It’s National Nutrition Month® and a great reminder to all of us about the importance of eating healthy.

The American Dietetic Association promotes March as National Nutrition Month®.  This organization reminds us every year that nutrition is a very important part of our well-being.  In fact, a key component, especially for our children.  Each year, the ADA challenges us to find ways to improve our nutrition.  This year, they are asking us to build “Nutrition from the Ground Up”.

I was thinking about that, what does that really mean?

I think that building nutrition from the ground up means that nutrition really starts at home.  Food associations, preferences and habits are really formed at a young age at home.  Kids are learning every day from their parents about nutrition and how important it really is (or not).  And we, parents, are solidifying our family’s habits every day by the foods we choose to buy, the meals we decide to cook, the way we eat our meals etc.

I believe that if we are going to improve our nutrition and overall well-being, then we need to start with our foundation (the ground floor!)  - our home.

But sometimes it can be challenging to come up with a plan of action to change your family’s eating habits.  We know that with everyone’s busy schedule, who has time?    I think that nutrition habits at home don’t have to be drastic.  In fact, sometimes it is the little changes that can really help you and your family “build nutrition from the ground up!”

We want to help you.  We have a very simple “3 steps to a healthier family” to help you begin.  Three doesn’t sound too overwhelming and our suggestions our very doable.

1. Decide as a family that nutrition is important.  National Nutrition Month gives you a great reason to talk as a family about nutrition and how nutrition impacts a body’s health.
2. Evaluate your current eating habits.  Think about the kinds of foods you eat, meal time for the family, snacks, fast foods, cooking and eating out routines
3. Pick just one or two changes your family will make together to improve your nutrition

Building nutrition from the ground up starts with acknowledgment that it is important.

And remember, it is important to change habits gradually and to keep positive.  Oh, and keep it fun!

Resources:

Learn more about National Nutrition Month and healthy eating- Many topics of interest to parents from the American Dietetic Association

Helping Kids Develop a Taste for Healthy Foods-  American Dietetic Association

“Improving your family’s nutrition one step at a time“- ‘Nourish Healthy Kids – March Edition’

Setting Family Goals and Fun Tracking sheets for the family- Printable healthy eating and physical activity trackers

Note to bloggers:  National Nutrition Month® is asking bloggers to share their ideas and thoughts this month on “What it means to you to build nutrition from the ground up”.  Read more information about how to participate in this campaign.

This entry was posted on Friday, March 5th, 2010 at 4:17 am and is filed under Activity, Balanced meals, Family, Healthy Child. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.