March is National Nutrition Month, a time to develop sound eating and physical activity habits to follow all year long. Making healthy eating habits does not require drastic lifestyle changes. 

Working more servings of fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins into your diet plays an important part in avoiding obesity and preventing chronic illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes. The Florida Department of Agriculture can show you which fresh foods are locally grown and in season.  

The key to developing healthy eating patterns is tailoring your favorite foods to meet your individual nutrient needs. For those wondering how to begin, speaking with a registered dietitian can be an important first step. These health professionals fine-tune traditional recipes, provide alternatives to cooking methods and offer other helpful advice for incorporating family-favorite foods into everyday meals. The experts at Pinellas County’s IFAS Extension Service can help you make a plan. 

WIC is a federally funded nutrition program for Women, Infants, and Children. It provides healthy foods, nutrition education and counseling, breastfeeding support, and referrals for health care and community services at no cost. 

The Florida Department of Health is working to increase access to food throughout the state. This involves improving access to healthy food and beverages via farmers’ markets, corner stores and other cooperatives, all of which are part of existing communities. 

National Nutrition Month is an initiative of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.