NMPH Discusses Proper Nutrition During National Nutrition Month

Ada, MN — March is National Nutrition Month, a month set aside to educate people more about the dietary choices they make each day and encourage them to develop healthy eating habits. A nutritious diet consists of three main groups of foods, including protein, carbohydrates, and fats. Kristy Rott of Norman-Mahnomen Public Health says when it comes to protein, we tend to eat more than we need to, but in reality it should only make up no more than 20% of our diet.

Carbohydrates are where we get our daily dose of energy, but there are good carbs and bad carbs. Rott says Complex carbs offer longer lasting energy and complex carbs give us short bursts and are usually less healthy.

And we need fat to help store some of that energy as well. Roughly 25% of your daily intake should come from fats, but just like carbs, there are good fats and bad fats. Rott says we should stay away from fats that are solid at room temperature.

This year’s theme for National Nutrition Month is Fuel for the Future, which highlights the importance of fueling our bodies at every age and eating with sustainability in mind. Sustainable eating is choosing foods that are helpful for the planet and our bodies.

Listen to the full interview with Kristy Rott of Norman-Mahnomen Public Health below: