March | 2012 | Talk Diabetes

This year’s celebration of National Nutrition Month comes to a close tomorrow. I’m sad to see it go but am happy that this year we at St. Anthony’s have had many opportunities to spread the word and raise awareness of the importance of good nutrition!

As you know, this year’s theme was “Get Your Plate in Shape.” We focused on using the new MyPlate to help plan balanced, healthy meals. I got to give a community presentation last Wednesday that focused on just that. Read our previous post about this year’s “Get Your Plate in Shape” key messages here.

Judy Schmitt taught a workshop on preventing diabetes and Cathy Feldmeier led a support group entitled, “Take Charge of Your Diabetes” at a local senior citizens community. Some of our physicians shared their tips for staying healthy too! We also celebrated the 24th annual Diabetes Alert Day this month.

St. Anthony’s debuted its website, “Get Fit!” on March 10th with a community event to kick it off. The website is dedicated to providing tips for health and wellness and is chock-full of advice and videos, plus reminders for upcoming health events. You can also use the site as a goal-tracker. Set some goals for yourself, enter them into the site and track your progress. Do your part in creating a healthy community.

I like to think of National Nutrition Month as the “Nutrition New Year.” That’s because I view it as the perfect time of year to focus on nutrition and start fresh. That’s what spring is all about, right? My personal “Nutrition New Year’s” goal was to begin consistent exercise again in the morning. I’ve had some injuries that held me back for several weeks during the beginning of the year (some of you some me on crutches) and I used NNM as my motivation to get going again. I’m pleased to say that I’ve been very successful! I’ve started a new walking and weight-lifting regimen.

As you can tell, we’ve had a very busy month promoting health and wellness in our community. Now we’d like your input about National Nutrition Month. Please leave us some comments!

What goals did you set for the “Nutrition New Year?” How have you done?

What did you learn during National Nutrition Month this year?

What does National Nutrition Month mean to you? How has it helped you and your family? Here’s what is means to us.

Please leave us some comments. And remember, just because National Nutrition Month is ending, doesn’t mean that we should stop focusing on our nutrition habits and health. For additional resources visit ChooseMyPlate or the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. For personal meal-planning and nutrition education, visit our website.

Today, March 27, 2012, is the 24th Annual American Diabetes Association Diabetes Alert Day. The ADA calls Alert Day a “wake-up call” asking Americans to take the Diabetes Risk Test to find out if they are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. This year, the ADA is debuting an all new risk test. Don’t worry–it’s painless! No finger-stick required. All you’ll have to do is answer a few questions about your weight, age, family history and other potential risks for diabetes or pre-diabetes. It takes less than a minute and it’s free! If you find out you are at risk for developing diabetes, you’ll get some tips that will help you prevent the disease that affects more than 26 million Americans. Everyone should be aware of their risk. We have to face it in order to “stop diabetes.” Last year, over 600,000 people took the test. It’s the ADA’s goal to beat that number this year. Be one of them!

Take the test here. If you would like to share your score, please make a comment. By sharing the action that you’re taking to prevent (or treat) diabetes, you might help others to take action too.

I took the risk test. My risk was a “1,” which means at “lower risk.” But I do have some risk factors for developing diabetes–a family history. So I’m taking action now by eating healthy, maintaining a healthy weight and exercising.

Read more about Alert Day here. If you are at risk for developing diabetes or have diabetes and want help treating it, contact us. It’s our specialty and we’re on your team!

St. Anthonys’ physicians know that eating well and exercising regularly are good habits for staying healthy and preventing health problems. They are dedicated to helping you “get your plate in shape” too!

Dr. Wagstaff, who practices at Telegraph Road Family Medicine, created a YouTube video in which she discusses healthy habits. Watch what she has to say about getting fit here.

Read an interview with Dr. Julie Busch, who practices at Kirkwood Family Medicine, in which she gives her advice for living a longer, healthier life by taking small steps.

Remember, we still have two weeks left of National Nutrition Month. It’s the perfect time of the year to focus on your health! Take some advice from our doctors and decide what your goals are for getting healthy. In doing this, make sure to set up some smaller goals that will help you achieve your bigger goals. Track your progress by setting up a free account on St. Anthony’s Get Fit! website. You’ll find more tips to help you along the way too.

For more advice on good nutrition, don’t forget to attend our free community event, Get Your Plate in Shape, presented by Registered, Licensed Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator, Elizabeth Patton. It’s tomorrow, March 21 at 6:30 p.m. Registration is required. Click here for more information and call 314-ANTHONY to reserve your spot.

You know that March is National Nutrition Month. But did you also know that there is a day each year dedicated to celebrating RDs (Registered Dietitians) as the food and nutrition experts?

Today, March 14, 2012, marks the fifth annual RD Day, reminding everyone that a registered dietitian is the best source of practical, affordable and credible food and nutrition information. Registered Dietitian Day celebrates the commitment of RDs, during National Nutrition Month and throughout the year, as strong supporters of improving the nutrition and health of people across our nation. Have you seen your RD lately?

Celebrate with us by telling us your goals for this National Nutrition Month! Leave a comment about how you plan to “Get Your Plate in Shape!”

If you’re in St. Louis, don’t miss this weekend’s Get Fit South County! Event. 

