National Nutrition Month 2025: ‘Food connects us’
Mar 26, 2025, 5:20 PM
In this image released August 29, a general view of lunch as Kimberley Walsh stars in a new Warburtons campaign to show parents that back-to-basics lunches, such as sandwiches, can be part of a healthy, balanced diet, as new research finds only 26% of parents believe what they pack in their child's lunchbox is nutritious on August 22, 2024 in London, England. (Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Warburtons)
(Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Warburtons)
SALT LAKE CITY — “Food connects us.” That’s the theme for this year’s National Nutrition Month, an annual campaign organized by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Let’s Get Moving host Maria Shilaos spoke with Jamie Mok, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, to learn how we can embrace the healthier foods rather than vilifying the not-so-healthy foods.
Why this particular theme?
We often focus on the foods that we shouldn’t eat instead of the foods that we should more often consume. Mok said this tends to take the pleasure out of eating as a whole, so the theme, “Food Connects Us” was chosen to remind people that food can be seen in positive ways.
“It really kind of widens the lens of what food means to us and humanity. And bringing that understanding, that food is a common thread between humans, it not only provides us sustenance, nutrients … but it’s also enriched in our memories, our traditions,” Mok said.
“… So many of us not only enjoy pleasure from eating food but (also) eating food with others, right? So it really kind of broadened that scope of understanding how exactly we are connected by food.”
How to think about food this National Nutrition Month
Mok said reframing good nutrition can help rekindle a more positive relationship with food. To start, she suggested adding healthier foods, such as fruits and vegetables, into your diet instead of eliminating the unhealthier foods.
“We know that majority of us—at least Americans—are not getting nearly enough of these servings of fruits and vegetables a day. (Similarly) we’re not getting enough fiber because fruits and vegetables are fiber-rich food.”
In addition to fruits and vegetables, you can also add fiber to your diet through whole grains, legumes, beans, peas and lentils. Beans and legumes are also good sources of protein, which is also important.
“Not just protein from the traditional protein foods but (also) plant-forms of protein because you also get those beneficial nutrients in those plant foods including that fiber.”
Read more from the Let’s Get Moving podcast:
- Stop making physical activity about losing weight, doctor says
- Sleep specialist says changing the clocks ‘is toxic’ to our minds and bodies
- Nutritious food is good for your mood
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