Resource Articles

​Learn This topic was developed in partnership with Rooted Community Health within the Center for Biomedical Ethics and Society. What does it mean to eat for the environment? Eating for the environment, or eating sustainably, is about choosing foods that are healthy for your body and the world around you. Sustainable eating patterns help conserve natural resources while also supporting local farms.

​Learn Mindfulness is maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of your thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment. Mindful eating is being conscious of your hunger cues, savoring your food, and knowing when you are satisfied with a meal. Practicing these steps can help you maintain a healthy relationship with the food you eat and avoid unhealthy patterns, like overeating due to distraction, stress, or sadness.

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​Learn Sodium is an essential nutrient that your body needs to function, but too much can lead to increased blood pressure, heart disease, and kidney disease. So, how much is too much? The American Heart Association recommends no more than 2,300 mg (about one teaspoon of salt) per day for healthy people and less than 1,500 mg for adults with high blood pressure. Yet the average American consumes nearly 3,400 mg a day! So where is all this sodium coming from? Sodium Sources

​Learn More than half of American adults take a multivitamin or some type of dietary supplement, but do they really need it? According to the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, nutritional needs should be met through eating and drinking nutritious foods and beverages whenever possible. This means regularly eating a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and dairy products.

​Handout Fat Facts Learn

​Learn Dietary fiber, sometimes referred to as “roughage” or “bulk”, is a type of carbohydrate that cannot be broken down by our bodies. Although fiber provides minimal energy (calories), it is still a very important part of a healthy diet. Fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans and other legumes, and whole grains all contain dietary fiber. Fiber benefits our health in many ways:

​Learn Preparing meals ahead is a great strategy for eating healthy when you have a busy schedule. Preparing food for the week can also help reduce the number of times you find yourself eating out, which can save you money! Research shows that meal planning and prepping is associated with an overall healthier diet, decreasing your risk for heart disease and diabetes. This is because meals that are home-cooked tend to be lower in saturated fat, sodium, and calories when compared to meals purchased at restaurants or fast-food chains.

​Learn What are the Dietary Guidelines? The Dietary Guidelines for Americans give advice on what to eat and drink to better your health and prevent diseases such as heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. This advice is based on the latest findings in nutrition and public health research. The Guidelines are updated every 5 years by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS) to ensure the most up-to-date information is made available to the public.

​Uncontrolled levels of stress may be affecting your health in ways you are unaware of. Stress can have physical effects on the body, cause changes in your thoughts and feelings, and affect your behavior. Uncontrolled stress can contribute to health problems including obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, and more.