March is National Nutrition Month
Overview
Is your school looking for ways to coordinate your nutrition education efforts? Consider celebrating National Nutrition Month during March! This annual observance is a nutrition education campaign led by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to help people develop healthy eating and physical activity habits.
Take Action
While schools should strive to teach students nutrition education throughout the year, use March to dedicate extra time and attention to nutrition. Check out our favorite ways to celebrate National Nutrition Month.
- Choose one healthy eating or physical activity concept to promote each week during March. Display signage throughout your school, teach nutrition education lessons in the classroom and include messages during morning announcements. For example:
- Week 1 – What is MyPlate?
- Week 2 – Fruits and Veggies- More Matters!
- Week 3 – Make half your grains whole grain.
- Week 4 – Be physically active for 60 minutes a day.
- Meet with your school nutrition staff to determine how the month can be celebrated in and out of the school cafeteria.
More Ideas!
Hold a school-wide campaign
to encourage students to eat breakfast. It activates our brains, gives us energy and makes us alert. Eating a healthy, well- balanced breakfast also helps us continue making good choices throughout the day.
Learn more
Highlight Healthy Food
In the cafeteria, highlight a healthy item every day during the month. Share facts, nutrition benefits and healthy dishes that include this food.
Host a taste test!
A taste test is a great way to garner enthusiasm around trying new foods together. Use locally grown foods from Oklahoma.
Learn more
Quiz Your Kids!
Teach students how to read a nutrition facts label.
As part of the lesson, ask students to bring in nutrition labels from home.
Spend some time during class reading labels and comparing information.
Get Coaching!
Help students become aware of their healthy (or not so healthy) behaviors. Download and send home a fruit and vegetable or physical activity tracker.