According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Americans eat less than the recommended amounts of vegetables, fruits, whole-grains, dairy products and oils, and the typical American diet exceeds the recommended levels in calories from solid fats and added sugars, refined grains, sodium and saturated fat.
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To focus attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits, March is recognized as National Nutrition Month. In support, MHealthy offers a number of nutrition and weight-management services to the U-M community.
“Our goal is to arm our community with what they need to know to make smarter food choices, every day,” says Erica Owen, manager of MHealthy’s Nutrition and Weight Management Programs. “Sometimes all it takes are small changes to make a huge difference in meeting you and your family’s health and nutrition needs.”
Programs and resources available this month, and year-round, are listed below:
• Catering and Dining Guide — Find restaurants and university services offering healthier food options when eating on-the-go or catering an event or meeting.
• “In the Kitchen with Chef” Demonstrations — Learn essential kitchen skills and get meal planning tips, food samples and healthy recipes from a U-M chef and a registered dietitian.
• MHealthy Recipe Finder — Search through more than 300 MHealthy-approved recipes online.
• MHealthy Nutrition Consult — Discuss goals, barriers, strategies, and other factors related to nutrition with a registered dietitian.
• Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program — U-M has partnered with local farmers to offer a convenient way to participate in a CSA program and pick up fresh seasonal produce on or near campus each week. The MHealthy website also includes Google Maps featuring CSAs and farmers markets across Washtenaw County and southeast Michigan.
• Ready To Lose – Get personal support, weekly educational webinars, individual and group coaching through MHealthy’s weight loss program. Open to those with a body mass index above 25.
• Weight Watchers — Through a special partnership, U-M employees can join a 12-week Traditional or At Work program for half the price, and get Weight Watchers’ online and mobile tool at no additional cost.
