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Celebrating National Nutrition Month
As a dedicated food service company, we understand the pivotal role we play in fostering a healthy lifestyle for the students we serve, especially from a young age. Today, we'd like to share insights on making informed dietary choices to mitigate the risk of chronic diseases.
Prioritizing Dietary Harmony
In the realm of nutrition, envision meals as a palette of nourishing elements from diverse food groups.
Opt for nutrient-dense options, emphasizing foods rich in vitamins and minerals while minimizing those with added sugars, saturated fats, and sodium.
Key components of a balanced diet encompass:
Vegetables: Include a variety from leafy greens to lentils and starchy vegetables.
Fruits: Opt for whole fruits for their nutritional benefits.
Grains: Strive for at least half to be whole grains.
Dairy: Incorporate fat-free or low-fat milk, cheeses, yogurts, and lactose-free alternatives.
Protein Sources: Diversify with seafood, lean meats, eggs, beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, and soy products.
Oils: Integrate healthier options like vegetable oils, found in seafood and nuts.
Navigating Away from Unhealthy Choices
Awareness of Added Sugars
While sugars naturally occur in various foods, the focus should be on recognizing and limiting added sugars like brown sugar, corn syrup, maple syrup, and honey. Excessive consumption of added sugars contributes to unnecessary calorie intake.
Adhering to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, maintain added sugar calories at less than 10% of the total daily caloric intake.
Balancing Saturated Fats
Prioritize heart health by reducing saturated fats and cholesterol intake. It's noteworthy that, despite both having 9 calories per gram, unsaturated fats are the preferable option.
Monitoring Sodium Intake
Even seemingly non-salty foods may contain hidden sodium, such as pickles, cereal, or bread. Adhere to the recommended daily sodium intake of less than 2,300 mg for adults and less than 1,800 mg for children. Interestingly, one teaspoon of salt contains 2,300 mg of sodium.
Encouraging Physical Activity
A healthy lifestyle isn’t just linked to diet but to physical activity too! Establishing a routine of physical activity contributes significantly to bone health, cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, cognitive well-being, and mental health. It's a proactive measure to enhance overall wellness.
The Variety Way
We know the importance of doing our part to set our students up for success. Our esteemed chefs at Variety FoodServices make sure our students are getting an equally delicious & nutritious meal.
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