March is National Nutrition Month!

For many, nutrition can be overwhelming, especially when trying to make changes to your eating habits. It can be hard to know where to begin. One starting point is to bring awareness to your eating habits by practicing mindfulness.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Learn your hunger cues. What physical signs do you experience when you're hungry? Does your stomach growl, or do you notice other symptoms? It's also important to recognize if you're eating for reasons other than hunger, such as boredom or stress. Understanding the difference between hunger and other triggers can help you to understand your eating patterns.
• Minimize distractions. Try eating without distractions (such as watching TV, working, or driving) to better tune into your hunger and fullness cues.
• Engage all your senses. Enjoy a meal by eating with all senses-taste, smell, and texture. This can help you savor your food and may lead to discovering new favorites or realizing you enjoy certain foods less than you thought.
• Eat slowly. Did you know it takes your brain about 15-20 minutes to tell your stomach you're full? Slowing down your eating pace can promote better digestion and prevent overeating.
• Interested in more nutrition information? The March Well Balanced newsletter discusses how portion control can be another helpful strategy to practice mindful eating and support overall nutrition.