Healthy Living

Our nation’s fittest people have top-notch help to make them look and feel good. Hollywood actors, models and athletes all benefit from around-the-clock combinations of personal chefs, trainers and motivators.

But for most of us, this lifestyle just isn’t an option. If we are lucky we might be able to spring for a personal trainer, sessions with a nutritionist, or a new treadmill.

Without a doubt, we need to be a little more self-reliant when it comes to eating right, exercising and looking and feeling our best.

Backus Hospital has a new tool to help you in your journey: www.backushospital.org/nutrition. And this web site actually offers you the opportunity to have registered dietitians visit your home, examine your eating habits and offer healthier alternatives.

The “Nutrition Detectives,” who are also the authors of this column, will come to your home and review what you have in your refrigerator, freezer, and pantry. We’ll offer you healthy eating advice — all you have to do is ask.

If you visit the website, you will see an online request form. Simply fill it out and e-mail it in, and we will consider a visit to your home. We’ve been everywhere from peoples’ homes to the Spa at Norwich Inn.

You can watch our visits on videos that we have posted on the nutrition website, which also includes podcasts, blogs, columns, recipes and health tips.

We think you deserve the star treatment … or at least sound advice from registered dietitians.

Mary Beth Dahlstrom Green and Catherine Schneider are registered dietitians at The William W. Backus Hospital. This column should not replace advice or instruction from your physician. E-mail Dahlstrom Green, Schneider or any of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org. To comment on this or other Healthy Living columns, click below or go to the Healthy Living blog at www.backushospital.org/backus-blogs.