THE ACADEMY OF Nutrition and Dietetics has sponsored National Nutrition Month each March since 1980.
This promotion focuses attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits.
The theme for this year is "Enjoy the Taste of Eating Right," a reminder that taste tops nutrition as the main preference when Americans buy food.
The good news is that you can combine good taste and nutrition. All it requires is enhancing flavor—while retaining nutrients—without adding extra fat, calories or salt (see tips below).
Start by using the highest-quality ingredients when they are at peak quality. Proper handling and storage are also factors, since poor storage can destroy flavor and nutrients.
Overcooking can be just as destructive. Be sensitive to retaining nutrients, flavor, color, texture and overall appeal.
Keep in mind that cooking can't improve poor-quality foods, but it can enhance the flavor of high-quality ingredients.
; Flavors of meat, poultry and fish can be intensified with high-heat cooking techniques such as pan searing, grilling or broiling.
; Add a zesty taste with citrus juice or grated citrus peel.
; Caramelize onions to bring out natural sweetness.
; Give a flavor burst with good quality condiments, such as horseradish, chutney, wasabi, salsa or flavored mustard.
For more tips, recipes or information about all kinds of diet and nutrition interests, visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, www.eatright.org.
THE NATIONAL KIDNEY Foundation (NKF; www.kidney.org) says that 26 million American adults have chronic kidney disease. One in three Americans are at risk for kidney disease due to diabetes, high blood pressure or a family history of kidney failure.
Symptoms often don't appear until the disease has progressed, so it is important to know your risk and, if necessary, take steps to prevent it. Early detection is key.
Here are five tips from the NKF to reduce the risk of chronic kidney disease.
; Have your blood pressure checked.
; Lose weight. Being overweight increases your risk of kidney disease.
a host of other health issues.
THROUGHOUT MY LIFE, it has been very easy to put on a few pounds here and a few pounds there. Sometimes my life would just get off track and, before I knew it, I was 50 pounds heavier.
Several years ago, I was overweight and out of shape. I didn't feel good. I was tired. My joints ached. My confidence was down. I was just unhappy about how I looked and how I felt. It was stopping me from living the life I wanted.
My own mother had carried extra weight most of her life, and that made her look older. As I approached my 50s, I found myself facing the very same struggle. I was 50 pounds overweight, tired all the time and definitely looked older—and felt older. I started to think: Like mother, like daughter. Maybe I was destined to be overweight.
But then my child's words changed my mind. My son said, "Mom, I want you to be around for a long time so you can be a grandma to my kids." Being a grandma is very important to me. I remember holding my kids when they were babies.
ning to be a part of his life for a long, long time.
yourself so you can take care of others.
My doctor agreed that I should lose weight; he wanted me to diet and exercise. I knew that I couldn't do it on my own, though. I did my research. And I chose Nutrisystem because it was easy and fit into my busy schedule. For exercise, I took up dancing as a hobby, which helped me to stay active.
I was surprised how quickly I started seeing results. That's all the motivation I needed to keep going and reach my goal. I lost 50 pounds, and here I am, seven years later and feeling better than ever! Now I am able to keep up with the rigorous demands of performing eight nonstop, 90-minute singing and dancing shows a week in Las Vegas.
Marie Osmond is a world-famous recording artist, actor, best-selling author, philanthropist, TV host and Nutrisystem spokesperson.
Nutrisystem is available at Costco and on Costco.com.