Lunch program today stresses healthy nutrition

Developing healthy eating habits is sometimes harder than it sounds when there are so many choices and so little information for comparison. Which is better for breakfast, an egg or a low-fat muffin?

To answer some of those questions, the first Lunch and Learn session will be held at McMinnville Civic Center today. The discussion will center on healthy nutrition choices.

The speaker will be wellness specialist Kristie Sanders. After obtaining a degree in exercise science and health promotion from MTSU, Sanders worked as a wellness specialist at Saint Thomas Hospital in Nashville.

Locally, she began Get Fit McMinnville with the Parks and Recreation Department. The program’s mission is to decrease obesity, increase physical fitness and the general health of the people of McMinnville and surrounding community.

‘We want everyone who wants to learn more about nutrition to bring a sack lunch and learn,’ said Sanders. Lunch will not be provided. ‘Every month we hope to have a different talk on different areas of nutrition and health.’

The session is sponsored by the city of McMinnville through Parks and Recreation. Over the next 12 months, sessions will be held on the second Wednesday of every month.

Today’s session will be from noon to 1 p.m. at the Civic Center. For more information, contact Sanders at 473-1212.

Eggs versus muffins:

Although some muffins are low in fat, they can have up to 400 calories per serving. If bread is a must for breakfast, English muffins and breads that are made from 100 percent whole wheat are a better option.

As for eggs, they are a perfect breakfast food. They contain a large amount of high-quality protein. If cholesterol is a consideration, try an egg substitute or using whites only. Leaving out the yoke takes away all the fat and cholesterol and most of the calories.