Page 22 - BUZZ Magazine - Issue No. 1 Spring 2021 | University of Rochester

ALTH

F OR Y O UR HE PERSONALIZE YOUR PLATE

March is National Nutrition Month, and this year’s
theme is “Personalize Your Plate.” But how? Jill Chodak
offers the following advice.

Think about what you want to change and what you can
change, rather than what you think you should change.
JILL CHODAK, MS, RD, CDN Take a kind, reflective look at where you are with life,
Clinical Dietitian, health, food, money, work, and stress. This will make all the
UR Medicine’s Center for
Community Health & Prevention difference in how things go.
“ Find out what Have a plan A, B, and C to ensure flexibility, promote
Recognize that every day is different and be prepared.
makes your body
and mind feel long-term change, and support those ups, downs, and
best and move in-betweens. One day you might work out, eat fiber, and
toward it. “ go to sleep on time, while another day you might be so
exhausted, none of that seems feasible. What can you
do then? Rest. Call a friend to support mental health.
Identifying and navigating obstacles is the key to achieving
long-term health.

Find what works for you and get the support to achieve it.
It seems simple, but how often do we consider choice in the
health journey? We all have different bodies, genetics, health
conditions, and eating patterns. Find out what makes your
body and mind feel best and move toward it. This may also
mean having to drown out “nutrition noise” from folks offering
the latest trend or fad to get healthy. What works for a family
member, best friend, or celebrity may not work for you. If
you’re not sure where to start, reach out to the people who
have dedicated their lives to this—registered dietitians. Visit
eatright.org to find one near you.

FIND MORE NUTRITION TIPS AND RECIPES FROM CHODAK
uofr.us/chodak

GET A PERSONALIZED EATING PLAN
BASED ON USDA GUIDELINES
myplate.gov/myplate-plan