March is National Nutrition Month®, a celebration of eating smart for better health. This year’s theme is Savor the Flavor of Eating Right, reminding us that food gives us more than just the varying nutrients it contains. Sharing meals with friends and family, passing along traditions, and enjoying the taste of our favorite foods – these are all ways that food means more than just what we eat. Savoring the flavor encourages us to practice mindful eating, too.
So how does all this relate to MyPlate? As we talked about in the Recap of the New Dietary Guidelines and the MyPlate, My Wins to Eat Smarter articles, there’s a much greater emphasis on small shifts to eat better and healthy eating patterns. These shifts are all about making small changes to move what you usually eat more into line with the recommendations, without sacrificing flavor, food budget, taste preferences, cultural heritage or traditional foods.
National Nutrition Month® is a perfect opportunity to make a few small shifts to find new ways to enjoy your favorite flavors while cutting back on added sugar, saturated fat, and sodium. It’s also a great time to learn more about the benefits of mindful eating. Throughout the month, we’ll be sharing our best tips for making smart choices that still allow you to savor the flavor and eat right. We’d love to hear how you’re celebrating this month, so share your successes on social media using the hashtag #MyPlateMyWins.
Since the #NNM theme includes the importance of sharing meals, I also challenge you to invite your friends and family to join us this month. Share this post with your Facebook friends. Refer a few to your nearest Program Assistant so they can learn about Eating Smart and Moving More for better health.