Post written by Half Your Plate friend and RD Laurie Barker Jackman
March is Nutrition Month and this year, Dietitians of Canada is celebrating it under the theme, “Good for you! Dietitians help you find your healthy.” We know that healthy eating looks different for everyone and to help discover what works best for you, it is important to seek the advice of a registered dietitian. Dietitians have unique training in nutrition and can be trusted to give you evidence-based recommendations every time.
There are many reasons healthy eating patterns and choices may be different. It could be based on a person’s culture and traditions, health condition or preferences. The good news is a registered dietitian can easily help you find a food pattern that works for your unique situation.
Recipes can easily be adjusted for health by adding, reducing, or substituting ingredients. For example, if you were using canned lentils in our Mediterranean Lentil Salad would simply rinse and drain the lentils to reduce the sodium.
You can also modify recipes for specific health conditions, allergies or intolerances. Take for instance our Squash and Apple Mash recipe. If a dietitian was working with someone with a dairy allergy, he/she would recommend replacing the cheddar with a dairy-free cheese.
Recipes can also reflect culture and tradition. For example, if bok choy is a familiar vegetable in your culture, you can add it to recipes like our Roasted Broccoli and Bean Salad for a taste of home in a new-to-me recipe.
Recipes can also be changed to meet your family’s needs. Sometimes a recipe may not make enough for your family. Doubling recipes can be done by multiplying the ingredients by two. Keep in mind that spices do not usually need to be doubled, be sure to taste before adding more!
You can also adjust recipes to suit your family’s resources. A recipe may ask you to use a kitchen gadget you may not own
.For example, you may want to make our Slow Cooker Carrot Leek Lentil Soup but do not have a slow cooker. Simply use a large pot on the stove and adjust the cooking time.
As you can see, healthy eating is not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. Healthy eating looks different for everyone. Do you need help finding your healthy? Reach out to a #halfyourplate dietitian today!
