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:

  • Registered Dietitian (RDN) Visits: Many plans cover several sessions with a Registered Dietitian per year.  Unlike a "nutritionist," an RDN is a credentialed medical professional who can provide tailored Medical Nutrition Therapy.

  • Preventive Screenings: 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.

  • 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.

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.

Our series is designed to help you become a wise consumer of your health. Calendar invites will be sent out from everyonebenefits@venbrook.com 1-2 weeks prior to each event. Check your email for our upcoming 3/11 webinar on Beyond Numbers: Understanding Nutrition for Lasting Results.

Resources

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

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