VANCOUVER -- The theme for nutrition month is to make wise choices wherever you go, whether you're at home, at work or dining out. But that can be difficult at the best of times. We asked shoppers about their challenges, and set out to find some solutions.
People say it takes times to prepare food from scratch. Like if you want to make soup and bread without preservatives and additives, it takes time. If you're too busy, dietitians say look for healthy timesavers in the supermarket or do some preparation well in advance.
Patricia Chuey, Dietitian, says, "alot of busy families interestingly nowadays are buying fruit and veggie platters and a dip. It's quick and convienent for the whole family."
Healthy doesn't have to be expensive either: oats, beans and lentils are wholesome and cheap. And local produce is good value, especially when it's on sale and in season.
While it may be hard to retrain a palate that's been deadened by overprocessed salty food, there are better alternatives: There are crackers like Goldfish, all sorts of crackers that are now transfat free like raisins, dried fruit and nut mixes are always good choices as well.
If you find yourself eating on the run, look for snacks with protein. Cheese strings, new and funky choices in the dairy department are a good way to get some protein when you're on the run.
And while sports drinks do have a role to play with elite athletes, for most of us, there are better ways to recharge. Milk to go, again you're going to get the protein and carbohydrate, even chocolate milk is better than sports drinks.
Instead of planning our meals around meat, fish or pasta, dietitians say start with fruits and vegetables.
Patricia Chuey, Dietitian, says, "If your going to have a stir-fry tonight with 3 different vegetables, along with that for protein, I'm going to add some chicken. I don't want to even cook a chicken, so I go and buy a rotisserie one from the deli and add that to the stir-fry."
If you eat out a lot, watch your portion sizes. Share or maybe take home part of your entree, and ask how foods are prepared, how salty dishes are, and if possible, request larger servings of vegetables. Drinking a lot of water with your meal is also a good idea. For more tips, you can go to www.dietitians.ca/eatwell. This month, dietitians will also be visiting various supermarkets and grocery stores around the province to any answer questions you may have.
Thursday March 2, 2006
