March is National Nutrition Month, the ideal time to focus on practicing healthy eating habits. For some great suggestions, visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Eat Right Toolkit. Here you’ll find practical advice on how to maintain a healthy diet, everything from ‘Twenty ways to enjoy more fruits and vegetables’ – like a yummy veggie wrap with roasted vegetables and low-fat cheese rolled in a whole-wheat tortilla – to ‘Eating right for older adults’ – like making at least half your grain intake whole wheat.
Helping you out with this endeavor is VNA Community Health Services which offers a Positive Change Program dedicated to helping individuals develop and reach their health goals to improve their quality of life and long-term health outcomes. A key aspect of overall health and living a life of wellness is maintaining healthy nutrition through health education and regular health screenings.
The Positive Change Program is offered both on an individual and group basis. The one-on-one program is managed by APRNs from VNA Mobile Health Clinic who work with individuals to create a personalized program for each program participant. For some this might mean a weekly visit to the mobile health clinic to review their goals, get their vital signs checked (including blood pressure and blood sugar), and discuss relevant health issues. For others it might mean a visit once every few months for a comprehensive review of their health status and progress in reaching their goals.
The group Positive Change Program is in partnership with other community non-profits such as United Against Poverty, the Substance Awareness Center and Behavioral Health Center at Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital. At these organizations, for example, VNA nurses and staff lead educational discussions on health topics, including nutrition and exercise. For more information about both programs, please call 772-978-5524.
