Improve your Nutrition: Celebrate National Nutrition Month®
March 1, 2023
National Nutrition Month®, sponsored annually by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, celebrates its 50th year in 2023. During the month of March, make a commitment to learning more about good nutrition and living a healthier lifestyle.
The average American diet, high in processed meats, sodium and sugar; low in nuts, seeds and omega-3 fats, costs Americans $50 billion per year in healthcare for diet-related heart disease, stroke, type-2 diabetes, and certain cancers, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It can be difficult to make the right food choices for our individual needs, especially with conflicting messages about food and diets in media and online that are not necessarily science based.
Expert Nutrition Tips and Resources
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, which certifies Registered Dietitian Nutritionists as medical professionals, offers inspiration to make important diet changes and to celebrate National Nutrition Month® at its website, EatRight.org. There, you can find many ways to fuel yourself and your loved ones in all stages of life.
- Recipes and advice for shopping and meal planning
- Diet and lifestyle information for the management of many chronic health conditions (from allergies to heart disease)
- Nutrition for pregnancy and babies
- Physical fitness ideas
- Tips for involving the family in making meals together, and so much more.
Start creating new healthy habits with these tips for celebrating National Nutrition Month® in March:
- Commit to trying a new fruit or vegetable each week during National Nutrition Month®.
- Give family members a role in meal planning and let them pick out different recipes to try.
- Plan to eat more meals together as a family during National Nutrition Month®.
- Explore food recovery options in your community.
- If you watch TV, take breaks during commercials to be physically active.
- Practice mindful eating by limiting screen time at mealtime — including phones, computers, TV and other devices.
- Try more meatless meals — choices like beans, peas and lentils are versatile plant-based protein sources that work in a variety of dishes.
- Let everyone help with food preparation — a skill for people of all ages. If you have kids, there are age-appropriate tasks they may enjoy learning how to do.
- Bring out the flavors of food by trying new herbs, spices, or citrus fruit like lemon or lime.
Make an Appointment with a Registered Dietitian
Enlist a Registered Dietitian to help prevent/manage chronic conditions or to recover from illness with a healthy lifestyle and diet based in science.
Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) or Registered Dietitians (RDs) are food and nutrition experts who hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, have completed an internship, and have passed a national exam. They are skilled at blending scientific research, behavioral science, and social science with nutrition, to promote health, prevent disease and shape our choices, whether we are healthy or sick.
(Copyright info: https://www.eatright.org/about-national-nutrition-month)