March is National Nutrition Month, an annual campaign created 50 years ago in 1973 by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
During the month of March, everyone is invited to learn about making informed food choices and developing healthful eating and physical activity habits.
This year’s theme is “Beyond the Table,” which addresses the farm-to-fork aspect of nutrition, from food production and distribution to navigating grocery stores and farmers markets — and even home food safety and storage practices.
It also describes the various ways we eat — not only around a dinner table, but also on the go, in schools and restaurants, at games and events.
This theme includes sustainability, for instance, decreasing food waste from school and work, at home and beyond.
Our food choices also can affect the health of our planet.
Have you ever thought about the work that goes into producing the foods we eat? This includes how food is grown or raised, where and how it is made, as well as its safety. It’s important to think about the foods we eat and the nutrition they provide but is there more we could be doing to improve our health and the environment?
Here are two tips to help us reach “Beyond the Table:”
• Focus on a healthy eating routine:
Making healthy food choices may seem difficult at times, especially when eating away from home, but it doesn’t have to be.
Many eating places provide nutrition information right on the menu or online to help you choose healthier options.
When purchasing food from a store, use a grocery list and pay attention to sales.
You also can learn about resources in your community that offer access to healthy foods, such as food banks.
• Learn what’s involved in growing your food:
There are many ways you can learn about how your food is produced.
Visit a local farm or farmers market and talk with the people who are growing and harvesting your food.
Some local farms even have tours, so people can see how they operate.
You can grow your own fruits and vegetables at home, too. Want to try gardening but have limited space? Grow herbs or lettuce indoors.
Schools, churches, and other places may offer community gardens where you can participate in the growing process and share in the harvest.
Not quite ready to get your hands in the dirt? Many local farms offer programs, which include “farm shares” of produce during a growing season. Depending on the farm, additional products such as eggs or meat might be included.
Supporting farmers by buying locally grown and seasonal foods can help you eat with the environment in mind. Other steps include decreasing food waste at home by creating new dishes from leftovers or by composting. You also can add more plant-based foods to your meals and snacks if you want to.
National Nutrition Month is a great time to start thinking about how you can go “Beyond the Table” to improve your health and the planet’s.
Amy Jones is a human sciences specialist in food and health for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach