Like so many of you, I’ve been counting the days until folks can ease out and be safe. Memorial Day is the traditional kick-off of summer festivities, but after ten weeks of “stay home-stay safe,” this year it takes on new meaning.
We want to be safe and healthy—limit gathering sizes, maintain a social distance of six feet from other people, wear a face mask and wash our hands. Those are the basic safety caveats; when it comes to food and eating, you also want to choose wisely to maximize your health and safety.
Michelle Stewart, Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator and former President of the Florida Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics advises “There are no totally good foods or totally bad foods, you want to practice moderation in making food choices. I go by the 80/20 rule, 80 percent of the time I try to eat and drink wholesome foods and beverages in moderate portions, and 20 percent of the time I indulge in foods and beverages that bring me joy.” This guideline is doable, making it easy to gradually change to a diet for optimum health.
Food is a key element in African American culture and folks have to make changes to include healthier options. One of the important things to do is to eat a variety of rainbow-colored fruits and vegetables daily. Recommendations from the USDA include adults eating five to seven servings each day.
In addition to adding more produce to the diet…