EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — With March being recognized as National Nutrition Month, Del Sol Medical Center is reminding El Pasoans of the importance of not only a healthy, balanced diet for themselves but also one that is good for the environment.
Jackline Diaz-Jacquez, the director of clinical nutrition services at Del Sol Medical Center, said a healthy diet is as much about eating fresh, whole foods as it is about eating a well-rounded and diverse plate, something El Paso makes particularly easy.
Diaz-Jacquez stressed the idea of “being open to other nutritious foods from other cultures,” adding, “El Paso has a lot of different varieties here — not just our authentic Mexican food but, you know, your Vietnamese food, your German food — there’s just so much culture here in El Paso that from a nutrition standpoint, just being able to be open and see what other cultures are consuming in their daily life.”
Likewise, Diaz-Jacquez said shopping locally at farmer’s markets and shopping seasonally is a “wonderful way for us to keep the environment in mind because there’s less transportation needed.”
The message is in line with this year’s National Nutrition Month theme — Beyond the Table — which touches on food production, local distribution and food sustainability.
Meanwhile, March 13 is also National Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day, a role Diaz-Jacquez said is imperative to the community’s well-being.
RECOMMENDED: Downtown Art and Farmers Market changes name and moves to northeast El Paso
RECOMMENDED: El Paso Animal Services kicks off free pet microchip clinics for ‘Straylight Savings’
Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox.