March is National Nutrition Month, an awareness event dedicated to fostering healthy eating habits and improving the health of people around the nation. A nutrition education and information campaign developed by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the campaign focuses on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits.
The theme for 2016 is “Savor the Flavor of Eating Right,” which encourages everyone to take time to enjoy food traditions and appreciate the pleasures and social experiences food can add to our lives. How, when, why, and where we eat are just as important as what we eat. Local health departments should encourage their community members to develop a mindful eating pattern that includes nutritious and flavorful foods.
NACCHO works to help foster physical activity and healthful eating, particularly among vulnerable populations such as children and those with disabilities. Local health departments should work to make sure their education campaigns are inclusive of all audiences and sensitive to their particular needs.
The Department of Health and Human Services recently released the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans; these guidelines help Americans make healthy food and beverage choices and serve as the foundation for vital nutrition policies and programs from across the United States. Keep checking back with the blog; NACCHO will post a featured article in the near future examining the new dietary guidelines and their affect on community health.
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