Talking Nutrition with TidalHealth

SALISBURY, Md. – In this week’s Health Beat, brought to you by TidalHealth, WMDT spoke with the supervisor of Nutrition & Diabetes Education at TidalHealth, Susan Cottongim, RD, LDN, CDCES.

March is National Nutrition Month, and healthcare providers are using the month to promote healthy eating and ways to improve nutrition. Aiming for a nutritious diet can be stressful, but it’s something Cottongim says should be taken in small increments.

“I find that many people, you know, they might eat a vegetable, they might eat a fruit, but they’re not eating many of those each day,” she told us. “So the goal would be, could you just add an extra fruit, add an extra vegetable, just making a small change, versus trying to change everything all at once.”

However, Cottongim says nutrition is a science of consistence. It is important to ensure you get all of your food groups daily — fruits, vegetables, protein, calcium, and sometimes starches. But, providers know eating healthier, while it helps our bodies, it can sometimes hurt our wallets.

“When I’m encouraging [patients] to get fruit or vegetables, you know, to eat more and like, ‘Oh, it’s so expensive.’ So focus on what’s on sale,” Cottongim suggests. “One fruit that is pretty inexpensive, that’s in the store every week at a good price is a banana. With vegetables, you can always fit in cucumbers or carrots or peppers.”

If you’d like to learn more about programming related to Nutrition Month, or nutrition in general, you can visit TidalHealth’s website here.