Congratulations to our Giveaway Winner
Kerry Arguijo
March is one of my most favorite months of the year because I get to celebrate two things: the birthdays of some very special people in my life, and one of my passions?nutrition! And since I am so passionate about nutrition, I?ve got some pretty cool stuff planned for this blog this month! It?s all a bit hush-hush, so you?ll have to check back often to see what?s going on, but I will tell you one thing: There will be a weekly giveaway! :-)? You in? Awesome! Let?s go!
Good nutrition is so important! When you fuel your body with nutrient-rich foods, you?ll feel great (both physically and mentally), accomplish more, and have an all-round healthier body. The reverse is also true?if junky, low nutritional value foods are your fuel of choice, you?ll feel lousy, get less done, and have health issues.
In order to be healthy, our bodies need the right combination of what I like to call the Fabulous Four: protein, carbs, healthy fats, and water. Here?s why they?re the foundation of good nutrition:
- Protein builds and maintains muscle, bone, skin, hair, and pretty much every other body part and tissue in your body. It?s so important for weight loss because muscle burns calories like an inferno, so the more muscle, the more calories burned! Protein also breaks down more slowly than carbs and fat, which burns even more calories and helps you feel fuller longer.
- Carbs are the preferred fuel source for your muscles and organs. They come in healthy versions (vegetables, fruits, grains, and legumes), and not-so-healthy versions (cakes, cookies, soda, doughnuts, candy, and many processed foods). Healthy carbs are also crucial for burning calories, and since they break down more slowly than the not-so-healthy kind, they keep your blood sugar and energy levels steady, and your calorie burning furnace hot so it burns more calories!
- Healthy fats (unsaturated fats) eaten in moderation help the development and function of your eyes and brain and help prevent heart disease, stroke, depression, and arthritis. They also help keep your energy levels steady and keep you from feeling hungry.
- Water is an important ingredient in regulating your bodily functions (digestion, circulation, temperature, and many others), as well as keeping muscle fatigue at bay and for healthy skin. And an adequate water intake is imperative for losing weight! We recommend drinking half your body weight in ounces of water (150 lbs = 75 ounces, for example) every single day.
And since I want to help you have the best National Nutrition Month ever, here are some ideas to help you get started with your own celebration:
- Adopt one new healthy habit each week.
- Be adventurous! Try a new fruit or veggie.
- Host a healthy luncheon or dinner party.
- Try out a new recipe each week. Here are some of our favorites: Garlic Parmesan Chicken, Protein Waffles, Gluten-Free Pasta Perfection, and Sweet Potato Brownies.
- Make a weekly meal plan.
- Try out our Carb Cycling program!
What are you going to do to celebrate National Nutrition Month? Leave your ideas in the comments below and you could win a signed copy of Chris? book, Choose More, Lose More for Life!
?This giveaway is now over. A winner was chosen randomly and announced on Friday, March 7, 2014.
Let the celebration begin! 🙂
306 Responses
Hello! Not only is it National Nutrition Month, but it is also National Athletic Trainer’s Month! Both go hand in hand very well! So please hug your athletic trainer today! I am going to try a new recipe each week. It’s challenging to keep food exciting and this is my biggest challenge. I am the “chef” in our family and mainly cook all our meals from scratch! I have used some of your recipes in the past with great success! Thank you! Erin Bartley
I am starting march with giving up wine for Lent ! I feel like i eat fairly healthy- yet always battle with weight and bodyfat issues – ive had 5 babies – now have diasis recti so cant get my belly flat anymore – im 45 years old and everyone keeps telling me im too old now – i guess at this point in my life – i just want to prove them wrong one more time – maybe the end to wine is a good start / i workout 5-6 days per week – yet hust cant get my BMI to a good range anymore
To jump start my healthy eating!
Figure out how to stay away from my food intolerances
Meal planning! I always have good intentions but when is time to make meals I always take the easy way out. I also need to incorporate more veggies in my families eating habits!
For National Nutrition month I’m going to be learning to curb my cravings with healthy alternatives. Its been the biggest battle for me and its time to get a handle on it. Being a stay at home mom, its easy to grab the junk or swing by a drive thru on the way to baseball practice. I’ve come so accustomed the quick and easy that i actually crave it now. So I am giving it my all to overcome this and be a healthy example for my kids. (:
I actually started a health/fitness blog because I got really really sick last year and had to stop training for the half marathon I wanted to run. I started the blog to motivate myself to eat healthy and get active again! (:
I plan to start trying different recipes. I love to cook. As a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, I have the opportunity to make a positive impact on people’s lives daily. I work in renal dietetics with dialysis patients, and this month I will work to incorporate fun nutrition games and food ideas to refresh the ideas that are often forgotten, that eating healthy can be fun, easy and delicious. They love when I do extra and provide new recipes to spark some creativity.
I have been at a stand still in my weight loss goals an its driving me crazy wanting to eat everything in site but I know better than to do this I think about how far I have come an know I don’t ever want to go back an the recipe I have tried have been a wonderful god send to me keep it up I would love a signed copy of your book it would be wonderful
I have a hard time staying on track. I do better when I plan out my meals & have meal plan ideas. How do you get over the being bored and eating the same things all the time.