March is Nutrition Month

March is Nutrition Month in Canada, and that means it’s a great time to focus on the food we eat and why we eat it.

For over 30 years, Nutrition Month -- which is a dietitian lead awareness campaign -- opens a conversation about how we impact our health with the food we consume. 

Now that this month is upon us, it’s a perfect time to reflect on our own nutrition, something that is especially important for seniors whose health is even more dependent on a nutritious diet. But Nutrition Month 2020 isn’t just about what we eat. Now the focus is on how we eat and what that means for our health.

This year’s tagline is “More than food!” which urges us to take a more holistic view of our nutrition. With that in mind, here’s everything you need to know about Nutrition Month.

The History of Nutrition Month

In the late 1970s, a group of community dietitians got together to start something. Initially, it was modest -- a simple “Nutrition Awareness Week” for their town where they could encourage people to eat a healthier diet and feel empowered to consult a qualified dietitian if that’s what they required. 

Over the next few years, the week expanded to encompass their entire province, drawing in more professional dietitians and interested people looking to take charge of their nutritional health. In 1981, The Dietitians of Canada helped sponsor the first ever national nutrition week across Canada, and by the 90’s the initiative encompassed an entire month.

Every year, a different theme is chosen to target current issues identified as particularly important by Canadian dietitians. In previous years, these have included “Nourishing our Children’s Future” and “Unlock the potential of food.” This year's theme, “More than food!” looks to take a broader view of what eating a nutritious diet really means.

More Than Food: The Theme for 2020

What we eat is undoubtedly a cornerstone of a nutritious diet. As we’ve discussed in previous blogs, eating a well-balanced diet, complete with all relevant macro and micronutrients can help prevent and treat conditions common to seniors including diabetes and renal disease, as well as promoting a strong immune system. This year, however, Nutrition Month is urging us to consider “how” we eat just as much as we consider “what” we eat.

The revised 2019 Canadian Food Guide was a great step towards this way of thinking, suggesting we become “mindful of our eating habits,” “cook more often,” and “enjoy our food” among other suggestions along these lines. In other words, the official Food Guide now recognizes not just what goes on your plate, but the planning and experience that surrounds it.

This Nutrition Month’s theme is of particular importance to seniors. We might know what goes into a healthy meal, but getting excited about it and eating regularly can often be just as, or more, important. When we think of being mindful of our eating habits, that means ensuring we are eating regularly enough to sustain ourselves, and eating the doctor-recommended amount. 

Enjoying our food is just as important because it means we are more likely eat enough to get the nutrients we need. Cooking often can sometimes be a challenge or simply not desired, but there is a solution.

How Heart to Home Meals Can Help You Achieve Your Nutrition Goals

This year’s Nutrition Month is about “More than food!” and so is Heart to Home Meals. We believe in a holistic and healthy lifestyle empowered by the food you eat, made as convenient as possible for you. To enable this, our Registered Dietitian works closely with our Chef to create dishes that contain the nutrients most needed by seniors that are delicious enough to look forward to.

Preparing meals isn’t always something you can, or want, to do. We get it! Our prepared frozen meals are delivered right to your door and easy to reheat so that you can enjoy all the goodness of a home cooked meal without the labour and cleanup. Our wide selection of meals allows for variety that you can be excited about, making it easier to eat the doctor-recommended amount of food and maintain healthy eating habits.

If you are looking for delicious, healthy and exciting meals, consider some of our favourites that can contribute to your healthy lifestyle. 

Homestyle Meatloaf

There are few things more delicious than a Homestyle Meatloaf, and Heart to Home Meals offers a tasty and nutritious version! With 22 grams of protein and 6 grams of fibre, it’s a healthy option you can look forward to. It also happens to be one of our Customer's CHOICE meals.

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Chicken Teriyaki

If you're a fan of white meat, we’ve got just the dish for you. Our Chicken Teriyaki is another tasty option packed with nutritional value with 23 grams of protein. It’s also low in saturated fats and low in sodium. No wonder it was our most popular meal of 2019!

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There’s no better time than Nutrition Month to start thinking seriously about eating better, and thinking about more than just the food. Get in touch with Heart to Home Meals today to order meals so that you have healthy and nutritious options ready. Remember, it's not just what you're eating but how and how much. 

If you’re interested in maintaining a healthy lifestyle that starts with eating mindfully, browse our menu today, and find out how easy it can be to eat healthy.

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