National Nutrition Month®

National Nutrition Month® is an annual campaign established in 1973 by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. During the month of March, everyone is invited to learn about making informed food choices and developing healthful eating and physical activity habits.

This year's theme is "Food Connects Us." Food is a connecting factor for many of us. It connects us to our cultures, our families, and our friends. Sharing a meal is an opportunity to learn about its preparation, who made it, and where the ingredients were sourced. Health, memories, traditions, seasons, and access can all impact our relationship with food. While these factors influence the foods we eat, the foods we eat also affect our health.

Want to share your cooking and social media skills? Participate in the Alabama Department of Public Health's National Nutrition Month® Recipe Contest!

Weekly Messages 

Week 1: Connect with Food 

• Learn cooking, food preparation and meal planning skills. Plan your meals ahead of time and use a grocery list to shop. 
• Explore where your food comes from. Consider visiting a local farmers market.  
• Turn off distractions such as a smart phone or TV show when eating and focus on the food and people around you. 
• Learn about food access resources such as SNAP, WIC and local food banks. 

Week 2: Connect with a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) 

• Ask your doctor for a referral to an RDN. 
• Find an RDN who specializes in your unique needs and receive personalized nutrition information to meet your health goals. 
• If you are unable to meet with an RDN, there are lots of ways to get accurate nutrition information. 
  • Have a Plant, MyPlate, and the American Heart Association provide nutrition tips as well as tasty recipes that feature healthy foods like fruits and veggies.
  • The American Diabetes Association is a great resource for information and recipes for those with diabetes. 

 
Week 3: Explore the Connection Between Food and Culture 

• Experiment with recipes using different ingredients or cooking techniques. 
• Include your favorite cultural foods and traditions or try new global flavors. Look for a recipe from your culture or a culture that is not your own. 
• Enjoy your meals with family or friends, when possible.
• Ask questions to the person who prepared the food to learn about the tradition and culture behind the meal.  

 
Week 4: Build the Connection Across All Stages of Life 

• Learn how nutrient needs may change with age. 
• Include healthful foods from all food groups. 
• Focus on balanced and sustainable eating habits. Eat food in various forms such as fresh, frozen, canned, and dried and look for sales when purchasing food.  
• Cook a meal with the people you love.  

Share #NationalNutritionMonth 

Share the word about National Nutrition Month® with others through social media. Post your favorite recipe or cooking demo and share your culture through food on social media.  

Celebrate National Nutrition Month®

Explore how Food Connects Us to others in our families, schools, offices, communities and more… everyone is invited to celebrate food and its role in health and wellness. Spend time learning about where food is grown and how it is prepared with the people around you. You’ll find practical tips on how to cook at home from registered dietitian nutritionists, here. 
 
With so much misinformation available online, National Nutrition Month® is a great time to take the MyPlate Quiz to test your nutrition knowledge and get personalized resources to help you meet your nutrition goals. 

The 100 Mile Challenge is a great physical activity challenge to consider during National Nutrition Month®. 

Access to healthy foods is the foundation of good nutrition. If you struggle to access enough nutritionally adequate food, there are resources that may be able to help. Visit Food Access for more information. 

To get everyone involved, check out these 50 Ways to Celebrate what you have learned this month.