“Put Your Best Fork Forward” for National Nutrition Month

Each March, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics comes up with a campaign to celebrate National Nutrition Month. In 2015, “Bite into a Healthy Lifestyle” encouraged people to adopt eating and physical activity plans in order to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. In 2016, “Savor the Flavor of Eating Right” focused on taking the time to enjoy food traditions and appreciate the pleasures, great flavors, and social experiences that food adds to our lives. While every campaign has a unique and fun theme to help educate and excite people about healthful eating habits, this year’s campaign might be my favorite one yet.

“Put Your Best Fork Forward” is the theme for 2017, which serves as a reminder that each one of us holds the tool to make healthier food choices. Making small changes over time, helps improve health now and into the future. Not only is this fantastically clever, but it stands for something that I wholeheartedly believe in.

Kristi King, registered dietitian nutritionist and Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Spokesperson, states,

“How much we eat is as important as what we eat, which is why this year’s National Nutrition Month theme inspires us to start with small changes in our eating habits. It’s important to balance individualized eating plans that include a variety of your favorite, nutritious foods with physical activity most days of the week.”

This theme is like music to my ears. If there is one thing I preach to my nutrition clients, it’s that, there is no one-size-fits-all nutrition plan. The key to success is to make small nutritional adjustments over time, in order to figure out what works for you, individually. If you can strike the right balance between fueling yourself properly and enjoying the foods you love, you will never “diet” a day in your life.

So, in honor of National Nutrition month, I want to encourage you to celebrate with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and “Put Your Best Fork Forward”. You can check out their website for more information and resources for participating in, or promoting this campaign at home or at work.

And remember, there is no one diet that is right for everyone. Make small adjustments that work for you and your lifestyle.