It’s National Nutrition Month, and this year’s theme is Discover the Power of Nutrition! Healthy nutrition has many benefits or “powers” to support individuals and help communities thrive. Simple changes to food and beverage choices can help you have a more productive day and prevent and/or manage chronic conditions.
Making small changes to your diet over time can lead to big improvements in long-term healthy habits. Some examples of the power of nutrition could be feeling energized to take on the work day after having a balanced breakfast, or consuming foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids can help improve cognitive function, and reduce inflammation, which is beneficial for those with PCOS, cardiovascular or heart disease, depression or anxiety, or rheumatoid arthritis. This month or every month, try to harness the power of nutrition!
Here are the weekly messages that will be shared throughout the month during National Nutrition Month.
Week 1: Power your day with nutrition by choosing a variety of healthful foods, switching up your food choices from day to day to include a variety of nutrients and vitamins, and avoiding fad diets such as the Keto diet or Atkins diet, which can promote unnecessary restrictions.
Week 2: Find advice backed by science by using accurate and trustworthy sources for nutrition information, meeting with a Registered Dietitian (RD) who can help with your specific and unique needs, and working with an RD to receive personalized information to meet your health goals.
Week 3: Stay nourished on any budget by learning to cook and meal prep with the resources and ingredients you have; also, be able to locate community resources like SNAP, WIC, and local food banks/pantries. Be an advocate for nutrition policies that positively affect you, your family, and your community.
Week 4: Feel good with healthy habits, with reducing foodborne illness risk with home and public food safety practices, start planning to avoid mealtime stress, such as meal prepping, and add physical activity that works and feels good for your body.