MARCH IS NATIONALNUTRITION MONTH , an annual celebration that was launched in 1973 and is sponsored by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the world’s largest organization of food-and-nutrition professionals, of which I’m a member. This year’s celebration, themed Food Connects Us, highlights the connection between health, access, traditions, and food across all stages of life.
Food offers connections throughout life in a variety of ways, for example learning to cook, prepare, and plan meals; exploring where our food comes from and discovering the food preferences of different cultures; and learning about community resources, such as farmers markets and food banks.
Many people start learning how to cook at a young age from the adults in their home. I remember being about three-and-a-half years old and getting an Easy Bake Oven for Christmas. When I took that first cake out of the oven, I was so disappointed at how small it was! (I guess I shouldn’t have been too surprised considering the Easy Bake Oven used a lightbulb as a heat source.) However, if you weren’t taught how to cook as a child, don’t worry. It’s never too late to start. You can learn the art of cooking—and discover what a fun, rewarding hobby it can be—at any stage of life.
Exploring where our food comes from offers us the opportunity to learn how it is grown or raised, which can inspire us to start a home garden or participate in a community garden. Exploring the origins of foods also connects us to other cultures in the wider world as well as to an important aspect of our own culture. For many of us, the foods we ate growing up were influenced to a significant degree by our family heritage. For me it was wilted lettuce salad, homemade spaetzle, schnitzel, grape kuchen, and bratwurst. Can you guess what culture?
The connection between food and health often develops when we’re a bit older and wiser and start to discern which foods promote a healthier life and help us keep chronic conditions at bay. But we can learn at any age that a healthy eating pattern means focusing on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy, while limiting added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium.
Food connects us through each life stage by providing the nutrients we need from birth to advanced age. We build trust and a bond by providing healthy nutrients to our babies and toddlers. And for our older folks, sometimes food is their last source of enjoyment.
Of course, food also connects us to family and friends. We share holiday and birthday meals, we celebrate with food, we gather with food, we meet over food. We keep traditions alive by passing down age-old recipes. It’s a shared bond. Can you think of that one holiday on which you always share the same food with loved ones, or that one friend you always meet to enjoy a little conversation over a cup of coffee, pizza, or another ethnic food?
The key messages from this year’s National Nutrition Month that I hope you’ll take away from this article are to encourage everyone to learn about making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits; to acknowledge the fact there is a food connection between health, access, memories, traditions, and relationships throughout all life stages; to set healthy goals such as eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day; and to learn about the benefits of a healthy eating pattern.
As you explore the many ways food connects us, I encourage you to experiment with recipes using different ingredients, seasonings, and cooking techniques—and to enjoy your meals with family or friends.
Have fun celebrating National Nutrition Month!
Laurie Syring, RDN/LD, is Clinical Nutrition Manager at ProMedica Flower Hospital. ✲
