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Living better…one healthy bite at a time

March 25, 2018

Lori Mager, M.B.A., RDN, LDN, CDE, Clinical Nutrition Manager at Northwest Community Hospital

Go Further with Food

As we shut the door on “Old Man Winter” and wrap up March, which is also National Nutrition Month®, there’s no better time than now to start to eat healthy. As the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is encouraging, make 2018 a year to “Go Further with Food.” The academy emphasizes the importance of implementing healthy eating habits and finding ways to cut back on food waste. Learning how to manage food resources at home will help you “Go Further with Food,” while saving both nutrients and money.

Here are some simple tips to get you started:

  1. Include a variety of healthful foods from all five food groups — fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods and dairy — in your diet on a regular basis.
  2. Consider the foods you have on hand before buying more at the store.
  3. Buy only the amount that can be eaten or frozen within a few days and plan ways to use leftovers later in the week.
  4. Be mindful of portion sizes. Eat and drink the amount that’s right for you, as MyPlate encourages us to do.
  5. Use good food safety practices.
  6. Find activities that you enjoy and be physically active most days of the week.
  7. Realize the benefits of healthy eating by consulting with a registered dietitian nutritionist. RDNs can provide sound, easy-to-follow personalized nutrition advice to meet your lifestyle preferences and health-related concerns.

Vanilla Overnight Oats

Vanilla Overnight Oats

Ingredients

  • ½ cup + 1 Tbsp fat free milk
  • 1 cup + 2 Tbsp vanilla Greek yogurt
  • ½ cup heaping quick oats

Directions

  1. In a bowl, combine milk, yogurt and uncooked oats.
  2. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
  3. Serve topped with sliced strawberries, blueberries and almonds, as desired.

Servings: 4

Prep time: 5 mins

Nutrition facts

Serving size: ½ cup

Calories 120, total fat 1.5g, sodium 35mg, carbohydrate 21g, sugar 10g, protein 8g