Connecting with Food
Every March, we come together to celebrate National Nutrition Month! This is a fantastic time to focus on making informed food choices and building healthier habits for eating and staying active.
This year's theme, "Food Connects Us," highlights how food brings us all together. Think about it -- food is so much more than just nutrition; it connects us to our cultures, our families and our friends. Sharing a meal is a wonderful chance to learn about how it was prepared, who cooked it and where the ingredients come from. Our relationship with food is shaped by many things: our health, memories, traditions, the seasons and even how easily we can access certain foods. While these elements influence what we eat, the foods we choose also play a significant role in how we feel.
How You Can Participate
In honor of National Nutrition Month, we encourage you to take small, positive steps towards improving your nutrition and health. Here are a few ideas to get started:
· Explore new recipes that incorporate heart-healthy ingredients. When purchasing food from a store, use a grocery list and pay attention to sales. When food is less processed, it’s often more affordable.
Share a meal with friends or family and celebrate the connection that food brings.
· Learn more about where your food comes from and how it’s grown. This summer, visit a farmers’ market to ask about how your food was grown or raised, or consider starting a home or community garden to get hands-on experience with the growing process.
· Learn about resources in your community that offer access to healthy foods, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Women Infants and Children (WIC), and Jackson County Food Banks.
Consider speaking with a registered dietitian (RD) to get personalized nutrition advice tailored to your health needs.
Food is a powerful tool that connects us to our health, culture, family, and community. This National Nutrition Month, let’s take the time to reflect on the ways food brings us together and commit to making nutritious choices that support a healthier future.