Why I Love National Nutrition Month
1. The awesome catchphrases.
The theme of this year’s National Nutrition Month is “Enjoy the Taste of Eating Right.” Catchy, yes no? Most people choose foods based on taste rather than nutrition, and this choice makes sense. Fortunately, you can have it both ways, and that’s what this year’s theme is all about. Start with your favorite foods and build a healthy diet from there (and if you’re having trouble, talk to a dietitian). Include some of your favorite “sometimes” foods (like the best chocolate cake of all time). Want to eat more fruits and veggies but not looking forward to steamed broccoli for the fifth day in a row? Break out of your veggie stagnation and try some new recipes!
Incidentally, you can check out past National Nutrition Month themes here. My favorites are 2008’s “Nutrition: It’s a Matter of Fact” (oh, you clever Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, you) and 2007’s “100% Fad Free” (that could be the dietitian mantra). I kind of want to get these printed on T-shirts and wear them in public so that when anyone asks me a question, I can just point to the shirt.
Just kidding. I love answering questions.
2. The celebration of registered dietitians and dietetic technicians, registered.
RDs and DTRs catch a lot of flak from those who can’t understand why these nutrition professionals should be paid for being food and nutrition experts. All we have to do is eat more vegetables, right?
If eating and living healthy were that easy, we wouldn’t have so many people struggling to lose weight or control their diabetes in developed countries. It’s one of my greatest wishes that RDs and DTRs are widely recognized as highly-trained nutrition professionals. National Nutrition Month and Registered Dietitian Day celebrate what these professionals can do for you. Give your friendly local dietitian a hug or a firm handshake and a toodle-oo this month!
3. Recipe inspiration.
Being a dietitian doesn’t make me immune to the doldrums of recipe despair. That’s why I am grateful for the kick-in-the-pants that is National Nutrition Month. While extoling on the virtures of nutrition and the dietetics profession with others, I can’t help but be inspired. For example, I really want to try the refreshing chickpea salad developed for National Nutrition Month (bottom of the page).
Looking for inspiration of your own? Try these recipes!
Baked Chicken Meatballs with Roasted Broccoli
Creamy Vegetarian Chocolate Chili
Herbed Tofu and Red Rice-Stuffed Peppers with Scamorza
Mushroom Farro with Roasted Tomatoes and Marjoram
Enjoy your week, dear reader!
i have been really bad about following the NNM this year..
Time is flying – it seems like we just had the last one!
Yay for National Nutrition Month! I say it’s one of the best months of the year.
Perfect timing! Spring always feels so fresh and rejuvenating…a great time to focus on eating better and enjoying lots of beautiful colors, even in our food 😉 And I still haven’t tried chocolate chili – it’s on my to do list 😉
Happy “Why I Love National Nutrition” month, Jessie! Speaking of steamed broccoli, I wasn’t a huge fan of them back then, but love trying new recipes using broccoli such as blasted broccoli, braised broccoli, broccoli n’ cheeze or even broccoli anything! 🙂 Your mushroom farro looks so gooooood, I remember I mentioned that someone made a mushroom farro stuffing for Thanksgiving and I didn’t have a photo of it ;( Now I can’t wait for summer to come (that’s when farmers market come in my city) – more beautiful and colorful produces to try and use! Have a great Sunday, Jessie xx