Wednesday, March 27, 2002

SRMC celebrates National Nutrition Month

Eating is one of life's great pleasures, but not all pleasures are good for you.

National Nutrition Month has been celebrated in March since 1980 in response to growing public interest in nutrition. The campaign is designed to focus attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. The theme for this year is "Start Today for a Healthy Tomorrow."

The Food and Nutrition Department at Southern Regional Medical Center (SRMC) wants to help residents of the Southern Crescent get started on a healthier future.

Starting March 8, the department sponsored Lunch and Learn events every Friday of the month. Healthy, low-calorie, low-fat meals are offered in the hospital cafeteria at a discounted price, and SRMC Outpatient Dietician Micki Jentz gives brief presentations on various nutrition topics in SRMC's Georgian Room.

Community nutrition screening were conducted earlier this month in the Education Auditorium. Dieticians answered nutrition questions, calculated ideal body weight and body mass index (BMI) and recommended a calorie level for each person attending.

To be at your very best, healthy eating and physical activity go hand in hand. During the month of March and all year round, Southern Regional Medical Center encourages everyone to incorporate better eating habits and exercise into their daily routine. For more information, call the Food & Nutrition Services Department at 770-991-8030.

Southern Regional Health System provides comprehensive health resources including: Southern Regional Medical Center, a 406-bed, full-service hospital in Riverdale featuring a state-of-the-art outpatient surgery center, a women's center, a Diabetes Resource Center and one of the busiest and best emergency departments in the state; RiverWoods, Southern Regional Psychiatric Center, a psychiatric facility with a complete continuum of behavioral care services; Southern Regional Homecare, a home health agency providing home health services and home medical equipment and Surgery Center at Mt. Zion, a multi-specialty surgery center in Morrow.