Spring Means More Colorful ... Food

Spring has officially begun, and although the weather in Abington is closer to that of winter, many people are thinking of shucking off hearty winter meals and opting for the fresh produce making its way into farmers markets nearby.

March, the beginning of spring, ushered in National Nutrition Month—it comes at a good time for people who want to shed a few pounds before shorts and swimsuit season, or who just want to leave hibernation behind with the winter and move toward a healthier lifestyle.

It's not too late to start.

This year, the American Dietetic Association (ADA) chose a theme appropriate for the season of budding trees and colorful flowers to come.

The association encourages everyone to add color and nutrients to meals through the 2011 theme: “Eat Right with Color,” according to a press release.

“Adding a splash of colorful seasonal foods to your plate makes for more than just a festive meal. A rainbow of foods creates a palette of nutrients, each with a different bundle of potential benefits for a healthful eating plan,” said registered dietitian and ADA spokesperson Karen Ansel in a press release.

For instance, adding green produce can add antioxidants to a meal, while throwing in some orange, such as apricots or carrots, can promote healthy vision and immunity, according to the association.

“Healthy eating includes more than counting calories alone. In fact, most children don't get enough of all the essential nutrients critical to normal growth and development,” said Ansel in the press release.

Abington Memorial Hospital offers a nutritional needs calculator on its website at www.amh.org/healthresources/wellness-tools/health-calculator/nutritional-needs.aspx/

The calculator lets people know how many vitamins and other nutrients they need to eat, in addition to a healthy number of calories to consume. Anyone can type in their weight, age and gender and get exact information on specific amounts of vitamins and protein, carbohydrates and other nutrients.

This helps people stay focused eating to nourish the body, not just limiting food quantities.

“Instead of grilled chicken and mashed potatoes, consider painting a more colorful plate, such as grilled chicken topped with salsa, mashed sweet potato, asparagus and spinach salad with orange slices. A colorful meal is not only visually appealing, but it also contains a variety of nutrients and is quite flavorful,” Ansel said in the release.

For those trying to lose weight, the Abington Memorial Hospital website also has a calorie burner calculator where people can type in their weight and activity level, and get the number of calories burned for the duration of workout.

Abington Memorial Hospital’s Institute for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery includes experts who offer nutrition plans, counseling and ongoing support for patients. Abington Memorial Hospital is located at 1200 Old York Road in Abington.

For more information about how to “Eat Right with Color,” visit www.eatright.org/nnm.