Press Release March 2016

Rebecca Thomas, Chattooga County Extension Agent

March is National Nutrition Month – Savor the Flavor of Eating Right!

March is National Nutrition Month and this year’s theme from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is Savor the Flavor of Eating Right®!  Many people think eating healthy means bland and boring, but that couldn’t be further from the truth!  Fruits and vegetables naturally come in a variety of flavors from sweet to sour to savory.  Whole grains are richer and nuttier than the less healthy refined alternatives.  Herbs and spices are great ways to jazz up your meals without adding salt or fat. Healthy eating can be so delicious!

Even different cooking methods can develop different flavors in foods.  For example, roasting brings out the natural sweetness in vegetables like carrots, beets, broccoli and even Brussels sprouts!  Toss broccoli with olive or canola oil, fresh garlic or garlic powder, black pepper, and a little crushed red pepper and roast at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes or until the florets are crisped and browned for a nice nutty and sweet side dish.  Try the same with Brussels sprouts and you’ll be impressed by how the roasting process helps to cut the bitterness of these nutritional powerhouses!  For a flavor punch without the fat, in the last 5 minutes, toss the broccoli or sprouts with a little balsamic vinegar and place them back in the oven to finish roasting. The resulting sweetness is divine!

Here’s a tip: to get the crispiest roasted vegetables, place your pan in the oven during preheating and while you’re prepping your vegetables.  This way, when you place the veggies on the pan it will be nice and hot and they’ll start cooking and browning right away on both sides.

Since nutrition plays a role in at least half of the top ten leading causes of death in the United States, such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, kidney diseases, and some cancers, don’t you think it is time for you to start Savoring the Flavor of Eating Right®?

Your local Extension office is an excellent resource for learning more about how to easily improve your nutrition to live a healthier lifestyle and prevent or manage chronic disease.  Check out the UGA College of Family and Consumer Sciences Extension website at http://www.fcs.uga.edu/extension and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics at www.eatright.org  to learn more about food and health.  Or, contact your local Extension office at 706-857-0744.