The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics created National Nutrition Month to be recognized annually during the month of March. The goal of the campaign is to encourage people to make informed food choices and develop sound eating and physical activity habits that can be followed the entire year.
Originally started as National Nutrition Week in 1973, National Nutrition Month was created in 1980 as interest in the topic grew. The theme of this year’s campaign is “Personalize Your Plate,” which recognizes that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to nutrition and health.
As the Academy points out. “We are all unique with different bodies, goals, backgrounds, and tastes!” The key to healthy eating is tailoring your favorite foods to meet your individual nutrient needs. Tips for maintaining healthy eating include:
- Eat a variety of foods each week, and include plenty of plant-based foods, as studies show that they can lower the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
- Plan your meals in advance for the week, and consider prepping your meals, including those work and school lunches on the go and busy weeknight dinners.
- Learn new skills to create new meals.
- Spice up your menus with the foods and flavors you enjoy and add new flavors to spark excitement in your cooking.
- Consult a Registered Dietician Nutritionist who can help fine-tune traditional recipes, provide alternative cooking methods, and other healthful advice for incorporating family-favorite foods into everyday meals.
Representing more than 100,000 credentialed nutrition and dietetics practitioners, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals.