March is National Nutrition Month

As consumers increasingly take responsibility for their own health, people want all the information they can get on making healthful choices, including what to eat. Yet sometimes the public's hunger for information makes many people vulnerable to food and nutrition misinformation. That's why the Oklahoma State Department of Health is focusing attention on March's National Nutrition Month with the theme, "100 Percent Fad Free."

"Unfortunately, not all the food and nutrition information consumers hear is reliable. Some of it can be harmful, not to mention expensive. Seeking out reliable information, from experts like registered dietitians, gives consumers their best opportunity to make the nutrition choices that are right for them," said Maternal and Child Health Nutrition Consultant Nancy Bacon, MS, RD/LD, CDE, of the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

The American Dietetic Association has sponsored the annual nutrition month education and information campaign since 1973 in response to the public's growing interest in nutrition. The Oklahoma State Department of Health has joined this campaign to help promote healthful eating by providing practical nutrition guidance, focusing attention on making informed food choices and developing good physical activity habits.

"The food and activity choices we make today affect us both now and in the future. Choosing foods sensibly, and balancing food and physical activity, are basic steps necessary to set the stage for lifelong health," Bacon said.

Public health officials offer the following recommendations:

• Develop an eating plan for lifelong health. Too often people adopt the latest food fad rather than focusing on overall health. Get back to basics and use the 2005 Dietary Guidelines and MyPyramid as your guide to healthy eating.
• Choose foods sensibly by looking at the big picture. A single food or meal doesn't make or break a healthful diet. When consumed in moderation in the appropriate portion size, most foods can fit into a healthful diet.
• Learn how to spot a food fad. Unreasonable or exaggerated claims that eating (or not eating) specific foods, nutrient supplements or combinations of foods may cure disease or offer quick weight loss are key features of fad diets.
• Find your balance between food and physical activity. Regular physical activity is important for your overall health and fitness plus it helps control body weight, promotes a feeling of well-being and reduces the risk of chronic diseases.
• Food and nutrition misinformation can have harmful effects on your health and well-being, as well as your wallet. Registered dietitians are uniquely qualified to communicate current and emerging science-based nutrition information and are an instrumental part of developing a diet plan that is unique to your particular needs.

Several Oklahoma State Department of Health services including the Maternal and Child Health Service; Chronic Disease Service; and the Women, Infants and Children's (WIC) Service, invite you to join them on Thursday, March 1, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the first floor lobby of the Oklahoma State Department of Health, 1000 N.E. 10th St., Oklahoma City to:

• take the National Nutrition Month 2007 Quiz
• get an update on current nutrition and activity topics
• determine your body mass index (BMI) and learn what it means
• have your questions answered by a registered dietitian