterol, you may have to flip the script before indulging in your favorite Chinese, Italian, Jamaican or other world cuisines.

“I tell my clients to enjoy your cultural food, but sometimes you have to give it a facelift,” said Roniece Weaver, a registered dietitian and founder of Hebni Nutrition Consultants in Orlando, Fla. “If there’s sour cream in the recipe, use lite sour cream. If the recipe requires cheese or milk, use low-fat cheese and low-fat milk.”

When developing a healthy diet, focus on small portions, refrain from fatty and fried food, and eat lean fish or chicken, Weaver said. And while everyone loves a good sauce, use sauces sparingly because they could be high in sodium, calories and sugar.

For members who need extra support, MESSA covers six free preventive nutritional counseling visits with an in-network provider per year for members and dependents with medical coverage. For more information about this benefit, call MESSA’s Member Service Center at 800-336-0013 or connect with us via live chat through your MyMESSA account or the MESSA app.