March starts with the bang of National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day and goes out on the high of National Spinach Day, with some leprechaun chasing for St. Patrick’s Day in between. With all this excitement, you probably thought it couldn’t get much better. But March is also National Nutrition Month®! Perhaps you want to get back on board with some of your goals for 2019, or maybe you just want to take the time to appreciate delicious food and all the amazing things your body can do. Whatever the reason, National Nutrition Month® is a great time to refocus on fostering lifelong habits to promote good health.
Celebrate Food
It is easy to obsess over food when the news is fraught with crazy diet headlines. However, try to escape the diet mentality. Instead of fixating on numbers, try focusing on mindful eating and an overall healthy lifestyle. Food brings us joy and health, and that is cause for celebration, not stress!
- Fuel your body by cooking with lots of fresh, whole foods. Reach for whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and herbs to add a burst of flavor.
- Start your day off right. Oatmeal is one great option, and try adding seeds as tasty, nutritious additions.
- Minimize food waste by buying only what you need, freezing leftovers, and getting creative – try sautéing those beet stems or roasting up pumpkin seeds.
- If you are short on time, try bringing out your slow cooker. Dinner will be waiting for you when you get home.
- Pack healthy snacks to take to work or on road trips. Fruit and nuts are fast and easy.
- Invite friends or family over to enjoy a meal together.
Enjoy the Beautiful Outdoors
Colorado is an amazing state with so much to offer! March can still be chilly, so bundle up and head outdoors with family and friends to soak up some of nature’s beauty.
Looking for ideas of how to be active in winter?
- Try snow sports like snowshoeing, skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, and sledding.
- Hike with microspikes, if necessary.
- Walk along a nearby trail or in your neighborhood. See what wildlife you can spot.
- Bring a thermos with a warm beverage or snack to enjoy while on your snowy adventure in the mountains or in the park.
- Hot tea and soup taste even better on the trail!
Looking for some fun and unique National Nutrition Month® activity ideas?
- Check out these activities –including coloring pages, Nutrition Sudoku and word searches on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ website!
Happy 2019 National Nutrition Month®!! Enjoy celebrating how great your healthy lifestyle makes you feel.
What a fantastic article! It’s both fun to read and packed with lots of great and easy ideas!
WOW is right!
Wow – this is packed with good ideas and links!
Lots of good suggestions. I particularly like your emphasis on food as a source of joy and health, not stress.
Here’s to National Nutrition month! – Mark D.