National Nutrition Month - Helping your family achieve a heart healthy diet

>> MY NAME IS MELANIE SAVOKA. I'M A REGISTERED DIETICIAN AT THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA. IN HONOR OF NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH, I HAVE THREE TIPS TO HELP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ACHIEVE A HEART HEALTHY DIET. FIRST TIP IS TO EAT THE RAINBOW. EATING A VARIETY OF RICHLY COLORED FRUITS AND VEGETABLES CAN HELP REDUCE INFLAMMATION, LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE, AND HELP PREVENT HEART DISEASE. EAT THREE TO FIVE SERVINGS DAILY, EATING A VARIETY OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES FROM EVERY MAJOR COLOR GROUP THROUGHOUT THE WEEK. FRUITS AND VEGETABLES MAKE EASY AND DELICIOUS SNACKS. YOU COULD TRY A CUP OF BERRIES, APPLE SLICES IN NUT BUTTER, OR CARROTS OR BELL PEPPERS SERVED WITH LOW-FAT DIP OR HUMMUS. SECOND TIP IS TO EAT MORE FIBER. DIETARY FIBER HELPS DECREASE BAD CHOLESTEROL LEVELS. WHOLE GRAIN BREADS, WHOLE GRAIN CEREALS, AND OATMEAL ARE GREAT SOURCES OF FIBER. YOU CAN ALSO GET FIBER FROM BEANS AND FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. FIBER IS GOOD FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY AND HELPS TO PROMOTE HEALTHY DIGESTION. THIRD TIP IS TO CHOOSE HEALTHY FATS. FATS ARE ESSENTIAL TO GIVE OUR BODIES ENERGY AND SUPPORT CELL GROWTH. YOUR BODY NEEDS FAT, BUT NOT AS MUCH FAT AS MOST PEOPLE EAT. CHOOSE HEALTHY FATS: LEAN MEATS, LIKE CHICKEN AND TURKEY WITHOUT THE SKIN, FISH, AVOCADOS, NUTS AND SEEDS, OLIVE OIL, AND LOW-FAT DAIRY PRODUCTS SUCH AS SKIM OR 1 PERCENT MILK OR LOW-FAT CHEESES AND YOGURTS. LIMIT INTAKE OF FRIED FOODS AS WELL AS ANIMAL OR PROCESSED FATS, LIKE BACON, SAUSAGE, AND HOT DOGS. INCORPORATING ALL OF THESE HEALTHY SMART FOOD CHOICES INTO YOUR CHILDREN'S MEALS EARLY ON WILL MAKE THEM MORE LIKELY TO FOLLOW THE SAME PRACTICES THROUGHOUT AND LATER IN LIFE.