March has come to a close, and I have yet to write about National Nutrition Month, celebrated annually in March.
The theme this year was Get Your Plate in Shape in reference to the relatively new “Choose My Plate” website from the USDA. The website contains many useful online resources like the SuperTracker that is helpful for planning, analyzing and tracking daily food intake and activity.
I was speaking to an educator last week who told me that she “forces” all of her patients with Type 2 Diabetes to learn carbohydrate counting in order to help them manage their blood sugar levels. I asked her if her patients all choose this particular strategy, and she responded that carbohydrate counting is the most effective method. Are there other tools that might be equally effective? What about patients who cannot read? Could a simpler method work just as well? Could “Choose My Plate “ work for our patients with diabetes?
In my experience, there are certainly patients who are fans of online tracking and carbohydrate counting, but other patients may desire something more “low tech”. For these patients, the plate method, which is an appealing option for many, may be helpful.
Have you looked at some of the new products available to go with “Choose My Plate”? If your facility can afford it, it is nice have a supply of these items on hand for patients to buy. Or your facility could offer them as a prize for patients after they complete their education sessions. These are fun tools that they can use at home to practice balanced intake of nutrients and portion control.
For many years I have been a fan of the New American Plate published by the The American Institute for Cancer Research, which is another “plate” option. There is also a nice plate method video from the American Diabetes Association .
All of these “plates” are good ways to ensure patients are getting more fruits, vegetables and whole grains and less animal protein. It is also an easy way to teach balance of nutrients and portion control, without using a calculator.
Nutrition recommendations may change, but I think we can agree that portion control, variety, and adequate activity remain staples of a healthy lifestyle. So whether your patients are looking to control blood sugar, weight, or prevent cancer, each of these plates may be worth looking into.
Cathy