Eat Right – Your Way, Every Day

A Message from Dr. Stephen Kindred – Assistant Vice President, Corporate Medical

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recognizes March as National Nutrition Month®. So, this month I urge you to focus your attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating practices.

Making healthy eating a part of your everyday plan starts by balancing caloric intake with exercise. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend altering your eating pattern to eat more of certain foods (such as whole grains, low-fat dairy products, fruits and vegetables), while cutting back on others (including added sugars, solid fats, refined grains and sodium).

Rob, Business Automation Analyst in the Integrated Solutions Department at Corporate, recognized his need to focus on consuming less and burning more calories. "Based on recurring back problems and my cholesterol results from the 2011 Wellness Assessment, I knew I needed to start eating healthier," admits Rob.

In January 2012, Rob and his wife set goals to eat better, exercise more and ultimately lose weight. "My goal was to lose 20 pounds in time for my daughter's wedding in June," says Rob. "I used the MyFitnessPal smartphone app to track my calories consumed by eating and burned by exercising."

Rob also started eating more fruits and veggies and eating fewer sweets, processed fatty foods and "fast" food. In addition, he increased his physical activity by adding jogging, abdominal crunches and weight training to his weekly routine. "I am happy to report that I lost 35 pounds and 3 inches off my waist in the first five months of 2012," says Rob. "I just turned 50 years old and I'm in the best shape I've been since college!"

Based on Rob's choice to start eating right and exercising more, his 2012 Wellness Assessment results reflected healthy numbers, including his cholesterol count. What's his extra motivation? "My wife," brags Rob. "She and I continue to encourage each other with our diet and exercise routines. Due to this accountability, we've maintained our wellness plans for the last 14 months."

Like Rob, healthier choices can help you get on the right track. Empowering you to eat right and Live Well, Be Well – your way, every day!

Additional Resources

ChooseMyPlate.gov offers a variety of resources for eating right and increasing physical activity.

Need to improve your cholesterol count like Rob did? Mayo Clinic suggests these Top 5 Foods to Lower Your Numbers.