WELLNESS NOTES
“Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?” I Corinthians 6:15
November is Diabetes Awareness Month!! In considering the needs of those of us who deal with Diabetes in our life or the lives of those we love, it bears repeating information recently seen in our local newspapers and physician offices. “WHAT’S ON YOUR PLATE” (the new USDA dietary guidelines) is such an important tool in caring for Diabetes, related Heart Disease, Blood Pressure issues, Weight concerns, and so many other wellness matters. Knowing that choices we make on a daily basis of what we put on our mealtime plates will ultimately have a bearing on our health concerns, motivates us to find a simple method of making those choices. The “MY PLATE” format gives us clear directions of how our healthy meal plan should look and gives us visual cues to help understand portion sizes. Check out additional information at choosemyplate.gov . Keep in mind for each that you think about how much food you put on your plate, cup or bowl. Look more closely at your serving sizes and include foods from each food group in each meal. Removing the word “DIET” from you focus and realizing for a healthy meal plan you can eat the things you like, you just need to eat them ‘smarter’. Some tips that may help include:
- Make half your plate fruits and vegetables Breakfast can even include a veggie omelet or low salt V-8
- Make at least half of your grains ‘whole’ grains. Become a label reader and avoid the processed foods.
- Switch to skim or 1% dairy products
- Vary your protein food choices. Twice a week make seafood the protein on your plate and include more beans and peas, nuts, and eggs.
- Cut back on sodium and empty calories from solid fats and sugars
- Make sure you are moving 30 minutes each day. (even the chairbound can do this!!)
This is all things you have heard over and over in life, but as we look at becoming God’s WELL children, make this the month you begin to make changes that benefit your health and wellness.
Alice Stephenson BSN,RN,PN
Parish Nurse Consultant