National Nutrition Month® 2023 - Fuel for the Future

For registered dietitian nutritionists, National Nutrition Month® is a very busy month filled with lots of events, activities, media, promotions, and more. We get to celebrate the food and nutrition industry, our peers, colleagues, and friends, and share positive nutrition messages with consumers centered around one overarching theme.

What is National Nutrition Month® 2023?

Back in 1973, a campaign called National Nutrition Week was launched to help Americans eat healthier. The theme that year was “Invest In Yourself —Buy Nutrition.” This was such a popular campaign that drew a lot of interest among consumers. In 1980, nutrition week turned into a month-long observance.

Now, National Nutrition Month® is an annual campaign created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, which represents more than 112,000 credentialed nutrition and dietetics practitioners. The Academy is the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. And this year we celebrate the 50th anniversary of National Nutrition Month®!

During the month of March, all Americans are invited to learn about making informed food choices and developing healthful eating and physical activity habits.

What is the theme for National Nutrition Month® 2023?

“Fuel for the Future” is the theme for this year’s National Nutrition Month® campaign. Eating with sustainability in mind is a tasty way to nourish ourselves during every phase of life and protect the environment. A registered dietitian nutritionist can help you create healthy habits that are sustainable and celebrate your unique needs.

Here are 50 ways to celebrate National Nutrition Month® this March in schools, at home, at work, in the supermarket, and more.

Are the National Nutrition Month® 2023 resources available in other languages?

Yes, aside from English, the National Nutrition Month® 2023 social media toolkit resources are also available in Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, Hindi, Vietnamese, and Tagalog.

These resources include downloadable tip sheets, presentations, public service announcements (PSAs), activity handouts, and proclamations.

What are the four weekly key messages for National Nutrition Month® 2023?

While the theme changes annually, there are some key messages that remain the same from year to year. These key messages are broken down into four weekly areas of focus.

Week 1 – Eat with the environment in mind.

Enjoy more plant-based meals and snacks.
Purchase foods with minimal packaging.
Buy foods in season and shop locally when possible.
Start a container or backyard garden to grow food at home.

Week 2 – See a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN).

Ask your doctor for a referral to an RDN.
Find an RDN who specializes in your unique needs.
Learn how nutrient needs may change with age.
Receive personalized nutrition information to meet your health goals.

Week 3 – Stay nourished and save money.

Plan your meals and snacks.
See what food you have at home before purchasing more.
Use a grocery list and shop sales when purchasing food.
Learn about community resources such as SNAP, WIC and local food banks.

Week 4 – Eat a variety of foods from all food groups.

Include your favorite cultural foods and traditions.
Eat foods in various forms including fresh, frozen, canned and dried.
Avoid fad diets that promote unnecessary restrictions.
Practice gratitude for your body by giving it the fuel it needs.

How can you implement the National Nutrition Month® 2023 theme in your blog?

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has a social media toolkit that contains several sample social media posts and graphics available for download for both National Nutrition Month® and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day. These posts are available in the appropriate format size for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn that you can easily share out to your online communities. There are also Twitter Chat and Facebook Cover images available for download as well.

In the National Nutrition Month® Campaign Toolkit, there are also additional digital resources such as:

Recipe Videos
Sustainable Eating Video
“What a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Can Do For You” Video
Link to Jim Coleman catalog of products for National Nutrition Month® and RDN Day
And more!

How can you celebrate Registered Dietitian Nutritionists during National Nutrition Month®?

The second Wednesday of March is Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day, which is an annual observance where we celebrate the dedication and hard work of RDNs as leading advocates for advancing the health and wellbeing of Americans and people around the world.

This year, the observance is on Wednesday, March 8^th. Be sure to thank a fellow registered dietitian nutritionist on this day.

To find a local nutrition expert, check out the Find a Nutrition Exper t tool on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ website.

What are the Key Differences Between Dietitians and Nutritionists?

Dietitians can be called nutritionists, but a nutritionist cannot be called a dietitian. It’s a confusing statement, but there are clear differences between dietitians and nutritionists.

While both have a love for nutrition, only one has met official and standardized criteria. The accreditation required by a registered dietitian nutritionist is the main reason why they are a trusted source of nutrition information. RDNs are the nutrition experts. This accreditation also allows dietitians to hold the credentials RD or RDN, as well as LD or LDN.

In addition, dietitians can obtain advanced specialty certifications to provide care to niche populations. This post provides insight into major distinctions between RDNs and nutritionists. It explains the wide range of a dietitian’s knowledge. The education and certification of RDNs allow them to not only work in a variety of clinical settings, but it also allows them the flexibility to work in other niches.

Knowing the difference between RDNs and nutritionists is important to help you make a better-informed decision based on your goals. You can learn more about the key differences in this blog article.

Is there a hashtag to use for National Nutrition Month®?

Yes, the primary hashtag is #NationalNutritionMonth. However, there are other suggested hashtags you can include in your posts such as:

#RDNday
#NNMchat
#eatright
#eatrightPRO
#NDTRday
#kidseatright
#foodnutrimag

What are some Academy social media events going on during National Nutrition Month® 2023?

Wednesday, March 1 – 12 pm CST/ 1 pm EST

Join @eatright for a Twitter chat to kick off National Nutrition Month®! Use the hashtag #NNMchat.

Wednesday, March 8 – 12 pm CST/ 1 pm EST

Host @eatrightPRO will lead a Twitter chat to celebrate RDNs and NDTRs! Use the hashtag #NNMchat.

Wednesday, March 8

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day commemorates the dedication of RDNs as advocates for advancing the nutrition status of Americans and people around the world.

Thursday, March 9

This year, the Academy is celebrating the first Nutrition and Dietetics Technician, Registered Day.

Wednesday, March 15 – 12 pm CST/ 1 pm EST

Discuss nutrition for children and families during this Twitter chat hosted by @kidseatright. Use the hashtag #NNMchat.

Key Takeaway

Celebrate National Nutrition Month® and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day this March with family, friends, colleagues, and your peers. Be sure to tell your favorite registered dietitian nutritionist how grateful you are for them, their contributions to the profession, and their impact on the health and well-being of consumers in America and around the world!

National Nutrition Month® 2023 – Fuel for the Future