Yellowhammer Times

March is National Nutrition Month! The 2023 theme is "Fuel for the Future," highlighting the importance of fueling our bodies at every age and eating with the environment in mind.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals, offers the following tips for maintaining a diet made up of sustainable, environment-friendly choices:

• Enjoy more plant-based meals and snacks.
• Purchase foods with minimal packaging.
• Buy foods in season and shop locally when possible.
• Start a container or backyard garden to grow food at home.

In addition, the Academy provides resources to guide you in making healthy choices, including:

• Eating Right on a Budget 
• Smart Snacking Tips for Kids 
• Smart Snacking Tips for Adults and Teens 
• Find a Nutrition Expert 

More resources to help with planning healthy meals and snacks are available at Eat Right. 

Visit the ADPH Nutrition and Physical Activity program to learn more about the benefits of proper nutrition. 

Nutrition and Dietetic Professionals

National Nutrition Month is a great time to celebrate the work of nutrition and dietetic practitioners. Who are these professionals and what is it they do?

As a profession, dietetics dates back to 1917 when the government sought to conserve food and improve the public’s health and nutrition during World War I. This focus on improving the nutritional well-being of the public and supporting food and science-based information remains the focus of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

While hospitals and nursing homes are traditional settings for dietitians and nutritionists, they can be found working in a variety of roles, such as representatives for food and drug companies; in research and development; and providing one-on-one nutritional counseling.

In Alabama, nutrition professionals can be found working in government at the state and local levels:

• As school food service directors
• In WIC clinics as counselors
• Managing Senior Services food programs, like Meals on Wheels and Senior Centers
• In clinics working with children with special health care needs and their families
• As sports nutritionists with athletes on college teams
• Promoting nutrition and physical activity in communities

Learn more about the vision, mission, and principles of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 

Linda S. Jennings, MS, RD, LD

Nutrition and Physical Activity

Alabama Department of Public Health

Original source can be found here.