National Nutrition Month

  • Published
  • By Gemma Gilman
  • 96th Medical Group
I am Gemma Gilman, Team Eglin Nutritional Medicine flight commander and a registered dietitian.  I am responsible for ensuring quality medical nutrition therapy and providing hospital nutrition services to military members, their families and civilians.

For almost fifty years, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and its members have initiated an annual campaign to promote a healthy lifestyle.

Launched as a week-long event in March 1973, National Nutrition Week evolved into a month-long event in 1980.  The celebration focuses on increasing public awareness of the importance of eating healthy and keeping a physically active lifestyle.

On March 8, we celebrate Nutrition Professionals Day, an opportunity to introduce registered dietitians and other nutrition professionals to hospital patrons.  We will recognize them for their commitment to helping people eat healthy, be physically active, and enjoy healthy lives. They are our global leaders in providing science-based nutrition assessment/treatment, education, and counseling.

These leaders are responsible for communicating nutrition information based on facts and proven best practices, rather than unregulated information often found on the internet.

Eating healthy doesn't have to be complicated and expensive. It's as simple as going back to the basics, knowing the different food groups and including them in a daily diet.

The theme for this year’s celebration is “Put Your Best Fork Forward.” As the academy puts it, “it serves as a reminder that each one of us holds the tool to make healthier food choices. Making small changes during National Nutrition Month and overtime helps improve health now and into the future.”

To celebrate National Nutrition Month 2017, all are invited to participate in the following events:

March 6- 17 - Scavenger Hunt, Hospital, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. each day.  The hunt ends at 10 a.m., March 17.  Participants must visit the nutrition clinic to receive the first clue.

March 21 - Nutrition information fair, base commissary, 2 p.m.

March 23 - 5K Fun Run, 96th MDG track, 2 p.m.

For more information, call 883-9109.