Saturday, March 10, St. Anthony’s Medical Center is bringing together the best fitness resources our community has to offer under one roof. The free event will feature fun exhibits sponsored by Curves, South County YMCA, Trader Joe’s, All N 1 Fitness, Logan Chiropractic Health Centers, Premier Care Orthopedics, Fleet Feet, Ellipse Fitness St. Louis, Best Body Fitness, Tower Tee Golf, Premier Pilates and more.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to meet and talk with community health and fitness experts and take advantage of free screenings for blood pressure, body mass index, height/weight and more. The event also will feature interactive demonstrations on better nutrition, exercise and lifestyle, as well as an “Ask the Doctor” booth where those attending can talk with a physician. Our very own Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator, Liz Patton, will present, “Get Nutritionally Fit Using Your POTS.” What are your POTS? I guess you’ll have to come to find out!

Participants will also learn about St. Anthony’s new Get Fit! Online tools to help them set and track their own goals and give them health tips. Visit www.stlgetfit.org to learn more about this interactive tool and about health and wellness with St. Anthony’s.

Get Fit South County! is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 10 at Lindbergh High School, 5000 S. Lindbergh Blvd. in south St. Louis County. Check-in is at 9:30 a.m. Participants will receive a complimentary tote bag filled with surprises, refreshments, prizes and more. The event is free, but space is limited and advance registration is required. Call 314-ANTHONY (268-4669) to register.

Start your journey to health and wellness by looking at the foods on your plate. Your plate should include all the food groups and be in proportion according to this picture. It should also include small amounts of healthy fats, like olive oil, nuts or margarine. If you don’t include one of the food groups, save it for a snack.

Before you eat, take a quick assessment of your meal and think about these tips:

Make half your plate fruits and vegetables.
This is a great way to start building more balanced meals and also a great way to get more fiber and nutrients. Choose a variety of colors.

Make at least half your grains whole.
Whole grains provide more fiber, which is filling and can help control cholesterol. Aim for 100% whole-grain breads, cereals, pasta and brown rice.

Switch to fat-free or low-fat milk.
Lower-fat milks have the same amount of calcium and vitamin D as whole or 2% milk, but with less fat and calories.

Choose lean proteins.
Keep it mixed up with seafood, nuts, beans, lean meat, poultry and eggs.

Cut back on sodium and empty calories from solid fats and sugars.
Eat sugary desserts less often and avoid sugary drinks. Compare the sodium in products you purchase and choose the lower numbers. Make major sources of saturated fats like desserts, pizza, cheese, sausage and hot dogs occasional choices, not every day foods.

Enjoy your food but eat less.
Find out how many calories you need to maintain your weight or lose weight. Your registered dietitian can do this for you! Eat smaller portions of food and dine out less often to stave off unnecessary calories.

Don’t forget about exercise! Be physically active your way.
Pick exercises that you like doing, such as walking, jogging, biking or swimming. Start off with 10 minutes at each session and work your way up to at least 150 minutes per week.

Find other helpful resources on the MyPlate website: choosemyplate.gov. And get ready for “What’s on MyPlate?” Day, scheduled for March 8. Share what’s on your plate by commenting on our blog or on twitter. Spread the word that what’s on your plate matters!

It’s one of our favorite months of the year! National Nutrition Month starts today–a whole month dedicated to nutrition. The National Nutrition Month (NNM) campaign, created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, occurs every March and urges Americans to focus attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits.

This year’s theme is “Get Your Plate in Shape.”  The slogan refers to MyPlate, of course, the revision of the former Food Guide Pyramid that debuted in 2011. For the remainder of March, keep an eye on the TalkDiabetes blog for tips on getting your plate in shape. If you’re in St. Louis, register for the Get Your Plate in Shape event, hosted by St. Anthony’s and one of our very own RDs, Liz Patton.

To kick off the month, I asked our staff, “What does National Nutrition Month mean to you?” Here’s what a few of them had to say.

Judy: “It’s a time to think about all the good variety of foods to eat and a chance to promote the huge benefits of healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle.”

Kathy: “It’s an opportunity for people to think about nutrition and focus on improving their nutrition to ifluence their health and well-being.”

Nancy: “EATING! We all do it, we love it and sometimes it’s all we think about! But do you know enough about it? Often times, it’s not what you shouldn’t eat, but how healthier choices can help improve glucose control, blood pressure, cholesterol and energy level. The month of March helps us focus on the wonderful variety of foods that are available and how a Registered Dietitian can assist you! Many times your insurance company will help pay for Medical Nutrition Therapy. If it’s been a while since a visit with your RD, check it out…make an appointment to come see us!”

Cathy: “National Nutrition Month puts the ‘Let’s Eat Healthy!’ message into the forefront and gives you 31 days to focus on new habits to carry through the rest of the year.”

Me (Liz): “It’s one month in which we should take some time out of our busy schedules to re-focus on something that’s very important, yet often neglected: nutrition. During NNM, there are many tools made easily accessible to the public on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetic’s website. It’s the perfect opportunity to take advantage of them! I love the tips sheets. Print them off and discuss them as a family. View March (and NNM) as your ‘Nutrition New Year!’ Make some goals related to health and nutrition.”

How do you feel about National Nutrition Month? Let us know!