Tips to create healthful eating style during National Nutrition Month

  • Published
  • 60th Diagnostic and Therapeutics Squadron and 60th Medical Operations Squadron
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  In honor of National Nutrition Month, the high blood pressure, obesity, lipidemia, diabetes, stress and smoking program and the Nutritional Medicine Flight at David Grant USAF Medical Center, provided these twelve helpful tips for Travis Team members to create a healthful eating style: 

Forget the fads. Diet fads come and go without offering a permanent solution. While hearing about the latest diet, people should wonder if its possible to eat that way for the rest of their life. 

Be realistic. Any eating plan needs to work for the persons family and their situation. It needs to fit their schedule, their food budget and their cooking skills. 

Make a commitment. People interested in healthy eating should write down some important reasons for changing their eating habits. Also, sharing a written or verbal promise to make healthy food choices with their friends or family can help. 

Start slow. Making drastic changes can be a recipe for failure. Small changes can make a difference, if they last. Pick one change, like eating breakfast, and make it a habit. 

Be consistent. The human body responds well to consistency. For example, if the decision is made to start eating breakfast, have at least a small breakfast every day. 

Stick with it. Research from the North Carolina Network for Excellence in Teaching suggests that it takes about 21 days for a behavior to become habit. 

Be flexible. Life is full of surprises, and sometimes plans need to change. If it is not possible to eat breakfast at home, pack something to bring along. 

Be creative. Make a list of all possible foods — like all breakfast options enjoyed at home, in the car, on the bus or at work. 

Have items on hand. Once a list is made of possible foods, keep them around at home, at work, or anywhere breakfast is eaten. 

Plan ahead. Plan ahead of time to have healthy foods available. 

Forgive unhealthy eating. Healthy eating does not have to be perfect eating. If a mistake is made or a few days of healthy eating is missed, no problem. Just get back on track as soon as possible. 

For more information about National Nutrition Month, visit www.eatright.org or contact DGMC’s Nutritional Medicine Flight at 423-3696, or the HOLDSS program at 423-7867.