Less is more: 5 tips for healthy eating

March, National Nutrition Month, is the perfect month to celebrate you and your healthy eating habits!

In January many of us make a goal to "lose weight." By March, if we have not been successful, we just forget it until next year. Instead of just giving up, pick one healthy eating goal using 5 suggestions from choosemyplate.gov.

Get your pen out and circle the one you want to work on this month.

1. Use a smaller plate for portion control. We anticipate the first few bites of food at a meal, then we gobble, gobble, gobble through the rest of it until the last few bites. With a smaller plate you can finish your meal without overeating.

2. If you eat out, choose healthier options, or eat out less. You already know that there is so much hidden fat, sugar, and sodium in restaurant foods that it is essential to look at the nutritional information before ordering. Consider preparing more family meals at home as a healthier option.

3. Choose to eat some foods more or less often. Select whole grains, more fruits and vegetables. Half of your smaller plate should be filled with veggies and fruits. Cut back on high fat meat and dairy products.

4. Sip Smarter. Regular soda, fruit drinks, energy or sports drinks can have a lot of sugar and calories. Try making flavored water by adding different fruit combinations to your water, such as oranges and cranberries, or melon and cucumber.

5. Make treats "treats" and not everyday foods. Treats are great once in a while. For example, if you want a hot fudge sundae, go order one out and enjoy! Don't buy a tub of ice cream and a quart of hot fudge to put in your fridge or you will eat it every day until it is gone.

These are the five suggestions. Now it is your turn to circle the one you want to do this month. Use a calendar to mark the days that you are successful.

Who knows, as an added bonus, you may even drop a few pounds with just that one change!

Hadley is a registered dietitian at Sutter Gould Medical Foundation in Modesto.