February is a banner month for putting nutrition front and center. For starters, there’s still time to implement New Year’s resolutions – at least that’s what I tell my clients. It’s never too late to adopt a healthy lifestyle, which includes eating, shopping and exercising.
And at the top of many lists this month is the fact that February is Heart Month. Consult the resources of the American Heart Association, which features a combination of the “Go Red” theme and heart health. Even Valentine’s Day can adopt a theme focused on heart health. February 22, Ash Wednesday, marks the start of Lent for some and the emphasis is on meat-free meals for many.
It’s a short but busy month – and there’s that extra day since 2012 is a leap year. Wow… there are many ways to promote health:
• Visit the American Heart Association website and consider collaborating on Go Red or heart-healthy meal ideas.
• Introduce red fruits and vegetables and the phytonutrients they provide. How about a salad of red lettuce with red pepper and dried cranberries with raspberry vinaigrette? Or anyone for red chard sautéed with red onions? Or a fruit salad with pink grapefruit (it’s okay to stray a little from its colors), apples and strawberries or raspberries?
• Pair heart-healthy foods with a Valentine’s Day meal: red snapper or salmon with red peppers and tomatoes. Add some small roasted red potatoes with rosemary. Don’t forget that (fortunately) red wine and chocolate have heart health benefits… in moderation of course!
• Feature meat-free meal ideas to kick off Lent. In addition to seafood, consider lentils (yes, there are red lentils), split peas, beans and one of the trendy culinary recipes: dressed mac and cheese. Combine old favorites with ideas to keep your heart healthy, like low-fat cheeses, chopped vegetables, and heart-healthy fats and oils.
• Combine the leap year, meatless, meatless theme to focus on the extra time you gain (and money you can save) by cooking at home or buying prepared foods (healthy of course) instead than by going to a restaurant.
• Put registered dietitians front and center with chefs to combine nutrition, smart shopping and cooking advice.
February is the perfect month to re-energize resolutions made on January 1st and prepare for March, National Nutrition Month!
(Photo credit: Becka Spence)
