8 Great Nutritional Tips

How many times a week do you find yourself wondering if you and your family are doing enough nutrition and health wise?

With March being National Nutrition Month, Haskell Memorial Hospital would like to offer the following eight tips as helpful guidelines for you to consider:

1. Eat breakfast. Incorporate lean proteins, fruits and veggies into your morning routine—like a breakfast burrito or yogurt with fruit and whole grain cereal.
2. 2 Cups of Fruit & 2.5 Cups Veggies. This is your daily goal. To achieve this easier, make at least half of your plate fruits or vegetables each time you sit down for a meal.
3. Watch your portion sizes. Get out your measuring cups or food scale to see if your portions are close to the recommended daily allowances. If not, scale it back.
4. Be active. Adults need 2.5 hours of exercise each week. Children need at least 60 minutes a day.
5. Fix healthy snacks between meals. Choose two of the MyPlate food groups (grains, fruits, vegetables, dairy, and protein) for a quick and simple snack to keep your energy levels up throughout the day.
6. Drink more water. Skip your sugary soda or daily afternoon coffee indulgence and choose nature’s original refreshment: H2O.
7. Eat seafood twice a week. Fish and shellfish provide a range of nutrients including healthy omega-3 fats. Salmon, trout, oysters and sardines are higher in omega-3s and lower in mercury.
8. Consult a Registered Dietician Nurse (RDN). Here at Haskell Memorial Hospital, we have a RDN that meets with our patients by appointment to help them create a plan of action to stay healthy, help with a chronic conditions or eat better to lose weight. Sometimes having an expert in your corner can help you stay more accountable or get you on the right track to achieve your goals.

Joe Yates grew up in Weinert, Texas and began his medical career in 1976 as a RN. In 1996, Joe attained his Nurse Practitioner certification from the University of Texas, Arlington and joined the Cadenhead Clinic as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Joe and his wife Caron have been married for 44 years and have three sons and three grandchildren with a fourth on the way . When Joe isn’t working, he enjoys cowboy shooting and spending time with family.