{"id":1332,"date":"2024-02-26T14:00:15","date_gmt":"2024-02-26T14:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplestartnutrition.com\/?p=1332"},"modified":"2024-02-26T14:02:37","modified_gmt":"2024-02-26T14:02:37","slug":"celebrating-national-nutrition-month-2024-beyond-the-table","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplestartnutrition.com\/?p=1332","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating National Nutrition Month 2024; Beyond the Table"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"1332\" class=\"elementor elementor-1332\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-21fe5a5b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"21fe5a5b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-18d92ba5\" data-id=\"18d92ba5\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fec5e78 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-title elementor-page-title elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"fec5e78\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-title.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Celebrating National Nutrition Month 2024; Beyond the Table<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9f1f5cb elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"9f1f5cb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-featured-image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"154\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/simplestartnutrition.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/NationalNutritionMonth.png?fit=300%2C154&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-1333\" alt=\"March is national nutrition month!\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/simplestartnutrition.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/NationalNutritionMonth.png?w=750&amp;ssl=1 750w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/simplestartnutrition.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/NationalNutritionMonth.png?resize=300%2C154&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5c844244 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5c844244\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">March is almost upon us, and with it comes an important celebration in the world of health and wellness: National Nutrition Month. As a registered dietitian, this month holds a special place in my heart; not only is National Nutrition Month a month-long focus on nutrition, it includes a special holiday, RD Day!!!!\u00a0 Yup, Registered Dietitian Day (<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">March 13th, hint hint<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) where all dietitians get the day off and are showered with gifts- hahaha, I kid I kid.\u00a0 Ok, back to reality: National Nutrition Month started back in 1973 when it first invited everyone to take the month of March to focus on developing healthful eating habits. Now, It&#8217;s a time when we come together to recognize the significance of nutrition in our lives and reflect on ways to make healthier choices for ourselves and our communities.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This year\u2019s National Nutrition Month theme brings with it a renewed focus to look at things beyond the food in front of you. The theme for 2024 is \u201cBeyond the Table\u201d.\u00a0 It looks at farm to fork nutrition like gardening, food production, navigating the grocery store, and more.\u00a0 Nutrition is more than just what we put on the table, so it\u2019s time to look: Beyond the Table!<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics breaks the month into 4 weeks with different themes and suggestions.\u00a0 The goal of National Nutrition Month is to get you thinking about your nutrition.\u00a0 Read through all the different ideas and maybe pick one a week that interests you, or perhaps pick one of the 4 weeks you find fits you best\u00a0 to focus on for the month.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Week 1: Stay nourished on any budget.<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learn cooking, food preparation, and meal planning skills.<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cooking at home and meal planning can help cut down on food waste.\u00a0 Try mapping out dinner for the week ahead of time.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use a grocery list and shop sales.<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Impulse buys at the store can add up, while buying items on sale or the store brand can save you money.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learn about community resources such as SNAP, WIC, and local food banks.<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many people don\u2019t know what benefits they qualify for; if times are tight, looking into different programs can really help stretch your dollar.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use your freezer to your advantage.<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Buy in bulk and freeze protein or veggies you can\u2019t finish before they go bad.\u00a0 Batch cook and freeze some servings for a later date.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Week 2: See a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check your insurance benefits for nutrition coverage.<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most, if not all, insurances cover nutrition counseling.\u00a0 The actual benefits vary plan to plan, but a quick (ha, quick!) phone call to your insurance company may discover some free benefits you can use!<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Find an RDN who specializes in your unique needs.<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Like doctors, not all dietitians treat all needs.\u00a0 Some do general nutrition, and some specialize in things like kids, or GI, or sports.\u00a0 Find the one that\u2019s best for you.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Receive personalized nutrition information to meet your health goals.<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All the nutrition advice out there is either way too general or way too specific.\u00a0 Get it custom to your situation.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learn about the many ways RDNs can help people live healthier lives.<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dietitians do more than nutrition.\u00a0 We can help with recipes, and we encourage clients to check on their sleep and stress (all which can affect and be affected by nutrition)<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Week 3: Eat a variety of foods from all food groups.<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Include your favorite cultural foods and traditions.<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">March includes St. Patrick\u2019s Day, so I\u2019ll be hitting the cornbeef and cabbage.\u00a0 Food is more than fuel; it can be connections, memories, or bonding.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eat foods in various forms including fresh, frozen, canned, and dried.<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This not only helps prevent food waste (<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hello frozen veggies!<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) but can save time (<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hello canned beans<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) and money (<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hello raisins<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Experiment with recipes using different ingredients.<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make tacos with tofu crumbles or try subbing a layer of noodles in your lasagna for eggplant. Not only can you make it healthier, you might make it yummier!<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Try new foods or global cuisines.<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This can be so much fun, eye opening, and healthy.\u00a0 Make it a family activity or a date night!