March is National Nutrition Month, but for many of us, this is more than just a calendar reminder to eat our fruits and vegetables. It is time for us to move from reactive healthcare to proactive wellness by engaging with your benefits early in the year.

Being a “wise consumer” of your health doesn’t mean doing it all yourself; it means knowing what embedded wellness resources are included in your medical plan and using them to reduce your long-term risk, stress, and out-of-pocket costs.

Are you aware that your medical insurance is a powerful tool for nutritional health? Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), many preventive services are covered with $0 cost-sharing for you. Here are three value adds:

  • Digital Coaching: You’ll get one-on-one guidance and support from a dedicated coach who can help you set goals, stick to them, and, most importantly, see results.

  • Preventive Screening: Use Q1 to get your "know your numbers" bloodwork done, such as cholesterol, A1C, and blood pressure. These results often trigger additional covered benefits, such as weight management programs or intensive behavioral counseling.

    The easiest way to see what you specifically need is to log in to www.kp.org or the Kaiser Permanente app and look for the "Health Action Plan" or "Preventive Care Reminders" section.

  • Telehealth: Most major carriers now offer virtual nutrition counseling. You can consult with an expert from your kitchen or office, making "nutrition intention" much easier to fit into a busy schedule.

    To choose the kind of care you need, visit kp.org/getcare or sign into the Kaiser Permanente app.

Becoming a wise consumer also applies to how you shop and eat. Here are 3 tips:

  1. Shop the Borders: The outer edges of the grocery store hold the “whole foods” (produce, lean meats, dairy). Intentional shopping starts here.

  2. Watch out for Added Sugars: Wise consumers look past the marketing on the front of the box. Check the Nutrition Facts label specifically for Added Sugars—aiming for less than 10% of your daily calories.

  3. Meal Prep: Think of meal prepping on Sundays as “health insurance” for your work week.  It prevents the high-cost, high-sodium “emergency” takeout order when you’re stressed.

Join Venbrook for our monthly Nutrition Navigator series.

The Nutrition Navigator series is designed to help you become a wise consumer of your health. Keep an eye out for our upcoming 3/11 webinar on Beyond Calorie Counting – Master your Macros for Lasting Results.

Resources

  • EatRight.org: The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ hub for National Nutrition Month, featuring tip sheets and “Find an Expert” tools.
  • MyPlate.gov: A simple, visual guide from the USDA to help you balance your plate at every meal.
  • Podcast Recommendation:
  • Start nutritional coaching or find healthy recipes with Kaiser Permanente

If you'd like to learn more, please contact me at:

Jennifer Green
Vice President of Wellbeing & Engagement
jgreen@venbrook.com 
949.652.6327