Healthy + Happy #27: National Nutrition Month

March is National Nutrition Month, a time to celebrate informed food choices and healthy eating habits. This year’s theme, "Fuel for the Future," encourages us to choose foods that are not only nutritious, but also sustainable. In their most recent statement, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, made it clear: it’s crucial to consider both the nutritional and environmental impacts of our food choices.

Healthy body, healthy planet ideas.

• Cook at home. When you control the ingredients, portion sizes and methods, it tends to be healthier, especially when those meals are plant-based.

• Plant-based meals can benefit the environment and your physical health. Protein concerns? Plants have you covered there, too.

• Purchase foods with minimal packaging. Think: fresh fruits, vegetables and shopping the bulk aisle for nuts and legumes.

• Buy organic, if you can.The Environmental Working Group recently released its 2023 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce, complete with the latest Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen.

• Start a garden and grow food at home. Just 2.5 hours of gardening per week can lead to better mental well-being and life satisfaction, according to a recent study— as well as provide you with fresh, local produce and motivation to cook. Gardening can also benefit children’s physical, cognitive and motor development, and build opportunities for family connection. 

• Help your wallet along the way. Believe it or not, eating plant-based proteins, shopping the bulk aisle, cooking at home and growing your own food can all still fit within your family budget — and even help you save. For additional help, check out these 12 Tips for Supermarket Savings from the Harvard School of Public Health.

Planning and preparation go a long way.

• Batch cooking and meal planning often go hand-in-hand, and here are some tips  for both. Planning can also reduce food waste, which currently has a greater carbon footprint than the airline industry.

• When cooking from scratch doesn’t feel attainable, these 3 quick hacks can help make it possible to create satisfying, healthy meals.

• Not sure how to cook plant-based? The Blue Zones has a number of delicious plant based-recipes that can be prepared in 30 minutes or less.

• Confused about what’s healthy and what’s not? The Center for Science in the Public Interest breaks down the basics for you. 

In the News

School food round-up. 

• The healthy body, healthy planet theme continues.

  • The University of Maine just launched a two-month pilot program to get kids thinking about food wastethrough games, activities and education assemblies.

  • Help your school reduce single-use plastics by joining Cafeteria Culture’s Plastic Free Lunch Day on Wednesday, April 19.

• The School Nutrition Association called out the USDA’s proposed nutrition standards for school meals as unattainable. 

  • Experts disagree, citing the success of the 2013-14 updated standards and expressing concern about the influence of SNA’s partnerships with food companies. 

• Our partner, Laveen School District, worked with Chef Kent Getzin on knife skills and cooking techniques like building world flavors, roasting vegetables, and developing scratch sauces, salsas and dressings.

• On Friday, Minnesota passed legislation to fund universal meals starting in the 2023-24 school year. This makes Minnesota the fourth state to pass universal meals legislation (after California, Colorado and Maine).

• Lunchables are coming to school cafeterias — and not everyone’s happy. 

Generosity abounds.

• Jeff Ament, bassist for Pearl Jam, built more than two dozen skateparks across rural Montana to help 1) teach kids “to get up when they fall',” 2) give them a space to build community and belonging, and 3) battle the state’s alarming suicide rate. 

• Inspired by Aspen Institute’s Project Play, Detroit City FC is investing in youth soccer, adding a $1 fee on tickets and donating those funds to the Detroit Sporting Coalition, which runs Detroit City FC City Youth. 

• Feeling generous? On Saturday, April 29th, join more than 10,000 riders for Ride of a Life Time, a fundraiser for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and the Life Time Foundation. We come together with the goal of raising $1.5 million dollars for children’s health. Registration is open to all. 

Events, Happenings and Opportunities

• Urge the FDA to ban Red 3. Red 3 is a color additive that causes cancer and other harm. Just as it's been banned from cosmetics, it should be banned from our foods, supplements and oral medications. Submit a public comment today.

• More than 225 schools across the U.S. are Riding for Focus, implementing this middle-school based PE program that provides cycling education and access to 50,000 students annually. R4F provides participating schools with everything they need to get their 6th-8th grade students riding, including bikes, helmets, curriculum and intensive teacher training. Register for a webinar to learn more and/or apply here.

• On May 17-18, the Aspen Institute is celebrating the 10th anniversary of Project Play at the Project Play Summit 2023. Registration now open. 

Have other national events or grant opportunities you'd like us to highlight? Let us know.