Eat a variety of nutritious food everyday!
One of the first things I remember clearly learning as a child, was that choices have consequences. My parents talked about it, teachers talked about it, I even listened to songs on my Walkman that talked about the consequence’s choices can have. I was a very independent soul, and wanted to make all of my own choices for as long as I can remember. Now as an adult, the amount of choices that I face in a day, can at times, feel overwhelming. Some studies suggest that as adults, we make up to 35,000 conscious decisions every day. That statistic seems staggering when you think of that in terms of consequences. Our brains try to automate as much of that as possible. Brushing my teeth, while a choice, is just something I do automatically now. The order in which I wash in the shower? Automatic. Choosing an outfit in the morning. Not as automatic. While those choices may not have significant consequences, there is a choice that we make multiple times a day that can have significant impact on our mental, physical, and emotional health. The consequences of which can have both immediate and long-term effects. Those choices all revolve around food.
When was the last time you picked up a cookie, or an apple and thought, “What impact will this food have on my health?” Or when was the last time you went through the drive-thru and thought, “I wonder what consequences my body will have as a result of eating this food?” When it comes to food, I find that we often don’t always approach our choices with the consequences in mind. There are so many factors that play into our food choices, that the outcomes of eating often get forgotten. Yet the old adage of, “You are what you eat,” still holds true. Take a minute to think, what are the likely consequences of my current habitual food choices? This month, I’m going to share some ways to help you take some steps towards automating some of the choices around food to help you be your best self.
The first tip this month is to choose a variety of nutritious foods to eat every day. Our bodies are amazing and require a wide variety of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals to function at its best. For the best outcomes, we want to look for nutrient dense foods. These are foods that are whole, fresh, and minimally processed. Foods like, fresh produce, whole grains, minimally processed meats and dairy, nuts, seeds, and beans. One way to ensure a variety, is to choose foods of lots of different colors. The first rule of food is that we eventually eat what we have around. So, keep nutritious foods on hand and visible, where possible, to keep the nutritious choices in mind. Make the nutritious choice easy! Cooking at home, and limiting eating out, is another easy way to improve nutritious choices. Eating a variety of nutritious foods will produce consequences we all can be happy with, and our body will thank us for.
Watch Promise Community Health Center’s Social Media pages as Amanda breaks down each concept and gives us tips on how we can start making some new healthier habits! And call 712-722-1700 to make an appointment with one of our Promise providers to get a referral to see one of our Promise Health Coaches today!
Our Promise Nurse health coaches work one-on-one with individuals and their families in the clinic setting to evaluate health needs, environment and barriers to better health. In doing so, they help their patients establish a plan and guide them and their families along the way to achieve the plan. They also work closely with local and state resources to ensure that each person receives the support that they need.
One of the services our Population Health team here at Promise offers is Health Coaching. We offer free, high quality health coaching for individuals and families. All of the health coaching centers around you as the patient – your goals, needs, and input. Another service we offer is Nutrition Counseling. The health coaches at Promise Community Health Center provide healthy eating counseling through education on My Plate, the Mediterranean Diet, and 5-2-1-0. One other service we offer is Weight Loss Support. The health coaches at Promise Community Health Center are here to provide focused, long term support to help you identify your why and help you reach your goals. Our Population Health team also offers High Blood Pressure Assistance. The Population health team at Promise Community Health Center works in collaboration with your provider care team and our Pharm D to ensure that your blood pressure is managed. Our health coach visits are free to you and allow you to learn what may be leading to your elevated blood pressure, how to monitor it in your home and what you can do to improve your numbers.
The Promise Community Population health team believes your health begins at home and is a family affair! Our Population Health team here at Promise offers Family/Kids Nutrition Support. Our team works closely with parents and kids to help provide education, resources and support on how to build a healthy lifestyle. Our Population Health team also offers Prediabetes Prevention/Education, along with Diabetes Care. Through collaborative efforts with the medical team, Promise Community Health Center is screening and identifying patients at high risk for prediabetes. When identified as having prediabetes, the Population health team will provide education, support and referral to Diabetes Prevention programs. The nurse health coaches at Promise Community Health Center work in collaboration with the provider care teams and Pharm D to provide you evidence-based education, support and access to the resources you need to live a long, vibrant life.
