FOOD!!!

I just put this together for the monthly newsletter here at West River and figured I'd share it here. I don't normally spend time looking at nutritional tips, but summer is, in fact, coming and I know quite a few people looking to shed their winter bellies, so here you go.

5 Steps to Sustainably Better Nutrition.

1. Know where your food comes from. Apples grow on trees. Grapes grow on vines. Excellent. Where does a Pop Tart come from? If you look at the ingredients panel on the packaging and the list looks like a definition in the glossary of a chemistry text book, chances that food is highly processed and preserved. Stay away! The fewer and more simple the ingredients, the fresher and better the food.

2. Make it Easy! Keep small (or cut up) pieces of fruits and vegetables in the refrigerator for snacks or for making fast and easy bag lunches.

3. Kill The Clean Plate Club. Food portions in this day and age have gotten completely out of control. One dinner entrée at a restaurant like The Cheesecake Factory has can have the same caloric value as a reasonable dinner for 4 adults. Remember, one serving of protein is 3 ounces. That’s roughly the size of your palm.

4. Think Locally. Because it requires less transportation, local food is fresher, and better for the environment.

5. Eat in season. Eating seasonal selections, such as strawberries in the summer and sweet potatoes in the fall, ensures a greater variety of foods will be found on your plate. Check out your local farmers' market for the freshest in-season fruits and vegetables.