Healthy eating will take center stage as Scotland County joins the rest of the nation in recognizing “National Nutrition Month” this March.

Sponsored by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the National Nutrition Month program was created to encourage consumers to develop a healthy eating plan.

Promoting the theme “Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day,” Cardra E. Burns of the Scotland County Department of Public Health said that healthy eating does not have to be painful.

“Eating healthy doesn’t mean taste is compromised and most favorite foods can fit (within a healthy diet pattern),” Burns said.

Advising locals to choose foods packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutrients, the WIC program director said that it is also important to choose foods that are low in calories.

Asked what foods should be included in a healthy diet, Burns praised “fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fat-free or low-fat dairy” as healthy meal choices.

Included in Burns’ recommendation was a warning: “Be aware of portion sizes. Even low-calorie foods can add up when portions are larger than you need. The key to eating right, your way is moderation with appropriate portion size … combined with physical activity.”

According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, there are several ways to “Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day.”

The personalization of a diet plan is among the most important steps that must be taken to achieve a balanced dietary plan. According to the academy, the easiest way to eat healthy is to find healthy foods that you enjoy.

Eating foods appropriate for your lifestyle is also important. Whether you live a sedentary lifestyle or the lifestyle of an athlete, each person has unique nutritional requirements.

The academy also recommends the incorporation of cultural and ethnic foods into the diet, as a way to keep traditions alive and to make eating enjoyable.

National Nutrition Month comes just a month after a study was published linking the southern diet with the American South’s elevated stroke risk.

Over the past several decades medical science has observed that residents of the southeastern United States are approximately 20 percent more likely to suffer stroke than the rest of the country.

Using data from a national survey University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers learned that those most likely to eat the typical southern diet, including fried foods and sweet tea, were at a 41% increased risk of stroke compared with those less likely to observe the southern diet.

As part of this public education campaign, the Scotland County Department of Public Health’s website has been set up to include a variety of helpful tips, games, promotional tools and nutrition education resources – all designed to spread the message of good tradition and the “Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day” theme.

For information about National Nutrition Month, contact Cardra E. Burns at 277-2470 (ex. 4462).