Each year, The American Dietetics Association celebrates National Nutrition Month, a month devoted to raising the awareness of eating healthy for a life time.

"The campaign is designed to focus attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits." (The American Dietetic Association).

There is so much information out there on the internet and amoung the community that sometimes too much information can be overwhelming, and misleading.

Our most popular craze right now is the "low carb" diet.  As with anything, eating the right portions of each of the food groups and choosing the best quality that you can afford is what is important.

The American Dietetic Association and its members teach the appropriate ways to eat right and lose weight, if that is your desired goal.  By eating foods that are as close to nature as possible, high in fiber and not processed, anyone can achieve their goal.  But weight loss cannot be adequately attained and kept off without the proper balance with exercise.

The Food Guide Pyramid is an excellent place to start.  By eating foods that are at the low end of the range will provide approximately 1200 calories a day and still meet all the necessary needs of vitamins and minerals. 

Can this be a "low carb" diet?  It can if you follow the lower end of the range.  Six (6) servings of a high fiber product is a low carb plan.  It can only meet this term if the proper serving size if strictly followed.  A serving of pasta or rice is only a half of a cup.  That isn't much.

By eating healthy today, at any age, starting as young as your children and grandchildren, will help them in the future to pick out the healthiest of foods.  Eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, high quality proteins from fish, and decreasing our fat consumption, will help stave off obesity, diabetes, hypertension and other risk factors associated with eating poorly.

Don't forget that exercise.  Walk when you can, as often as you can.  Take the steps up and down (if approved by your primary care physician).  Park futher out in the parking lot when the weather is good, play with your children and or grandchildren...most importantly, stay active.

For more information regarding other topics, please visit the American Dietetic Association's website at www.eatright.org.