March was National Nutrition month, but that doesn’t mean we can stop thinking about our health and the health of our loved ones. Every bite counts when it comes to healthy eating --- and even little changes can have huge impacts on your health. This month focus on making those little changes:

1) Eat breakfast everyday - it really is the most important meal of the day; gives you energy to start your day off right. Start your day with a protein food, a fruit or veggie, and a grain.

2) Listen to your body – pay attention to your hunger and fullness cues and make sure you are eating only when you are physically hungry and stopping when you are full.

3) Drink more water – water is one of the best choices to hydrate your body; skip those sugary beverages and add some pizazz to your water with fruit, veggies, and herbs– try adding a sliced cucumber and 8 fresh mint leaves (crushed) to a ½ gallon of water. Stir gently, refrigerate for at least 4 hours, and enjoy!

4) Make more meals at home – the healthiest meals are often those meals you make at home. Try some new simple recipes this week at home such as this recipe for Apple Peanut Butter Nachos: https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/food/recipes/fruit/apple-peanut-butter-nachos

Ingredients

• 2 medium apples
• 2 Tbsp. peanut butter
• 2 tsp. honey
• 1½ Tbsp. semisweet dark chocolate chips
• Shredded coconut (optional)

Directions

• Slice apples and arrange on a serving dish or plate.
• Combine peanut butter and honey in a small bowl.
• Place in microwave for about 10 seconds (enough so that it can drizzle).
• Drizzle over apples. Top with chocolate chips or coconut if desired.

* You can use another nut butter such as Sun Butter (made from sunflower seeds) instead of the peanut butter

Makes four servings. Each serving has 130 calories, 6 grams (g) fat, 2 g protein, 21 g carbohydrate, 3 g fiber and 30 milligrams sodium.

For more information visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, https://www.eatright.org/food#resources