“Start Today for a Healthy Tomorrow” is the theme National Nutrition Month 2002 sponsored by the American Dietetic Association. Nutrition month is a time to focus on all the positive benefits of good nutrition on one’s health. .

Good nutrition is important for everyone during all stages of life. It is one of the few factors that affect health that a person can control.Nutrition research has discovered many substances in food that are beneficial to our health. Researchers have better defined the workings of vitamins and minerals in our body in the prevention of chronic diseases.

Phytochemicals, naturally occurring substances in plants, are being identified and their roles in the body. All of this research further defines what is needed to keep a body healthy and decrease the risk of chronic diseases./p>

New standards and recommendations are established to help people know what to eat to maintain good health. Many of these recommendations can be very confusing to the public. One recommendation is to eat five servings of fruits and vegetables per day. This is because fruits and vegetables are low in fat, high in fiber and contain large amounts of vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals.

Some people are confused about what five servings means. It means five servings from the fruit and vegetable groups combined, not five servings of each. Many people feel unable to consume that amount in a day. It is easiest to think of one serving as the amount of fruit or vegetable that fits in the palm of the hand.

The servings can add up quickly. A glass of orange juice and a banana for breakfast would be two servings. A salad at lunch or lettuce and tomato on a sandwich would be another serving. An apple for a snack and broccoli at supper count as a serving each. That’s five servings with just a little effort.

Today is the day to make changes because tomorrow never comes. Every serving of fruit or vegetable consumed creates a healthier body. It takes a little planning, but it’s worth it. Every day makes a difference. Today is the first day to a healthier you!

This article was written by Toni Britton, a Registered Dietitian with Memorial Medical Center Nutrition Services