March is National Nutrition Month

National Nutrition Month® is an annual campaign created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to inspire the development of healthy habits. Each year, a theme is selected to encourage people of all ages to learn about making smart choices—both in healthful eating and physical activity.

The National Nutrition Month theme for 2022 is “Celebrate a World of Flavors.”

AT HOME: An easy and fun way to explore new foods and flavors at home is to incorporate theme nights. Have your children help choose dinners that encourage them to branch out and try new things. Invite them to help you prep or make dinner too. Letting your child play the role of sous chef will increase the likelihood that they’ll be excited to try whatever’s on the menu.

Here are some ideas and Grow Fit® recipes to get you started:

• Pasta Night – Penne with Lentil & Meat Sauce
• Vegetarian Night – Baja Black Beans and Rice
• Soup Night – Turkey Chili
• Breakfast for Dinner – Hawaiian Overnight Oats
• Kid’s Choice – BBQ Chicken Tacos or Spinach & Ravioli
• Seafood Night – Italian Herb Baked Fish 
• Casserole Night – Creamy Chicken & Stuffing Bake
• Pizza Night – Pizza Burgers
• Appetizers for Dinner – Baked Pears and Simple Bruschetta

Try brainstorming as a family to think of more theme ideas to add to your list!

AT SCHOOL: For National Nutrition Month, our dieticians, food specialists, and educators will be teaching children about where food comes from. From farm to table, it’s beneficial to know the source of the foods you enjoy to gain a better understanding of local offerings and seasonal items.

Students may also welcome the arrival of spring by planning their own indoor or outdoor Grow Fit gardens. Creating and tending to a personal garden motivates children to try more fruits and vegetables, which is part of a larger school-based effort to create healthy habits.

Year-round, the Veggies Early and Often campaign means you’ll see a variety of 29 vegetables on their plates at school. Teachers also encourage children to try new flavors more than once. This icon will appear on your Grow Fit menu to indicate additional offerings.