By: Julie Whittington | Statesville Record & Landmark Published: March 11, 2012 Updated: March 11, 2012 - 6:03 AM

March is National Nutrition Month! This years theme, Get Your Plate in Shape, focuses on encouraging Americans to have proper portion control when it comes to eating.

Every March, The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly known as The American Dietetic Association) creates a National Nutrition Month (NNM) campaign to educate the public on nutritional health and promote the dietetics profession. The first campaign was in 1973.

Key messages for the 2012 campaign focus on choosing food mindfully and considering everything you select to put on your plate. The seven key messages, as found on the Academys NNM website (www.eatright.org/nnm) are as follows:

Make half your plate fruits and vegetables;

Make at least half your grains whole;

Switch to fat-free or low-fat milk;

Vary your protein choices;

Cut back on sodium and empty calories from solid fats and added sugars;

Enjoy your food, but eat less; and

Visit link:
COLUMN: Rethink your diet during National Nutrition Month