Page 72 - South Mississippi Living - February, 2019

HEALTHY LIVING eat healthy
LEAFY GREENS STAR IN 2019 HEALTHY FOOD TRENDS
story by Lynn Lofton
f you’re thinking of eating
healthier this year by following the latest trends,
proceed carefully. Singing River Health System
registered dietitian Annie Russo says one of the most important pieces of advice to eat healthy is to find something that works for you.
“Not everyone has the same food preferences, schedules, or needs.
Talk to a registered dietitian to find out what the right food choices and eating patterns are for you,” she said. “Try to incorporate more fruits and vegetables in your diet and avoid cooking with added salt and salt seasonings. Another important part of a healthy diet is moderation and portion sizes. If you do indulge in
a less healthy food or drink, make
sure it’s a smaller portion and not something you do all of the time.” According to cookinglight.com, some food trends likely to be high
profile this year include plant-based everything — think beet tortillas and cauliflower-infused mac and cheese — dairy substitutes such as almond milk and oat milk, and more emphasis on foods with fatty omega 3s such as fish.
Russo says that kale, which has been a star of the food world in recent years, will most likely continue to
be a popular leafy green. “But any leafy green vegetable is a great part of one’s diet because of the nutrients they provide,” she said. “Some of the popularity with kale revolves around being able to prepare and use it in
a variety of ways — salads, cooked, smoothies.” She suggests trying other green leafy vegetables in your favorite kale recipes for a new twist.
Incorporating green leafy vegetables — rich in vitamins A, C, E and K
— into your everyday life is a great part of creating a healthy balanced diet, Russo advises. “Not only do greens provide you with antioxidants and carotenoids, which help protect against cancer, but greens also contain fiber, iron, magnesium, potassium, and calcium.”
However, Russo urges caution as the vitamin K in some leafy greens may interact with medications such as Coumadin or Warfarin. It’s best to check with a health care professional.
72 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • February 2019
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EAT YOUR VEGGIES