National Nutrition Month: Bite Into A Healthy Lifestyle

March is such a great month, not only because Spring is starting to emerge, and there is a glimpse of hope that the snow is going to melt once and for all, but also March is National Nutrition Month (although in my mind, every month is National Nutrition Month). Every March, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics promotes, informs, and emphasizes nutrition. Each year they have a different theme, this year's NNM theme is "Bite Into A Healthy Lifestyle." Last year, their theme was "The Taste of Eating Right" and I actually blogged about that when I was first getting my blog started. Check that post out here: http://cookinglittle.blogspot.com/2014/03/enjoy-taste-of-eating-right-national.html !
So what does "Bite Into A Healthy Lifestyle" mean to me? I definitely can relate to this theme, especially since going vegan last Spring. I've wanted to talk about the difference I've found between "dieting" and "living" for quite a while, so the fact that this is the theme for this year's National Nutrition Month worked out perfectly!

When I first started looking into veganism, I saw it portrayed as a lifestyle, not a diet. I strongly dislike the word "diet" because I think it's a very negative word, and is used to describe something short term, something that isn't meant to last forever. It isn't used in a way that describes why you eat how you eat, who/what is impacted by what you eat, or even in a passionate way, to me that is called a "lifestyle." Becoming vegan made me realize that veganism isn't a diet, it's truly a way of life. It's how someone lives, vegans choose what they eat rather than following a certain set of rules even if they don't want to. It's not that I can't eat cheese or milk based ice cream, it's that I choose not to. This is why I like to refer to veganism as a "lifestyle" rather than a "diet."

I think when you make healthy eating a lifestyle, and put passion in it going back to old habits and foods is much more difficult. When you make eating purposeful and have a true meaning behind it, it becomes a part of your life and something that becomes personal. Your diet (or as I like to call it, your lifestyle) should be personal, fit your life, and represent what's important to you.


Finding veganism was about a four year process for me. It slowly became not just the food I ate, but it is now a reflection of myself and a representation of the type of nutrition I promote and believe in. When becoming vegetarian back in high school, I did it just to test my self-discipline and see if I could do it. Slowly, I began to fall in love with how I was eating and what I was eating and it began to become a huge part of my life. I began to cook more, eat less processed foods, research nutrition, and ultimately it helped me decide I wanted to study nutrition in college. I made this a lifestyle, not just a diet, I put passion in the way I was eating and also living. After lots of my own research and experiences, I decided to go vegan in the Spring of 2014. This was a huge step for me, and I quickly saw how it effected my lifestyle. Becoming vegan, for me, helped me to revamp the way I live as well as my thoughts and feelings on the food I choose to eat.

Soon after becoming vegan I found that I felt a lot happier, and became passionate about protecting the animals that are being abused every day just for human consumption and pleasure. This is how veganism became a lifestyle for me, although this doesn't have to be true for everyone, it was for me. I found that once I eliminated animal products, my body was filled with positive energy. I genuinely felt like my body was no longer filled with negative, pain, fear, and hatred but instead love and happiness. As "hippy dippy" as that sounds, it is so true. I almost immediately began to feel better, in my mind, body, and soul. I soon saw that the way I was eating in the past was full of hatred and abuse, seeing and feeling how veganism was full of love and peace helped me stay with this lifestyle. I found a passion to protect, love, and care for all animals; not just cats and dogs, but cows, pigs, chickens, horses, birds, fish every animal deserves love and respect. So that's how veganism became more than a diet for me, but a lifestyle.

Making the food you eat a lifestyle, and changing your diet from just a diet to a way of life will help you put passion into your own health and maintain it. Diets are usually difficult for people to maintain because they are viewed as rules, regulations, limitations, elimination, and are thought to only last for a little while before returning to however you were eating before. A lifestyle is formed to fit you, it is made to last for a long time and become a part of you. This should be how people eat, and live, not through short-term diet plans that don't actually provide you with a change in anything other than the foods you are putting in (or not putting in) your mouth. Changing your lifestyle is way more effective than just your diet. Making the food you eat, and your personal health goals a lifestyle can potentially last the rest of your life rather than just a few months.