<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Week 4: Eat with the environment in mind.<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Get creative with leftovers and ways to reduce food waste.<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Save those vegetable scraps in the freezer and use them to make a broth or take your leftover broccoli from dinner and toss it in an omelet!<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enjoy more plant-based meals and snacks.<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plant proteins can be cheaper and healthier than animal based proteins.\u00a0 Hummus and nut butters make a great dip with carrots, and black beans can be turned into a delicious burger.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Buy foods in season and from local farmers when possible.<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In season produce can save you money and be in better condition than out of season.\u00a0 April will be here soon with lots of farmers markets popping up with spring lettuce and herbs.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Grow food at home or in a community garden.<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Container gardens are all the rage these days. If you don\u2019t have any outdoor space available, windowsill herbs can provide you with herbs all year round. Basil is my recommendation! Easy to grow, and great for pizza toppings or making pesto!\u00a0 Bonus: Get an ice cube tray, throw herbs in each cube and top with oil.\u00a0 Freeze.\u00a0 Pop one out and toss in the pan to saute veggies, fish, or chicken for an herb infused meal.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Nutrition Month 2024 is an opportunity for us to celebrate the power of food to nourish our bodies, connect us to our cultural heritage, and support the health of our planet. Remember, small changes in your diet can lead to big improvements in your health and the health of the planet. Let&#8217;s make every bite count!<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Happy National Nutrition Month!<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Follow us on Instagram and Facebook as we try some of these tips ourselves!\u00a0 And be sure to tag us if you do any!<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stay Happy, Stay Healthy<\/span><\/p><p><img decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-643\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/simplestartnutrition.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/image-7.png?resize=182%2C140&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"182\" height=\"140\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/simplestartnutrition.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/image-7.png?w=1650&amp;ssl=1 1650w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/simplestartnutrition.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/image-7.png?resize=300%2C231&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/simplestartnutrition.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/image-7.png?resize=1024%2C789&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/simplestartnutrition.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/image-7.png?resize=768%2C592&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/simplestartnutrition.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/image-7.png?resize=1536%2C1184&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/simplestartnutrition.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/image-7.png?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 182px) 100vw, 182px\" \/><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This blog was written by Chris Henigan MS, RD, LDN, co-founder of Simple Start Nutrition.\u00a0 For more blog posts and nutrition information follow @simplestartnutrition on Instagram and Facebook.\u00a0 Also feel free to contact us, by visiting our website (<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/simplestartnutrition.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">simplestartnutrition.com<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) to schedule an appointment to discuss your nutrition related needs.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><br \/><br \/><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">References:<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eatright.org\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eatright.org<\/span><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-48d8ceb elementor-post-navigation-borders-yes elementor-widget elementor-widget-post-navigation\" data-id=\"48d8ceb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"post-navigation.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post-navigation\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post-navigation__prev elementor-post-navigation__link\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/simplestartnutrition.com\/?p=1325\" rel=\"prev\"><span class=\"post-navigation__arrow-wrapper post-navigation__arrow-prev\"><i class=\"fa fa-angle-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Prev<\/span><\/span><span class=\"elementor-post-navigation__link__prev\"><span class=\"post-navigation__prev--label\">Previous<\/span><span class=\"post-navigation__prev--title\">A Dietitian\u2019s Thoughts on the Viral \u20186-to-1\u2019 Grocery Shopping Method<\/span><\/span><\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post-navigation__separator-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post-navigation__separator\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post-navigation__next elementor-post-navigation__link\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/simplestartnutrition.com\/?p=1338\" rel=\"next\"><span class=\"elementor-post-navigation__link__next\"><span class=\"post-navigation__next--label\">Next<\/span><span class=\"post-navigation__next--title\">What Is Shrinkflation and the Best Ways for You to Tackle It<\/span><\/span><span class=\"post-navigation__arrow-wrapper post-navigation__arrow-next\"><i class=\"fa fa-angle-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Next<\/span><\/span><\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>March is almost upon us, and with it comes an important celebration in the world of health and wellness: National Nutrition Month. As a registered<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1333,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1332","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/simplestartnutrition.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/NationalNutritionMonth.png?fit=750%2C386&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/simplestartnutrition.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1332","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/simplestartnutrition.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/simplestartnutrition.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/simplestartnutrition.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/simplestartnutrition.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1332"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/simplestartnutrition.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1332\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1337,"href":"https:\/\/simplestartnutrition.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1332\/revisions\/1337"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/simplestartnutrition.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1333"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/simplestartnutrition.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1332"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/simplestartnutrition.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1332"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/simplestartnutrition.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1332"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}