What is National Nutrition month?
National Nutrition Month® is an annual nutrition education and information campaign created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The NNM campaign focuses on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits.
When is National Nutrition month?
National Nutrition is celebrated each year during the month of March.
Did you know that it is projected that 115 million adults living in the United States will be obese by 2030? A proper diet can help prevent and control heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, some types of cancer, and more!
National Nutrition Month Ideas and Activities:
There are a lot of ways you can celebrate National Nutrition Month.
- Start a weight loss challenge between friends, family or coworkers
- Set a goal to eat healthy and see how that affects your overall lifestyle during the month of March
- Remove just one bad item from your current diet (soda, candy, chips) and replace it with something healthy (water, fruit, vegetables)
- Challenge yourself to do just 20-30 minutes of exercise a day. Did you know that just 20-30 minutes a day can aide in weight loss, give you more energy and make you overall a happier, more motivated person.
- Meal prep can help you eat better and avoid eating out. Double the amount you make for dinner and use it as leftovers for lunch. This will help you eat healthier at work and save you money!
- Reduce your sodium intake. Did you know sodium makes your body hold on to excess fluids? This can also lead to higher blood pressure. So reducing your amount of sodium can help your body tremendously!
Key Messages
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics suggests the following key massages in the National Nutrition Month® Celebration Toolkit as part of participating in celebration of the National Nutrition Month® 2019:
- Discover the benefits of a healthy eating style.
- Choose foods and drinks that are good for your health.
- Include a variety of healthful foods from all of the food groups on a regular basis.
- Select healthier options when eating away from home.
- Be mindful of portion sizes. Eat and drink the amount that’s right for you, as MyPlate encourages us to do.
- Keep it simple. Eating right doesn’t have to be complicated.
- Make food safety part of your everyday routine.
- Help to reduce food waste by considering the foods you have on hand before buying more at the store.
- Find activities that you enjoy and be physically active most days of the week.
- Consult the nutrition experts. Registered Dietitian Nutritionists can provide sound, easy-to-follow personalized nutrition advice to meet your lifestyle, preferences and health-related needs. www.eatright.org
National Nutrition month infographic
View, download or share infographic below about the changes you can make and how you can embrace National Nutrition Month.