When someone tells me they are thinking about going vegetarian or vegan, I always ask them why, this helps them create a motive and passion to remain on this type of living. I think this is how everyone should begin a healthy lifestyle, with a specific motivation that they can keep looking to that will help them remain positive and passionate. The foods you eat should fit you, your goals and your passions. Taking a "bite into a health lifestyle" is an effective way to live out your "diet" and make it part of your entire life. Let's stop dieting to eat healthier, and instead start living a healthy lifestyle!

My Favorite: Spices

A common complaint I hear from people when they begin eating healthier is that the food is "bland" and "flavorless." Because of all of the artificial flavoring, preservatives, and excess salt that is put in processed foods it has caused society's tastebuds to be underdeveloped and makes it more difficult for people to appreciate flavor from real sources. That is why I highly encourage seasoning your foods with spices, and using a wide variety of herbs and spices. Building your spice collection is key to enjoying, not only cooking, but eating.

Also, did you know that you can buy spices in bulk? Buying spices in bulk is great if you're wanting to try out new ones for the first time. You can only buy a little at a time and if you like it you can decide to go buy more. If you hate it, then you didn't waste your money on a whole bottle of it. Spices that are sold in bulk are usually in containers so you're able to smell them before purchasing them, which can help you decide whether or not you would use it. Places like Whole Foods, Earth Fare, and local co-op grocery stores usually sell spices in bulk. I definitely recommend buying spices like this if you're just starting to expand your spice collection or your palette. 

Now on to MY top five favorite spices...

1. Cinnamon 

There has never been a time where I wasn't obsessed with cinnamon. Fall time or not, cinnamon should be used all year. It is the perfect spice to put into a warm bowl of oatmeal, sprinkle on top of a sweet potato, apple slices, or a hot cup of coffee. Cinnamon is not only delicious, but it also has a ton of health benefits! Believe it or not cinnamon helps to control blood sugar, as well as control appetite, and it even can lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol.

2. Ginger

Like cinnamon, ginger is a spice that is typically used during the fall, but should definitely be used throughout the entire year. Ginger and cinnamon go hand in hand, so wherever/whenever you used cinnamon use ginger as well! Just like cinnamon, ginger has plenty of health benefits: immune support, helps with nutrient absorption, reduces inflammation, and improves blood flow. 

3. Cumin

Cumin is an incredible spice to use in almost any hearty dish. I love using cumin when I'm making Mexican inspired dishes because it gives a smoky and deep flavor that is so incredible. I throw cumin into chillies, stir fries, stews, soups, guacamole, and tacos. Again, cumin is a spice that has nutritional benefits as well: it's rich in iron and fiber, aids in digestion, prevents premature aging, reduces toxins in the body, and even helps relieve stress and anxiety.  

4. Turmeric 

I don't even like to consider turmeric a spice, but rather a form of medicine. Not only is it delicious but it is seriously an incredible health booster. The nutritional benefits that are packed into this spice is unbelievable, so I definitely try to use turmeric in as many dishes as possible. 

Turmeric is commonly found in Indian cuisine, so I like to use it when I make curries, or other Indian dishes. It is good in Mexican cuisine too, combining well with chili powder and cumin as well as cayenne pepper. So now that you know how to use it, let me tell you why you need to use it: Turmeric is highly anti-inflammatory, helps reduce oxidation in the body, helps brain function, can lower risk or Alzheimer's and heart disease, relieve stress, and even help delay aging. 

5. Ground Mustard Seed

I absolutely love using mustard powder when cooking. Any dish I use it in becomes so rich and filled with flavor, I just love it. Of course ground mustard is more flavorful than the condiment so be careful with adding too much! Ground mustard seed is great to use with the other spices I've mentioned (cumin and turmeric). It definitely provides a depth of flavor with a hint of spice. And naturally, ground mustard seed is full of nutritional benefits which makes it that much better! Ground mustard seed has some omega-3 fatty acids which are important to have in your diet, it also is an anti-oxidant, and is full of minerals such as iron, magnesium, and calcium. 

