KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - Today, Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County, urged the residents of King County to eat a healthy diet as a key strategy to assure healthy childhood development as well as to reduce risks for cancer, diabetes, and heart disease throughout life. He also unveiled new Healthy Eating webpages, which offer a free, healthy, and low-cost "Recipe of the Week" delivered by email.
"Healthy eating is a cornerstone of healthy living," said Dr. Plough. "The point isn't that you eat perfectly all the time or never indulge in chocolate cake. What is important is that each day your diet includes carbohydrates, protein, and five fruits and vegetables."
Healthy eating at every age improves and even restores good health. A healthy diet assures proper growth and development among children and teenagers as well as prevents disease and promotes a long, healthy life for people of all ages. Good nutrition also helps ensure a healthy pregnancy and successful breastfeeding.
"Eating healthy foods is the best and easiest step that you can take in improving your health", added Dr. Plough. "Your diet is second only to smoking as the most important cancer risk factor that you can control."
Dr. Plough introduced new Healthy Eating webpages, which offer Internet users facts and strategies for eating healthily at a low cost. Topics include healthy food choices, quick breakfast ideas, tips on vegetarian diets, money-saving food advice for your family, resources for King County food banks, and much more.
Site visitors may sign up to receive a healthy and low cost "Recipe of the Week" by email. Each recipe features a simple, quick, low-cost, and nutritious meal that has been approved by Public Health dietitians. Since children are more likely to eat new or different foods if they help prepare them, all recipes are designed so children can help in the food preparation.
Site visitors may also submit their own entries for "Recipe of the Week." Submissions will be evaluated by dietitians and, if appropriate, featured as a "Recipe of the Week."
"Healthy eating is very affordable," added Plough. "Our webpages are designed to help people get the information they need to feed themselves and their families healthy food at a low cost."
The American Dietetic Association has designated March as National Nutrition Month.
