10 Tips for a Healthier Family

March is National Nutrition Month! It's the perfect time to take stock of your family's eating habits and set some new healthy goals.

Encourage your whole crew to eat better and make smarter food choices by mastering my top 10 strategies for success.

1. Make dining IN your default. Make the bulk of your meals in your own kitchen. You’ll have more control over portions and the quality of food your family eats.

2. Engage your kids in the kitchen. Children develop a greater appreciation for healthy, fresh food and tend to be more open to trying new foods when they are involved in the meal’s creation.

3. Stock up on the right ingredients. Fill your fridge and pantry with healthy “convenience foods” like frozen vegetables, whole-grain pasta, quick-cooking brown rice, canned beans, and lean ground turkey. With a fully-stocked kitchen at your disposal, it’s easy to throw together a nutritious meal in a flash.

4. Invest in time-saving kitchen tools. Slash prep time by outfitting your kitchen with practical gadgets like a hand-operated produce chopper, food processer, and sharp knives.

5. Go "light" on dairy. Buy reduced-fat or non-fat (skim) versions of your family’s favorite dairy products, like milk, yogurt, and cheese, for the house. This gives you leeway to enjoy occasional full-fat versions when you’re dining out.

6. Ditch liquid calories. Eliminate caloric, sugary beverages like soda, sweetened waters, and fruit drinks from your family’s diet. Instead, make water or naturally flavored seltzer the default beverage at mealtime.

7. Delay dessert. Instead of serving dessert immediately after dinner, wait at least 30 minutes after the meal is completed. This way, your kids are less likely to rush through dinner in anticipation of sweets. Plus, this strategy leaves less time before bed for additional PM snacking.

8. Bring on the veggies! Start dinner with a vegetable or green salad every night. For pickier palates, try sweet red bell pepper strips, juicy grape tomatoes, crisp sugar snap peas, or brightly-colored baby carrots. A fiber-rich first course will help everyone fill up so everyone’s less inclined to overeat at the main meal.

9. Pre-plan healthy menus. Plan and shop for a whole week’s worth of meals in advance. This will help you cut back on last-minute trips for fast food or unhealthy restaurant take-out.

10. Make the TV room a “no eating zone." Eating while you’re distracted by your favorite shows often leads to mindless munching. Of course, feel free to snack on vegetables while you watch—they’re the one and only exception!