March is National Nutrition Month®, so what better time than now to start becoming healthier through healthy eating and physical activity. National Nutrition Month® is a nutrition education campaign created every year in March by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. It began as a National Nutrition Week in 1973 and became a month-long observance in 1980. It focuses attention on the importance of making healthy eating and physical activity choices. 

The 2025 theme for National Nutrition Month is “Food Connects Us!” Food is a connecting factor for many people. Food connects us to our cultures, others’ cultures, our families and our friends. Sharing a meal is an opportunity to learn about its preparation, who made it and where the ingredients are sourced. Health, memories, traditions, seasons, and access can all impact our relationship with food. While these factors influence the foods we eat, the foods we eat also affect our health. 

There are many reasons a person may want to start eating healthy and being physically active, including weight loss. But, there are many more benefits to a healthy lifestyle, including feeling better and a reduced risk of chronic diseases. For example, eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of heart disease and may protect against certain types of cancers. Eating a diet high in fiber may reduce the risk of heart disease, obesity and type 2 diabetes. Every 5 years, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) release the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA).For more information, visit Choose MyPlate www.choosemyplate.gov/, National Nutrition Month® https://www.eatright.org/food/resources/national-nutrition-month, and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/.