For those of us who may have broken that New Year’s resolution to become more health conscious through diet and exercise, we have a chance to redeem ourselves! National Nutrition Month is celebrated In March and this gives us the perfect opportunity to take a look at improving our diet and exercise habits.
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) is proud sponsor of National Nutrition Month. The mission statement for this nutrition education and information campaign reads, “National Nutrition Month is designed to focus attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits.” Each year the AND focuses on a different theme. This year’s theme is “Get Your Plate in Shape.”
The AND website at www.eatright.org is a treasure trove of information. The site offers a variety of informational tips, guidelines, and recipes to help in the quest for a healthier lifestyle and to “Get Your Plate in Shape.”
The mental and physical health benefits of following a healthy diet and exercise regime are significant. In fact, research shows that students actually learn better when they are well nourished. Healthy eating has been linked to higher grades, better memory, and faster information processing. So, a healthy lifestyle could possibly play a part in your academic success. Another reason to give it a try!
Madison College Libraries will be celebrating National Nutrition Month in a variety of ways. At the Reedsburg campus they will be observing it with a display of books and periodicals covering the topic along with handouts covering healthy eating tips and information encouraging a healthy lifestyle. A healthy snack will be provided to students one morning at the beginning of the month to help kick off this month-long celebration.
If you are interested in more information on National Nutrition Month and becoming more health conscious, check out the many resources available through the Madison College Libraries. For electronic resources a starting point might be the Nutrition Research Guide found under the Research tab on the library home page. This guide includes databases with full-text articles and listings for websites with accurate and up-to-date information. In addition to these resources, we also have a wide selection of books and periodicals relating to these topics. Sample book titles include “Healthy Foods: Fact Versus Fiction,” “Nutrition At Your Fingertips,” ”Mayo Clinic Fitness for Everybody,” “The Food You Crave: Luscious Recipes for a Healthy Life,” and “The New Mayo Clinic Cookbook Eating Well for Better Health.” Periodical titles that could be helpful include: “Nutrition Action,” Nutrition Today” and the “Journal of American Dietetic Association.”
Good luck with your journey to a healthier lifestyle and, as always, if you need any assistance the Madison College Libraries would be happy to help!