March Is National Nutrition Month

March is National Nutrition Month, and this year's theme is "Put Your Best Fork Forward."

National Nutrition Month® is a nutrition education and information campaign created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to focus attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. 

The theme for 2017 is "Put Your Best Fork Forward" —  a reminder that each bite counts. The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest starting with small changes in order to make healthier lasting changes you can enjoy.

How to Start Putting Your Best Fork Forward

1. Create an eating style that includes a variety of your favorite, healthful foods.

2. Practice cooking more at home and experiment with healthier ingredients.

3. 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.

4. Find activities that you enjoy and be physically active most days of the week.

5. Manage your weight or lower your health risks by consulting a registered dietitian. Registered Dietitians can provide sound, easy-to-follow personalized nutrition advice to meet your lifestyle, preferences and health-related needs.

For nutrition month recipes, fun quizzes, helpful hints and more visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics eatright.org website.

Celebrate Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day: March 8

March 8 is Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day, a great time to thank the food and nutrition experts throughout Methodist Health System.

Registered Dietitian Nutritionists are the experts who translate the science of nutrition into dietary interventions to prevent and treat health and disease. Registered Dietitian Nutritionists have degrees in nutrition and dietetics, completed an internship and passed an examination. They are advocates for advancing the nutritional status of Americans and people around the world.