Written by: Nicole Pazdziorko, RDN, LD, Food City Dietitian

March celebrates National Nutrition Month with the goal to inspire people to think about how the foods we eat can impact energy, mood, and overall health. It can feel like a daunting task to make changes to your eating pattern, but small changes go a long way in improving health. 

In honor of National Nutrition Month, try celebrating with the following easy tips:

Add one new or unfamiliar fruit or vegetable to your shopping list to try each week. 

You already know that fruits and vegetables are good for you, and maybe you have even made strides to up your produce intake. If your typical picks are starting to feel uninspired, then try adding something new to try. Every tried fresh artichokes? They are delicious boiled and served with vinegar and a drizzle of melted butter. Tasted pomegranate seeds? A perfect sweet and tangy addition to salads or yogurt.

Experiment with new recipes and flavors.

It is a smart strategy to have tried-and-true favorite recipes on hand to assist with consistency in meal planning to achieve health goals, but exploring new dishes is a great way to make healthy eating more flavorful, fun and inspiring. Get creative with punchy flavors in Red Lentil Dahl, Culinary Tours Shrimp and Noodle Stir Fry, Caponata,  or Slow Cooker Picadillo.

Incorporate at least two servings of seafood per week.

Fish and seafood, like salmon, sardines and trout, are rich in beneficial nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids, which are linked with improving heart health. Americans are recommended to consume eight ounces of fish and seafood per week. To hit this recommendation, try including a serving two days per week.

Swap in plant-based proteins for one meal per day.

Varying your menu to include plant forward protein picks means ensuring your body is getting the vitamins and minerals it needs, plus more fiber and less saturated fat than animal based proteins.  To help vary your protein routine, top a salad with Full Circle Market Garbanzo Beans, enjoy steamed edamame as an appetizer, or pair a serving of Full Circle Market Almonds with fruit, yogurt and cereal.