We are officially in March – only a hop, skip, and a jump away from spring! As I sit here writing this now, we in Arizona are experiencing a seasonally appropriate rain and thunderstorm, good for all those backyard gardens and local farmers in the prickly desert.

March is also a very active holiday month, health-wise. It is the official national month for nutrition, in its 40th year! National Nutrition Month was first started as early as 1973, with the tag line “Invest in Yourself—Buy Nutrition.” After 40 years, those words still ring true. As a student member of the American Dietetics Association, I couldn’t pass up a chance to remind everyone just how important nutrition is in everyone’s quality of life – now, and in the future. If you’re investing in healthy, “whole foods” (as in, not processed, in a box or in a can, and is a recognizable food by itself) now, will guarantee a much healthier you as you age.

Today’s Standard American Diet (SAD) has increased the rates of Americans developing cancer, heart disease, problems associated with obesity (diabetes, sleep apnea, etc.), and stroke. And it’s all pretty much preventable, if you are putting the right things in your body so that it can work right for you.

Sure, everyone knows they should “eat better,” but not everyone knows how. Here are some resources from the American Dietetic Association that will help you get a leg-up on educating yourself on food. Or if you’re not into a lot of heavy reading, there’s always magical YouTube!

I, personally, am subscribed to several YouTube channels, including:

• Nourish: Food + Community
• Eat Right TV
• Dr. Mercola’s Videos
• Learn Organic Gardening at Growing Your Greens

And there are probably many, many more for healthy cooking, eating, and excerising. Get your learn on, and invest in yourself!

I am also posting this at the tail end of School Breakfast week. I have already ranted and railed about the benefits of eating breakfast, so I won’t repeat myself *grin* But as a way of celebrating school food, check your local theatre listings and educate yourself on hunger in America and its effect on children with a new movie that opened up last week, called A Place at the Table.

It’s a great month to start eating right. It’s spring, when many ancient cultures used to honor as their “New Year.” It’s a time to turn over a new leaf along with the trees, bushes, and plants this season! So take a class. Watch a video. Make an appointment with a dietician. Throw a few seeds in the ground and start a garden. The time is right.

March Food Holidays

• Maple Sugar Month
• National Nutrition Month
• National Frozen Food Month
• Great American Meatout Month
• National Peanut Month
• National Sauce Month
• National Flour Month
• National Noodle Month
• International Hamburger & Pickle Month

• School Breakfast Week (Mar 3 – Mar 9)
• Chocolate Week (Mar 10 – Mar 16)
• National Agricultural Week (Mar 17 – Mar 23)

March 1
National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day

March 2
National Banana Cream Pie Day

March 3
National Mulled Wine Day

March 4
National Pound Cake Day

March 5
National Cheese Doodle Day

March 6
National Frozen Food Day

March 7
National Crown Roast of Pork Day

March 8
National Peanut Cluster Day

March 9
National Crabmeat Day

March 10
National Blueberry Popover Day

March 11
National Oatmeal-Nut Waffle Day

March 12
National Baked Scallops Day

March 13
National Coconut Torte Day

March 14
National Potato Chip Day

March 15
National Pears Helene Day

March 16
National Artichoke Hearts Day

March 17
National Green Beer Day

March 18
National Lacy Oatmeal Cookie Day

March 19
National Chocolate Carmel Day

March 20
National Ravioli Day

March 21
National French Bread Day

March 22
National Bavarian Crepes Day

March 23
National Chip and Dip Day

March 24
National Chocolate Covered Raisins Day

March 25
National Lobster Newburg Day

March 26
National Nougat Day

March 27
National Spanish Paella Day

March 28
National Black Forest Cake Day
Something On A Stick Day

March 29
National Lemon Chiffon Cake Day

March 30
Turkey Neck Soup Day

March 31
National Clams on the Half Shell Day
Oranges and Lemons Day
Tater Day

Health Awareness Holidays

• Save Your Vision Month
• Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month
• National Nutrition Month
• American Red Cross Month
• Eye Donor Month
• Mental Retardation Awareness Month
• National Brain Injury Awareness Month
• National Endometriosis Awareness Month
• National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
• National Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month
• Great American Meatout
• Hemophilia Month
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness Month
• Colorectal Awareness Month

• Brain Awareness Week
• Root Canal Awareness Week
• National Sleep Awareness Week
• National School Breakfast Week
• Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week
• National Patient Safety Awareness Week
• National Problem Gambling Awareness Week
• National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week
• National Poison Prevention Week
• Pulmonary Rehabilitation Week (Mar 10 – Mar 16)
• Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Week (Mar 3 – Mar 9)
• Save Your Vision Week (Mar 3 – Mar 9)
• Brain Awareness Week (Mar 10 – Mar 16)
• Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week (Mar 17 – Mar 23)
• Poison Prevention Week (Mar 17 – Mar 23)

• World Kidney Day
• American Diabetes Alert Day
• No Smoking Day (United Kingdom, second Wednesday in March)
• World Water Day or World Day for Water (March 22)

March Gardening Holidays

• March 11: Johnnie Appleseed Day
• March 20: National Agriculture Day
• March 21: National Flower Day
• March 21: National Fragrance Day