March is National Nutrition Month

Did you know that March is National Nutrition Month? This is the time of year when the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics reminds us all to get back to the basics of a healthy lifestyle through nutrition.

Do you need a little help getting your family, school, workplace or community back on track? We’ve got great ideas to help you make the most of March!

• Have kids save food product labels and boxes when they are finished eating. Read the labels together and compare Nutrition Facts.

• Challenge your friends or family to create the tastiest, most balanced meals, with MyPlate as the ideal model.

• Begin a school or work-sponsored vegetable garden and donate the crops to a local food bank.

• Teachers can create a lesson plan to explain the science and math behind a healthy baking recipe.

• Spend time learning about the healthy meal options in different cultures. Try cooking different nutritious meals from international cuisines or various regions of the US.

• Organize a healthy potluck, and make sure that each food group is well-represented.

• Workplaces can host a “lunch and learn” meeting on proper nutrition.

• Businesses can organize a community health fair to promote healthy eating resources and vital preventive screenings.