Tulare County

An electronic newsletter for nutrition professionals titled "Food Reflections" featured some great food messages for the millennium. Since the year is still new and many people are interested in making healthy changes, I thought you would enjoy reading edited tips from well- known nutrition experts.

"Your life is filled with choices! Every day you make thousands of choices, many related to food. Some seem trivial. Others are important. A few may even set the course of your life. A single choice made over and over can have a major impact on your health and your life! Start this new millennium by taking small steps for healthful eating and active living and reap the benefits over a Lifetime." Roberta L. Duyff, MS, RS, CFCS.

"When in doubt, eat a vegetable! Five a day is just the beginning. Science now shows that optimal health is obtained when nine to eleven servings of fruits and vegetables are eaten daily. Vegetables are tasty, inexpensive, convenient, colorful sources of vitamins A and C, fiber, and phytochemicals like lutein, lycopene and more! Add veggies to sandwiches, soups and pizza. Snack on baby carrots, pepper strips and sweet peas. Kind of hungry and not sure what you want -- eat a vegetable!" Carol M. Coughlin, RD

"With America's obesity epidemic affecting our health and well-being, this should be the time to get back to a comfortable, realistic, and healthy weight. When I speak to audiences of 'busy people wanting to stay healthy and fit,' I offer these as the top 3 tips:

1. Leave a bite of everything. Babies and young kids close their jaws tight when they've had enough, but somehow over time we've learned to clean our plates. I don't care how much training you've had -- unlearn the bad habit by simply leaving a bite of everything. See that doesn't hurt!"

2. Move that body! You don't have to join a gym or buy fancy exercise equipment, just have some fun. Walk the dog, play catch with the kids, dance in the livingroom, whatever ... just move."

3. Get informed about today's foods. According to the USDA, 39 percent of all our meals are eaten 'out.' With their jumbo sized portions, we can't afford (calorically speaking) to eat everything on the menu. Learn to enjoy all your favorite foods with fewer calories."

"It really IS that simple. To lose weight, eat less calories (or exercise more) than you consume each day. It may come off slowly, but with these healthy habits it will stay off!" Joanne Lichten, PhD, RD.

"Giving our children a healthy start in life is the ultimate preventive medicine. Through gardening, cooking, shopping and other experiences with food, children will grow to appreciate whole, fresh, simply-prepared foods that are delicious and health-giving. All of us can help kids achieve their full nutritional potential by modeling positive behaviors for healthful, enjoyable eating." Connie Evers, MS, RD.

Source: FOOD REFLECTIONS E-mail Newsletter University of Nebraska Coop Ext in Lancaster County (www.lanco.unl.edu/food)