March is National Nutrition Month in the United States. It is a time for individuals, families, and schools to learn about nutrition and how to make healthy food choices. National Nutrition month also helps people develop both healthy eating habits and healthy physical activity habits.
The History of National Nutrition Month
National Nutrition Month is sponsored annually by the American Dietetic Association. The ADA's stated goal of National Nutrition Month is to focus attention on two things: the importance of making informed food choices and the importance of developing good eating and physical activity habits. Another acknowledged purpose is to "position ADA members as the authorities in nutrition" (Danny, 2006).
According to the ADA, National Nutrition Month started as National Nutrition week in 1973 and was announced via public service announcements. The ADA discovered that the concept of National Nutrition Week garnered an amazing amount of media coverage and interest from the public. In 1980, National Nutrition Week was expanded to National Nutrition Month. In keeping with raising public awareness and keeping a focused message on healthy nutrition, each year has had its' own theme. Past themes have included: "Invest in Yourself- Buy Nutrition" (1973); "Food Fads Fool" (1975); "Eat Right America!" (1992 plus various extensions of same theme on subsequent years); and "Get a Taste for Nutrition!" (2005).
2011 Theme of National Nutrition Month
The 2011 theme is "Eat Right with Color." This refers to both eating a variety of colors of fruits and vegetables as well as an emphasis on "eating all of the colors" of the food pyramid. The food pyramid consists of orange (grains), green (vegetables), red (fruits), blue (dairy products), purple (meats and beans), and a small bit of yellow (oils). The major focus of the 2011 theme is eating a variety of healthy foods - especially fruit and vegetables - on an everyday basis.
The ADA President - and registered dietitian - Judith C. Rodriguez made a very noteworthy and admirable statement about the point of National Nutrition Month. She said it "offers a great opportunity to focus people's attention on a universal theme that cuts through the clutter of information and gets back to the principles of a healthful diet." This is striking in light of the complaints that have already arisen about the 2010 Dietary Guidelines (USDA), which were released in the last week of January 2011. Though the guidelines are considered an improvement over previous ones, there are still multiple complaints about the lack of forcefulness behind fruit and vegetable recommendations, the emphasis on dairy and meat, and the apparent higher level of concern over sodium intake than obesity.
National Nutrition Month Events and Activities
Events for National Nutrition Month vary from region to region, state to state, and even school to school. For events in a specific area, check the local library, newspaper, or the city's website. Hospitals, colleges, and health clinics may be having speakers or information fairs. The best source of events promoting the concepts of National Nutrition Month are schools. Many schools have information fairs or special activities for children to raise awareness about nutrition.
The ADA has a variety of event ideas for the following areas: Family Focus, Schools, Workplaces, Grocery Stores/Supermarkets, Charitable Endeavors, and Get Everyone Involved. The Event Ideas page is located under the "promotional ideas" section. The ADA also has a special website dedicated solely to educating children about healthy eating, located at Eatright.org/kids. A final online source for over a hundred different activities for celebrating National Nutrition Month is on the Education World website on "March into Spring: Resources for Teaching About March's Special Days."
A Chance for Education on All Levels
Despite the endless controversy surrounding healthy eating habits- and exactly what is healthy and what is not- the basic idea of raising awareness about nutrition is a worthwhile and admirable one. National Nutrition Month is a chance to educate individuals on all levels- from preschool to adults- about nutrition. A healthy lifestyle and the knowledge to support it is admirable every day of the year.
Sources:
American Dietetic Association. (1995-2010). National Nutrition Month. Retrieved Feb. 4, 2011 from EatRight.org website ran by ADA.
American Dietetic Association. (2011, Feb. 1). Eat Right With the Colors of MyPyramid During National Nutrition Month and All Year Long. Retrieved Feb. 5, 2011 from ADA Media Press Room.
American Dietetic Association. (2011, Feb. 1). During National Nutrition Month 2011 and Beyond, ADA Encourages Everyone to Eat Right with Color. Retrieved Feb. 5, 2011 from ADA Media Press Room.
Denny, Sharon, MS, RD. (2006). National Nutrition Month: A Brief History. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. Retrieved Feb. 4, 2011.
Katz, David, MD. (2011, Feb. 1). New Dietary Guidelines: A Physician's Perspective. The Huffington Post.
Melnick, Meredith. (2011, Jan. 31). New Dietary Guidelines Show Politics Still Trumps Science. Time Inc.
United States Department of Agriculture. MyPyramid.gov
Additional Helpful Links:
The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This is the nutrition guidelines Americans should follow, updated every five years. Visit the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion web page for related information.
MyPyramid.gov offers information about the food pyramid. It also offers interactive tools for individuals to assess and plan their nutrition and activity needs. There are materials for the education of various age groups about nutrition and health.
The CDC has a website dedicated solely to education about fruits and vegetables. It is located at fruitandveggiesmatter.gov. One interesting tool on the website is the ability to search for recipes by a specific fruit or vegetable, allowing for easy access to new recipes. There are also a variety of publications available for free download, including budget tips on how to "stretch your fruit and vegetable budget."
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