National Nutrition Month, an annual campaign established in 1973 by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, takes place every year during the month of March. It started off as a week-long event and expanded into a full month in 1980. During this month, it is encouraged for Americans to educate themselves on the importance of balanced nutrition, to ensure people are informed on making good food choices and developing sound eating habits.
National Nutrition month also helps emphasize the importance of physical activity to encourage a healthy metabolism and overall well being. Every year the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics chooses a new theme to feature different aspects of nutrition, this year’s theme is ‘Food Connects Us’. This theme promotes the idea that food serves as a universal language, and that all different cultures and traditions can form a connection, creating a culturally diverse and understanding community. This theme also represents how food connects the community economically by creating career opportunities in food distribution and agriculture related professions.
National Nutrition month serves as a reminder to prioritize your physical well being and mental health. To have a balanced diet, it is important to do a number of things, such as including a variety of unprocessed foods, practicing portion control with meals, staying hydrated, and never skipping meals. It is also important to limit added saturated and trans fat, sodium, and added sugars to be able to maintain a healthy diet. These are just some of the many different ways to improve habits and maintain a healthy life.
To celebrate National Nutrition month and embrace a healthy lifestyle, people can attend different nutrition workshops in their communities or online classes. Many people also enjoy experimenting with new healthy recipes and different healthier cooking methods and growing fresh fruits and vegetables at home. Hosting potlucks, volunteering at food banks, and getting involved with your community are only some of the ways people can celebrate National Nutrition Month. It is crucial to increase one’s knowledge when it comes to nutrition and highly recommended to encourage friends and family to join in on the healthy lifestyle, not just during this month but for an overall better lifestyle.
National Nutrition Month serves as a reminder that it is important to be making informed food choices and adopting a healthy lifestyle. By embracing this lifestyle it can make significant health improvements, not just for today, but for a healthier future.
