March Is National Nutrition Month: “Fuel for the Future”

March 8, 2023 / Get Well

Wondering about this increased attention on food? Well, March is National Nutrition Month! Build NOVA’s Healthy Recipe collection and Contribute to The Nighthawk Nest Food Pantry. 

National Nutrition Month® is an annual campaign created in 1973 by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. During March, everyone is invited to learn about making informed food choices, developing healthy eating habits and building physical activity habits.

This year’s theme is “Fuel for the Future.” Eating with sustainability in mind is a tasty way to nourish ourselves during every phase of life and to protect the environment. Sustainability is also a benefit of meatless meals. Research shows that individuals who participate in Meatless Mondays eat more fruits, vegetables and plant-based meals throughout the week, further benefiting the environment and their personal health. Eating more plant-based foods is one of the most effective actions individuals in countries where high meat consumption is common can take to reduce the world’s eco-footprint. Revisit the Meatless Monday articles in the Daily Flyer as well as this accessible pdf from the National Nutrition Month campaign for ideas on how to reduce meat in your diet for your personal health and for the health of the planet.

For the Month of March, consider the following:

  • Build a collection of healthy recipes. Please visit NOVA’s Healthy Nutrition Padlet to take a recipe and/or leave a recipe that you and your family have enjoyed. No, it doesn’t have to be meatless 🙂 but if you have any meatless favorites, please feel free to share. 
  • Contribute to The Nighthawk Nest Food Pantry during the Employee Wellness March Food Drive. This week, we are highlighting the food pantries on the Loudoun and Woodbridge campuses. Please share generously; there are members of our NOVA community in need.

Food Drop-Off Location: Loudoun Campus (LR-236A), Drop-Off Times: Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. 

Loudoun Campus’ high-demand items are:

  • Ready to eat meals.
  • Condiments
  • Non-perishable proteins e.g., canned fish or other canned meats
  • Bread
  • Anything grab and go

*For additional information, contact our March Food Drive Liaisons in Loudoun Student Life: Natalie Jamison, NJamison@nvcc.edu and/or Alexandria Saravia, ASaravia@nvcc.edu.

 

Food Drop-Off Location: Woodbridge Campus (Student Life Office, WS-158), Drop-Off Times: Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. 

Woodbridge Campus’ high-demand items are:

  • Personal care items and 
  • Ready-to-heat/eat meals.

*For additional information, contact our March Food Drive Liaison in Woodbridge Student Life:  Antonia “Toni” De Luz, ADeLuz@nvcc.edu

Submitted by:
Dahlia Henry-Tett, HR-Chief Wellness Office, DHTett@nvcc.edu