6 Reasons to Eat Real Food
March is National Nutrition Month and today is National Registered Dietitian Nutrition Day. This year, National Nutrition Month is centered on the topic of going further with food. As a Dietitian, I believe the purpose of this year’s topic is to educate people about eating real foods that are natural and unprocessed to benefit both individual general health and the environment.
Here are 6 reasons why you should eat whole, real foods more often:
- Sustainability: Fruits, veggies, whole grains, beans, nuts, and seeds are not only good for you, they help improve the health of our planet by reducing energy needs and waste. Try to support local farms by buying real foods from them.
- Nutrient density: Get your vitamins and minerals from food first and not supplements. Our body absorbs nutrients best from real food, not processed foods or supplements.
- Whole foods have more fiber: More fiber means less risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, digestive issues, and more. Fiber also keeps us full longer.
- Real food helps promote weight loss/management: If you eat less processed food and sugar, you don’t crave it as much. The fiber satisfies you and the balance of protein, fat, and healthy carbs helps you stick to your nutrition plan for the long term.
- Cost Savings: If you are eating healthy and preventing disease, you’re saving money on doctor bills in the long run. Food is like medicine. If you eat right, your body will be healthier and, as a result, help to keep you out of the doctor’s office.
- More energy and feeling better: Eating less processed foods means less added sugar and sodium, which can slow you down and make you feel fatigued. And when you eat foods that have nutritional value, your body functions at its best.
How do you start? Set one small goal at a time, like eat a fruit or a veggie at each meal and snack. It takes time to make lifestyle changes, so do what works for you and stick to it.
What is a dietitian?
A Registered Dietitian is a food and nutrition expert who has completed a bachelor's degree in Dietetics and a supervised practice program, as well as passed a national examination accredited by the American Dietetic Association. In the US, the title “nutritionist” is not as regulated as “dietitian,” and tends to have a broader, more general meaning. Find out someone's education and background before seeing them for your nutrition plan.