March is National Nutrition Month
During the winter months I often find myself eating due to boredom. Stuck inside with no household projects to do; the house is clean; nothing is of interest on the television (despite having over one hundred channels); so, I wander into the kitchen often and stand there looking into the refrigerator. I eat mindlessly without noting how much food or what food groups I am eating throughout the day. I need to get better at this balanced diet thing. Can you relate? Read more
Why should I eat healthy?
Healthy food choices can impact our health in many ways including: our energy levels, healthy digestion, boosts immunity, strengthens our bones, supports muscles, skin, teeth, and eye health, our mood, and weight control. The CDC has valuable information about the impact of our food choices and has printable resources about nutrition: Benefits of Healthy Eating | Nutrition | DNPAO | CDC.
What to eat to stay healthy?
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is a resource we can use to determine how much we should be eating each day to optimize health. On their website MyPlate you can learn about the food groups: protein, grain, fruit, vegetable, and dairy. They provide ideas on what counts as a protein and even give vegetarian options, for example.
What about portion size?
Knowing how many calories you need to optimize your health (to stay a healthy weight or lose weight for example), is often tricky. Meal sizes served at restaurants do not take this into consideration (everyone receives the same quantity of food). This is why so many people get take home containers, usually after they stuff the last bite they can muster into their mouth. But what is the correct portion for each of us? Fitness trackers usually have apps that help you log the food you eat and keep track for you. In a recent Woman’s Health Magazine article, 16 weight management/fitness apps were reviewed. There is even an option to customize an eating plan for you based on age, sex, height, weight and activity level using a tool on the USDA’s website called MyPlate Plan.
Thankfully, most of these apps are easy to use and do not take an enormous amount of time to use. Although I have a friend who meal planned for the entire year using a spreadsheet, I am not a good planner and certainly cannot plan an entire year out. But, I can commit to using an app to log what I eat.
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (eatright.org – Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics) has for the past 50 years celebrated National Nutrition Month. They have created a list of 50 things to do to celebrate including several ideas to use in schools. Some ideas include:
- Ask the children a “nutrition question of the day.”
- Vote on favorite fruits and vegetables (You can graph these as a math activity too.).
- Include the children in menu planning.
- Plant a garden.
- Cook together something that is nutritious.
- Talk about where food comes from.
- Visit local farms or grocery stores.
- Introduce children to various kitchen gadgets and show how they are used.
For more ideas to use at school or even at home, see their 50 ways to celebrate.
Additional Resources:
Learn about food allergies, how to shop, check recipes, and cook delicious food being mindful of food allergies using FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education) at Living Teal (foodallergy.org) and Feasting With FARE – FoodAllergy.org
March 12-18 is CACFP (Child and Adult Care Food Program) week! Here are some great ideas on how to celebrate during that week specifically. National CACFP Week – National CACFP Sponsors Association
Cook Healthy at home with a free cookbook. Healthy and Fresh at Home Cookbook • Partnership For A Healthier America
Upcoming Webinars:
March 13, 2023 | 1:00 pm–1:30 pm ET
Hosted by: National CACFP Sponsors Association
Building Healthy Bodies with the Foods We Serve
Add to My Calendar Register Now
Join us to celebrate Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Week! The CACFP community works to ensure that all children have access to healthy foods. Those foods play a major role in providing the nutrients kids need as they grow and into adulthood. Learn what fruits, vegetables, grains, meat and meat alternatives, and fluid milk do for the body. Earn 0.5 CEUs for attending this event.
March 14, 2023 | 1:00 pm–1:30 pm ET
Hosted by: National CACFP Sponsors Association
Good News! Sharing Your CACFP Story
Add to My Calendar Register Now
Join us to celebrate Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Week! Together we can raise awareness of how the CACFP works to combat hunger. Hear stories about what the CACFP community is doing to share its message and learn how to use social media strategies, local and state proclamations, local news stories, and more to help raise awareness about the CACFP. Earn 0.5 CEUs for attending this event.
March 16, 2023 | 1:00 pm–1:30 pm ET
Hosted by: National CACFP Sponsors Association
Explore New Foods with a Taste Testing Adventure
Add to My Calendar Register Now
Join us to celebrate Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Week! The CACFP helps children learn healthy eating habits. Learn how you can introduce new foods through various taste testing strategies. Discover tips for getting kids to try new foods while they are on their taste testing adventure! Earn 0.5 CEUs for attending this event.
March 17, 2023 | 1:00 p.m.–1:30 p.m. ET
Hosted by: National CACFP Sponsors Association
Tools and Resources for CACFP Success
Add to My Calendar Register Now
Join us to celebrate Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Week! Hundreds of thousands of people participate in the CACFP. We have resources to help! From provider toolkits to online training, activity sheets, nutrition education and more, learn how to use these to promote nutrition and physical activities in your CACFP operations. Earn 0.5 CEUs for attending this event.
Let us have a healthy and wonderfully nutritious month of March! Good luck!
