Intermountain Health Experts Give 3 Ways to Connect to Food, Health during Nat’l Nutrition Month

“National Nutrition Month’s theme is ‘Food Connects Us,’ including to loved ones, culture, and overall health,” said Carly Alba, registered dietitian nutritionist at Intermountain Health. “In March, you can connect with others by preparing and sharing a meal, connect to your individual nutrition needs at every age, and connect with a nutrition expert to meet your health goals –which is now easier than ever with virtual visits and telehealth options.”

National Nutrition Month is a public awareness campaign of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Food is a huge part of culture, lifestyle and health, and registered dietitian nutritionists help people understand the connection between the foods we eat and their impact on our health throughout our lives.

Here are three ways Intermountain Health dietitians urge you to connect to nutrition and health:

Connect to Others: Prepare and Share a Meal

Make a meal at home, and eat together as a family – or friends. Family meals are associated with a better overall diet, according to a 2018 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.  Shared meals help form and maintain relationships, and encourage us to slow down and talk, which can help us recognize fullness cues to prevent overeating.

If you’re already eating together at home, challenge yourself to try a new fruit or vegetable – this can be fun for kids to pick out at the grocery store – or try a new recipe.

Connect to Nutrition Needs at Every Life Stage

While nutritional needs vary with life stages, most people would benefit from eating more fruits and vegetables. The USDA’s MyPlate program divides your meal plate into four equal sections, and recommends filling two sections with fruits and vegetables, one with grains, and one with protein.  MyPlate also offers nutrition guides at every stage of life.

Connect to a Dietitian in Person or Virtually

Registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) can help you understand the connection between foods and health, and help you meet lifestyle or sports performance goals. Connecting to a dietitian can include a detailed assessment of eating habits and medical history, and creating an evidence-based, customized plan, which ranges from adjusting nutrition to addressing health conditions like diabetes or high cholesterol, to improving your relationship with food, or learning new, long-term behaviors to improve your health.

Dietitians at many Intermountain care sites offer in-person and virtual sessions. Costs vary depending on length of session and individual insurance coverage.

Intermountain Telehealth Nutrition Counseling connects you to a registered dietitian nutritionist, and has been particularly beneficial for postpartum moms who plan to breastfeed and want to learn how to build or maintain milk supply with nutrition.

Intermountain Health also offers free, 90-minute Way to Wellness “Bites” Classes on how to improve nutrition and wellness, increase physical activity, and address health concerns such as prediabetes. Classes are facilitated by a registered dietitian nutritionist, and offered virtually and in person at several sites.

To learn more about Telehealth Nutrition Counseling, visit https://intermountainhealthcare.org/services/virtual-care/nutrition-counseling.

For more information on the Way to Wellness program, visit intermountainhealth.org.