Fresh Focus #25: National Nutrition Month

March is a special time of year where registered dietitans (RD) spend an entire month talking about food. That’s right, 31 days of pure food bliss for National Nutrition Month, an annual campaign held in March where everyone is invited to learn about making informed food choices and developing healthful eating and physical activity habits.

This National Nutrition Month campaign has a key message for each week:

1. Take time and slow down. Take the time to enjoy your food, take a moment to read a nutrition label, take the time to look at your plate and notice the colors on it, and most importantly take time for yourself.
2. Look ahead and plan for the week. A great way to begin planning meals is to start out by picking nutritious recipes and then creating a grocery list. If you travel for work, look ahead at restaurants you may visit, or pack a meal you made at home.
3. Master your kitchen skills. Stocking up on nutritious ingredients and foods, practicing proper home food safety, and sharing our safe and nutritious meals with our family are all great ways to develop healthy and safe habits in the kitchen.
4. Focus on your unique needs. RDs recognize there is no one-size-fits-all approach to nutrition and health.

This year, for National Nutrition Month®, the team at Fresh Focus Podcast interview Yaqutullah Ibraheem Muhammad, a registered dietitian from the Atlanta VA Arcadia Primary Care Clinic about personalizing your plate. Specifically, where to discover new recipes and ways to experiment with new flavors.

They cover their favorite veggies, grains and how to create your own unique plate. Yaqutullah discusses places in the community that can broaden your range of food choices and she shares her current favorite food – Quiche!

If you have any nutrition questions or goals, we encourage you to reach out to your local VA’s RD for help in finding a healthful eating plan that is right for you.

Megan Rivenburg is a dietetic intern with the Marion VA Healthcare system.