Hey, you! Yeah, you…what’s on your plate today? It’s a lot more important than you think to choose your food wisely for your health, for the environment, and so much more.
March is National Nutrition Month. Although it’s probably not on your calendar yet, maybe it should be. The National Nutrition Month campaign, created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, reminds us of the importance of making informed food choices and developing good eating and physical activity habits. Think of this as a friendly reminder to not just live to eat, but instead eat to live for a happy, healthy life.
The theme of this year’s National Nutrition Month is Beyond the Table, in recognition of where our food comes from—from the seed to the harvest, to the farmer to the truck driver, to the Down to Earth team that quality-checks and stocks the goods, to you—our wonderful customers! It’s about appreciating and being grateful for the entire process, from farm-to-fork, and all the people involved.
There’s a story behind every item you pick from our shelves, and your choices matter. For example, buying MA’O Organic Farms’ produce sends a message of support for their commitment to grow food sustainably and without chemicals, and their efforts to connect youth and the land through the daily practice of aloha ‘aina.
Eat a variety of foods- Don’t be afraid to expand your taste buds to new foods and cultures, as long as they’re healthy. Simply eat mostly plants (fruits and vegetables), beans, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and some good fats. Nourishing foods like these not only taste good, but they also make you feel good after you eat, too! Check out our epic plant-based recipe database for inspiration.
Eat with the environment in mind- Choosing organic, non-GMO foods encourages growers to not pollute our farmland, which ultimately has an impact on all our land and water supplies. We can also reduce food waste to lessen environmental damage. Most importantly, as we say all the time here at Down to Earth, the single most important thing an individual can do for their health, for the environment, and for the sake of the innocent animals is to adopt a plant-based, vegetarian diet.
So what can you do to boost your nutrition?
- Plan your meals so you don't have to eat on the fly and get desperate for whatever quick meal you can grab. This typically isn't healthy food!
- Learn how to read labels. If you can't understand what an ingredient is in your food, look it up, ask someone, and when in doubt--don't eat it. Eating simply is always best. Go for whole foods, lots of fresh produce, and foods made of ingredients you can pronounce.
- Simple foods often have less, or no, packaging which is great for the environment, too. One less plastic or paper wrapper in our landfill, HPower, or that could end up in the ocean.
This March, look beyond your own plate, and embrace a holistic approach to nutrition that nourishes your body and the planet. As you pick your food, remember that you’re also casting a vote for the food system and world you want to see in the future. As they say at MA’O Organic Farms, “Let’s build a future of māʻona, of plenty”, with pono food choices for National Nutritional Month, and beyond.