National Nutrition Month^® (NNM) is a nutrition education and information campaign sponsored annually by the American Dietetic Association (ADA).

The National Nutrition Month^® campaign reinforces the importance of nutrition as a key component of health, along with physical activity.

Healthy eating helps you get the most out of life. A healthy lifestyle is the key to looking good, feeling great and being your best at work and play. It all starts with a healthy eating plan.

Individual needs and preferences determine your personal food choices. Match your food choices to your lifestyle and individual requirements, choosing enough to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

Actively pursue variety. Expand your range of choices and explore new tastes, within and among food groups. Eating a wide variety of foods not only promotes optimal nutrition, it provides the pleasurable aspects of eating.

Make moderation your goal -- you decide how much and how often. Healthy eating doesn't mean feeling deprived or guilty. Look at the big picture, what you eat over several days -- not just one day or one meal -- that's important.

Develop a personal fitness plan that fits your lifestyle. The key is to find a variety of activities you enjoy. You don't need expensive equipment or complicated fitness programs.

What is a registered dietitian and what can they do for you?

The letters "RD" after a person's name signify that he/she has completed academic and experience requirements established by the Commission on Dietetic Registration, the credentialing agency for ADA, including a minimum of a bachelor's degree granted by a U.S. regionally accredited college/university, or equivalent, and an accredited preprofessional experience program. RDs demonstrate their knowledge of food and nutrition by successfully passing a national credentialing exam and by completing ongoing continuing professional development.

Dietitians provide reliable, objective nutrition information, separate facts from fads and translate the latest scientific findings into easy-to-understand nutrition information.

Additional Resources

www.mypyramid.gov, customizable food pyramid from the United States Department of Agriculture, accessed January 2008.

www.mypyramid.gov/sp-index.html (Spanish version), customizable food pyramid from the U. S. Department of Agriculture, accessed January 2008.

EthnicCultural Food Guide Pyramids, National Agricultural Library, accessed January 2008.