Quick and Easy Pumpkin Dip

Do you love apples, but are wanting to change up the taste? Well I've got a quick, simple, healthy dip for you to try! I absolutely l o v e pumpkin, and almost always have a container of pumpkin puree in my refrigerator. Last night I needed to use it up, and so I created this delicious pumpkin butter and dipped some apple slices into it. y u m m m m . . . .

             

Pumpkins contain lots of fiber, as well as beta-carotene (which gives it that beautiful orange color) which is a very important vitamin for your eyesight! And of course apples are just plain perfect (go look at my top five favorite fruits to find out why http://cookinglittle.blogspot.com/2014/02/my-favorite-fruits.html ) Some people don't know how to use pumpkin, so this is a great way to use any leftover cans of pumpkin that you may still have from Thanksgiving.

Ingredients: (for one serving)

apples (however many you want to eat)
2-3 Tbsp. pumpkin puree (make sure it is NOT pumpkin pie filling)
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 Tbsp. Stevia (honey, or maple syrup would work great as well)


And it's just as simple as putting the canned pumpkin in a bowl, along with the cinnamon, ginger, and stevia, and then mixing it up! Quick snack in less than five minutes! This would also be a great party dip, if you're wanting to serve/bring something a little sweet.

Enjoy The Taste of Eating Right: National Nutrition Month

March is National Nutrition Month, which is so exciting! This month is dedicated to eating nutritiously, and motivating people to make healthy changes in their life. I love that there is whole month dedicated to nutrition, something that I live everyday celebrating.

For the past three years, I have truly dedicated my life to not only studying and learning about good nutrition, but also to eating and living a more nutritious life. I also try to encourage, and motivate others to make steps to healthier eating. When I decided I wanted major in nutrition I had no idea that I would develop such a passion for this field, and for this career, but I'm so glad that I did.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is promoting this month, so you should definitely go check out their website/information about National Nutrition Month at http://www.eatright.org/nnm/#.UxQCPnm9ZuY
They've also provided a subject for us bloggers to discuss, and that is Enjoying the Taste of Eating Right. 

Personally, there is nothing more satisfying than biting into a big juicy cantaloupe, or crunching on fresh baby carrots, or sipping a sweet green juice, or slurping up a warm cauliflower soup, so eating right for me is pure enjoyment. I haven't always like to eat these foods, and in the past I would have been disgusted by the thought of cauliflower soup....much less anything that had to do with cauliflower. Enjoying the taste of eating right took time.



It took my taste buds getting used to different foods. I think that this is why so many people refuse to eat fresh, nature made foods, because their taste buds are so used to eating processed, fake, and chemical invested foods. All of these foods have become a huge part in our culture, and it may take a while for it to leave our taste buds.


That's why I'm a strong believer in  t r y i n g  new foods, different foods, fresh foods, natural foods, locally grown foods, good for you foods. The more times you try something, the more chances you'll grow to like it...trust me, it worked for me! Also, don't be scared to not like something. If you've tried tomatoes multiple times, and every time they've made you gag....then that's okay, you don't like tomatoes. But trying multiple times is what matters.

I enjoy the taste of eating right, because eating right makes me feel right. When I have my flax pumpkin oatmeal in the mornings I start the day feeling good. Not only does it taste amazing, but it makes me feel amazing for the rest of the day. Starting your day on a positive healthy breakfast will leave you feeling confident and feeling like you've already had success in your day.



Food and guilt is something that is a struggle in many people, including myself. Many people associate guilt and food, which can be dangerous to your mental health, as well as your physical health. It's important to not feel guilty when it comes to food, because food is supposed to be happy, and make you feel happy, from the inside out. So find your balance, and don't feel guilty when you indulge every now and then...especially if you're trying, because trying is all that matters.



So back to the question.....how do I enjoy the taste of eating right? I enjoy the taste of eating right by eating foods that make my body happy. I eat foods that are fresh, from the ground or from a tree, because theses are the foods that make me happy! That's how I enjoy eating right!