Variety is the spice of life when it comes to vegetables! There are thousands of different vegetables out there but only a few make most Americans plates. Vegetables add flavor and texture to meals. Eating a variety of different colors of vegetables exposes your body to lots of nutrients to keep you healthy and strong.

What kind of vegetables have you been eating during this time of social distancing? Our family loves spinach in our smoothies, fresh green beans made in the insta pot and carrots for a yummy crunchy snack!

Stay safe and eat well!

https://www.insider.com/long-lasting-fresh-food-produce-stock-up-work-from-home-coronavirus-shopping

This week National Nutrition Month focuses on learning skills to create tasty meals. Learning new ways to cook and using new ingredients to make meals allows eating to be exciting and improves the variety of nutrients you expose your body to. This week I challenge you to try a new recipe or food that you have been curious about. It might just end up being a family favorite!

March is National Nutrition Month! This year the theme is ‘Eat Right Bite by Bite’. The first week is focused on eating a variety of nutritious foods every day.  What kind of healthy foods do you eat regularly?

I like that this week also talks about enjoying your food and being mindful when eating. A lot of times we are rushed when eating which is not good for digestion and will also more likely lead to overeating.

Happy National Nutrition Month!

Nutrition and physical activity are both very important for our bodies to feel and function their best. We are blessed in the northwoods for many opportunities for physical activity even during the snowy, colder months of the year. When we are active we build muscle, breath deeper and release happy hormones.

Leave a comment about your favorite outdoor winter sport or activity?

https://www.everydayhealth.com/fitness-pictures/winter-fitness-activities-for-the-whole-family.aspx

Easily serve a home cooked meal by using the crock pot! This recipe can be adapted to what spices and veggies your family likes. Leftover chicken can be used to start another meal like chicken sandwiches or chicken salad. The bones can be boiled to make chicken stock for soups or to be used in other recipes.

What is your favorite crock pot recipe?

Slow Cooker Whole Roasted Chicken

The more we know about children’s unique nutritional needs the better job we can all do as parents in raising a happy, active, and healthy child.

Nutrition Talks is designed to help us all to make the best decisions possible around our child’s nutritional needs. I wanted its format to be a quick and simple reminder of what we likely already know, without necessarily bogging us down in technical doublespeak that surrounds nutritional space.

Yet for within each Nutrition Talks topic you will see that I have provided a reference resource for those who occasionally would like to do a deeper dive on that topic.

Occasionally you will see that I am hosting an outside expert in what will be called “BONUS Bites.”

So Like, Follow, and Share Feed Our Rural Kids on Facebook and watch for my bi-monthly posts on the first and third Wednesday of each month. Or we will just see you back here at FeedOurRuralKids.org when you are hungry for more knowledge.

– Brenda Husing RD, CD, CLS

Brenda Husing has a bachelor’s degree in Dietetics from Michigan State University and is a Registered Dietitian, Certified Dietitian and Certified Lactation Specialist. For ten years she has worked for the Wisconsin Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program for various counties and organizations including Oneida County, Forest County and Great Lakes Inter Tribal Council (GLITC).