FOR RELEASE: March 1, 2006
CONTACT: Pamela Williams
Office of Communications
405/271-5601

Step up to Nutrition & Health
March is National Nutrition Month®

Step up to Nutrition and Health is the theme for National Nutrition Month®, March 2006. The American Dietetic Association has sponsored this annual nutrition education and information campaign since 1973, in response to growing public interest in nutrition. The campaign and local events are designed to focus attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits.

“Food and physical activity choices made today and every day affect your health and how you feel today and in the future. Eating right and being physically active are keys to a healthy lifestyle,” said Maternal and Child Health Nutrition Consultant Nancy Bacon, MS, RD/LD, CDE.

The American Dietetic Association and the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) challenge all Oklahomans to “step up to the plate” and make healthful food and physical activity choices a priority. Public health officials offer the following advice:

• Make smart food choices from every food group. Give your body the balanced nutrition it needs by eating a variety of nutrient-packed foods every day. Just be sure to stay within your daily calorie needs.
• Get the most nutrition out of your calories. Choose the most nutritionally rich foods you can from each food group each day -- those packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutrients, but lower in calories.
• Find your balance between food and physical activity. Regular physical activity is important for your overall health and fitness, plus it helps control body weight, promotes a feeling of well-being, and reduces the risk of chronic diseases.
• Play it safe with foods. Prepare, handle and store food properly to keep you and your family safe.

The OSDH Maternal and Child Health Service and Oklahoma’s Physical Activity and Nutrition Program invite you to join us on Wednesday, March 22, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the first floor lobby of the Oklahoma State Department of Health, 1000 N.E. 10th St., Oklahoma City and:

• Take the National Nutrition Month® Quiz.
• Determine your body mass index (BMI).
• Get an update on current nutrition and activity topics.
• Have your questions answered by a registered dietitian.

Also, the OSDH WIC Program is sponsoring an information booth outside their administrative office in Oklahoma City at Shepherd Mall on Tuesday, March 28, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participants can take the National Nutrition Month® 2006 Quiz and collect information about nutrition and the WIC Program.

For more information on making wise nutrition and activity choices, contact a registered dietitian at your local county health department or view these Web sites: www.mypyramid.gov, www.eatright.org, and www.oknutrition.org.

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