March is National Nutrition Month, and this year the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is advising, “Put your best fork forward.” Hy-Vee Dietitian Melissa Boncher explains, the academy is trying to highlight the importance of making small changes over time, while ensuring every bite counts. Boncher says in general people know what they put in their bodies is important, but an awareness month reminds them why, “We need proper nutrition for good health. And we need to ensure that we’re getting enough of the good stuff, and kind of monitoring or limiting the not-so-good stuff. So it’s important that we advocate for ourselves, and that we know what we’re putting into our bodies.”

According to Boncher, the best way to monitor what you’re consuming is to always read the labels on food. There are some things – like calories, saturated fat, or sodium – that you want to keep on the low side, while others – like protein, fiber, and vitamins – are good to have lots of. Boncher says an easy way to decipher food labels is to look at the daily percentage. She says to keep the bad stuff below 5%, while keeping the good above 20%. Additionally, she reminds people to take the serving size into consideration, or else you could find yourself eating multiple servings before you realize. To hear more about National Nutrition Month, listen to the In Touch with Southeast Iowa interview with Boncher at KCIIRadio.com.