#NNM - It's National Nutrition Month!

Yeah!  It's National Nutrition Month!!  What a great time to focus on healthy eating, right?  When I get this enthusiastic about food and nutrition, my family just looks at me like I'm crazy.  Then, they move on to mock me.  It hurts.  Seriously, I know they appreciate that I love food and nutrition so they can spend their time thinking about other things and still reap the benefit of good-for-them foods. 

This year's theme is "Enjoy the taste of eating right."  Emphasis on ENJOY.  You see, food that's good for you can also be food that is delicious. In fact, it should taste great.  After all, who wants to eat food that tastes like cardboard?  Not me. 

Here are four tips to healthy great tasting meals and snacks:

1. Use fresh, colorful ingredients - with a focus on fruits and vegetables.
2. Add spices and fresh herbs often and in abundance.  Parsley, mint, thyme, ground cumin, curry blends, and cinnamon are fantastic in many different dishes.
3. Vary your protein and try to go meatless at least one day a week.  Non animal proteins to start with include black beans, split peas and lentils, peanuts and peanut butter, tofu, and high protein grains like quinoa.
4. Be adventurous.  Try something new, such as ethnic cuisines, since these are often vegetarian (or meat is used in small amounts) and filled with healthful spices.

It's a great time to try your hand at making the meals in your house delicious AND nutritious.  Be healthy!