The month of March is finally here! When most people think of March, they think of the coming of Spring, March Madness, and perhaps wearing green for St. Patrick’s Day, but in our world…March is all about celebrating the power of nutrition. That’s right! March is National Nutrition Month! National Nutrition Month is a yearly campaign organized by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. It is a time to recognize our healthcare professionals, Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs), and raise awareness about the importance of healthy eating. In this blog, we will discuss why nutrition is so important, the role of Registered Dietitians, and we will even provide you with some healthy meal ideas!
Why Does Nutrition Matter?
Nutrition is essential as what we eat provides the fuel for us to maintain overall health and well-being. The protein, carbohydrates, fats, and essential vitamins and minerals that make up our food are key to ensuring that all of the major systems in our body are running properly.
When we think of nutrition, it may spark different thoughts. For some, it may be the food we have on our dinner plates, what we pack for lunch every day, or the snacks we may eat while training for a sporting event. However, nutrition for many people goes beyond the food itself. It has emotional, cultural, and religious involvements. It provides a sense of happiness, comfort, and familiarity. It not only fuels our bodies but may also bring friends, family, and other groups together in many ways - creating memories inside and outside of the kitchen.
What is the role of a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist?
Every year, on the second Wednesday in March, we celebrate our healthcare professionals, Registered Dietitian Nutritionists, on National Registered Dietitian Day! Registered Dietitians are the experts in the nutrition field. It is now required that to be a dietitian you must hold a Master’s degree and complete 1,200 hours of supervised practice hours in nutrition and dietetics.
What Jobs Do Registered Dietitians Hold?
● Inpatient clinical dietitians at hospitals
● Outpatient counseling dietitians
● Food service managers for a school district
● Sports and performance dietitians for college and professional teams
● Community health program dietitians
● Lecturers and professors at colleges
● Medical nutrition sales managers
● Eating disorders dietitians
● Private practice dietitians
● Food and nutrition content and blog creation
There are many hats dietitians can wear, and we are very thankful that we have people with such immense nutrition knowledge helping to advocate for healthier policies and strategies to improve well-being. If you know someone who is a dietitian, make sure to send them a message in March to thank them for what they do.
How to Incorporate Healthy Snacks into a Balanced DietWhen we think about nutrition and overall health, snacks are always a part of the conversation. Lucky for you, here at Nature’s Garden, we have plenty of healthy snacks to choose from that can be purchased and eaten on their own or even incorporated into other meals! Here are some meal ideas to try out during National Nutrition Month! We hope you enjoy and continue to develop healthy habits all month long.
5 Nutritious Meal Ideas ft. Nature’s Garden Snacks
1. Overnight Oats with High Energy Mix
Ingredients:
- ½ cup rolled oats
- 1 cup almond milk
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 tbsp almond butter
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 cup fresh strawberries
- ¼ cup Nature’s Garden High Energy Mix
Directions:
Combine rolled oats, chia seeds, almond butter, cinnamon, and almond milk in a container. Stir until well combined and put in the fridge overnight. Top it all in the morning with fresh strawberries and a high-energy trail mix for the perfect sweetness and crunch.
2. Kale Taco Salad with Baja Taco Cashews
Ingredients:
- 1 cup kale
- ½ cup black beans
- ½ cup corn
- ½ cup chopped bell pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- 4 oz ground chicken breast, cooked
- ¼ cup avocado, sliced
- ½ cup Bajo taco cashews
Directions:
Massage fresh kale in a bowl with a mix of olive oil and lemon juice until soft. Drain and rinse black beans and add to the bowl. Add corn, and chopped bell pepper. Add cooked chicken breast. Stir all ingredients together. Top with avocado and Bajo taco cashews for a nice crunch!
3. Chia Seed Pudding with Probiotic Tart Cherries
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup chia seeds
- 1 cup soy milk
- 1 tsp honey
- ¼ cup chopped tart cherries
Directions:
Add chia seeds and milk to a Mason jar and stir for about 2-3 minutes until well combined. Add in the honey and stir again. Chop tart cherries into small pieces and add to the jar. Store in the refrigerator overnight, and top with more cherries or fresh fruit in the morning if desired.
4. Protein Smoothie Bowl with Probiotic Strawberry Yoggies
Ingredients:
- 2 frozen bananas
- ½ cup frozen strawberries
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
- ½-1 cup almond milk
- ½ cup probiotic strawberry yoggies
- ½ cup granola
Directions:
In a high-powered blender, add frozen bananas, strawberries, protein powder and almond milk. Blend until the desired consistency is met (add less milk if you want a thicker consistency). Pour into a bowl and top with granola and probiotic strawberry yoggies.
5. Greek Yogurt Bowl with Probiotic Apricots
Ingredients:
- 1 cup plain, nonfat Greek yogurt
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 tbsp pumpkin seeds
- ½ cup blueberries
- ¼ cup probiotic apricots, chopped
Directions:
Add plain Greek yogurt to a bowl. Stir in honey and chia seeds until mixed all the way through. Top with blueberries, pumpkin seeds, and probiotic apricots.