By PAT HILDEBRAND, Consumer/Family Economics Educator
UI Extension Office

By now, New Year?s resolutions are probably a faint memory. How well have you done with your resolutions to live a healthier, active lifestyle?

Maybe you?ve tried one of the many fad diets to help get you on the right track. Maybe you?ve even had success with the diet you have chosen.

Jennifer Nance, U of I Extension educator, shares some ideas for success as National Nutrition Month gets under way.

?You can lose weight on virtually any diet because eating less equals losing weight,? says Jennifer Nance, registered dietitian and University of Illinois Extension educator. ?But, can you maintain this weight loss over the long term? Did you choose a lifestyle that you are willing to maintain for the rest of your life??

March is National Nutrition Month?, and it?s a good time to focus on the importance of making informed choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits.

For National Nutrition Month 2007, the American Dietetic Association says the most effective long-term way to achieve a healthful lifestyle is to be 100-percent fad free.

National Nutrition Month is serving up five key messages to help people learn to live by and enjoy a 100-percent fad-free lifestyle:

  • Develop an eating plan for lifelong health. Too often, people adopt the latest food fad or ?quick fix? diet rather than focusing on overall health. Get back to basics and use the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPyramid as your guide to healthy eating.
  • Choose foods sensibly by looking at the big picture. A single food or meal won?t make or break a healthful diet. When consumed in moderation and appropriate portions, all foods can fit into a healthful diet.
  • Learn how to spot a food fad. A key feature of a fad diet is the unreasonable or exaggerated claim that eating (or not eating) specific foods, nutrient supplements or combinations of foods may cure disease or offer quick weight loss.
  • Find your balance between food and physical activity. Regular physical activity is important for your overall health and fitness; it helps control body weight, promotes a feeling of well-being and reduces the risk of chronic diseases.

Food and nutrition misinformation can have harmful effects on your health and well being, as well as your wallet.

For reliable information, consult a registered dietitian. These professionals are uniquely qualified to communicate current and emerging science-based nutrition information, and they can help you develop a diet plan that meets your individual needs.

Try this yummy twist on tacos to help you meet your nutrition goals. Then, try to get out for a walk. If it?s too cold for a walk, turn up the music and dance!

Pita Pocket Tacos

? pound ground meat

2 Tbsps. water

? cup green pepper, chopped

2 Tbsps. tomato sauce

? cup onion, finely chopped

2 ozs. low-fat Monterey Jack cheese

? tsp. salt

Lettuce, shredded

? garlic clove

Tomato, chopped

Dash ground cumin

1 pocket (pita) bread, cut in half

Brown meat and drain off fat. Add onions, green peppers, and salt; cook until tender. Grind garlic and cumin together. Stir water into garlic and cumin; then add to meat. Stir in tomato sauce. Simmer on low for about 10 minutes.

Warm pocket bread in toaster or oven, and stuff with meat mixture. Garnish with lettuce, tomato, and low-fat cheese. Serves 2.

For more nutrition and health information, visit your local U of I Extension office or log on to www.extension.uiuc.edu.

Pat Hildebrand is an Extension educator, consumer/family economics, for University of Illinois Extension.

Source: Journal Gazette and Times-Courier

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