NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH — WEEK 1

March is National Nutrition Month, and this year’s theme—“Discover the Power of Nutrition”—is all about simple, everyday choices that help us feel our best. This month we’ll be sharing weekly highlights featuring practical nutrition tips and spotlighting on one of our amazing Ecumen dietitians—plus their favorite healthy recipe! Are you ready to Discover the Power of Nutrition with us? 🌿🥗💪

Power Your Day
Fueling your body well starts with simple, doable choices. When we build small habits into our day, they add up to powerful benefits over time. Here are three things you can do to start powering your day right:

• • Choose foods from all food groups
    Balanced meals that include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein foods, and dairy help support steady energy and overall wellbeing.
  • Mix it up & taste the rainbow
    Eating a variety of foods and a variety of colors provides different vitamins, minerals, and nutrients—keeping meals interesting and helping your body get what it needs.
  • Skip the fad diets
    Trendy diets often leave out important nutrients or create strict rules that aren’t sustainable. A balanced, flexible eating pattern is far more effective (and enjoyable!) in the long run.

✨ Team Member Spotlight: Emily Diekmann
Emily is our incredible Dietitian at Ecumen Detroit Lakes, and we’re so grateful to have had her on our team for a little over two years. In her role, she seamlessly leads the clinical nutrition work and supports the culinary team, and she even helps cover our Ecumen North Branch community remotely. Emily is our go‑to expert for tube feeding questions and someone we can always count on when new projects come up. 

If you’ve ever had the chance to meet Emily, you know she brings a calm, friendly, and reassuring presence—something our residents truly appreciate. She was excited to share a favorite recipe that’s a staple in her home—Crunchy Cashew Thai-Inspired Quinoa Salad. Make sure to check it out and let us know if you give it a try!