October 24 is National Food Day. A day to resolve to make changes in your own diet.

Why Food Day? The typical American diet is contributing to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and other health problems. Those problems cost Americans over $150 billion per year.

“Eating Real” can save your health, so, join the movement! Use October 24th as the day to start eating a healthier diet and putting your family’s diet on track.

Marilou Rochford, Family & Community Health Sciences Educator states, “Eating Real means putting vegetables, fruits, and healthy whole grains at the center of your diet and also eating less meat and junky snack foods.”

Start to Eat Real: Keep a list of everything you eat for one week, begin to eliminate processed foods, eat at least one fruit or vegetable with every meal. Eat lean protein, drink plenty of water, include low fat or fat-free milk in your diet, and avoid fast food or deep-fried foods.

Rochford adds, “Try to eat at least one locally grown or raised food at each meal such as fruits, vegetables, eggs, grains, nuts, meats, and sweeteners like honey.”

Come learn how easy substitutes in your daily diet can keep you on a healthy track at the next FCHS Workshop, “Eating Healthy During the Holidays...Recipe “Rehab” Holiday Style!” The workshop will teach you how to stay on a healthy eating track during the holiday season, show easy recipe makeovers, and also demonstrate exercises to help reduce stress during the holidays. Additionally, you will learn easy food ingredient substitutes that you can make in your everyday meal preparations that will lead you on a healthier path.

FCHS offers a variety of nutrition and wellness programs throughout the year. Also, FCHS is a resource for information on many issues that families face. For more information, please call 465-5115, ext. 609. Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cape May County is located at 355 Court House-South Dennis Road, Cape May Court House, New Jersey.

Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cape May County helps both youth and adults improve their knowledge and skills, enhance their quality of life, and resolve problems in areas of food, nutrition, health and wellness; food safety; agriculture; environmental and natural resource management; and youth development. This is accomplished through the use of science-based knowledge and university research. Rutgers Cooperative Extension is an education organization within the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey and is an equal opportunity program provider and employer.

Contact: Marilou Rochford, MA, CFLE, FCHS Educator at 465-5115 ext. 609