Better Brown Bagging: National Nutrition Month

MOST people say nutrition is an area of their lives they'd like to improve, but making real change is tough amidst all the demands of a hectic life. In honor of National Nutrition Month, here are some simple, easy changes to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

• You can spend 10 minutes making a healthy lunch or 10 minutes (if you're lucky) buying an unhealthy lunch. Planning is the key to success. Plan lunches around the Food Guide Pyramid. Choose whole grains, fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy foods and low-fat meats.
• Plan the week's lunches in advance to make shopping easier. Make a list, and stick to it. Don't give in to the temptation to buy extra sweets, junk food or fatty deli meats.
• Plan for the next day's lunch the night before. Time is tight in the morning, and rushing through lunch preparation often means compromising on nutrition or skipping prep time altogether in favor of vending machines and drive-through windows.