By Ilaria St. Florian, MS, RD

Along with the official start of spring, March is dedicated as National Nutrition Month®. It’s a time to get out of winter hibernation and focus on making healthy and informed food choices and reevaluate your physical activity routine.

March National Nutrition Month® is an annual campaign created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to serve as a reminder and offer practical tips about how to eat healthier and lead a more active lifestyle.

Since 1973, the Academy has put forth a new theme each year to raise public awareness about health and fitness. For 2017, the theme is Put Your Best Fork Forward, which is meant to remind us that we all have the ability to make every bite count.

According to the Academy and the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, small, baby-step changes in our eating habits can add up to big, healthful changes over time. The idea is to keep the goal simple, yet manageable, by focusing on “one forkful at a time” to improve our health now and into the future.

Key Messages from the Academy

• Create an eating style that includes a variety of your favorite, healthful foods.
• Practice cooking more at home and experiment with healthier ingredients.
• How much we eat is as important as what we eat. Eat and drink the right amount for you, as MyPlate encourages us to do.
• Find activities that you enjoy and be physically active most days of the week.

If you live or work in Stamford, you’ll notice National Nutrition Month® signage throughout the city all month long. Stamford Health, along with the Stamford Children’s Health Collaborative, is partnering to launch its 2nd annual campaign to promote health and encourage mindful eating and increased physical activity in the community.

Source Cited:

EatRight.org