March is National Nutrition Month -- the American Dietetic Association's annual nutrition information and education campaign. National nutrition month was created by the ADA to focus attention on developing healthy eating habits. Using the knowledge, education and experience of the ADA's over 68,000 nutrition experts (yes, that's us Dietitians) they strive to help translate the science of nutrition into practical advice. Click here to watch ADA Ring the NASDAQ Opening Bell, Thursday, March 12.
Interestingly, results of a 2009 study from the National Grocers Association Consumer Panel Survey showed that many of you (70%) site the internet as your most reliable source of nutrition information and a mere 14% of you utilize your favorite RD for this advice. This is sad (and a little frustrating) considering that much of the information on the internet is not necessarily credible, science based, or reliable. To that end, please allow me to point you in the right direction for lots of credible (and free) handouts, information and helpful nutrition stuff that you can find on the internet.
The ADA's website is a wealth of nutrition knowledge and information. Click here for free nutrition resources, tons of handouts, recipes and nutrition education information.Of course, there are many more nutrition websites that are credible and reliable. I hope that in the future you will seek out the resources above and the knowledge of Registered Dietitians for your nutrition needs. Many RD's have blogs like mine as well as their own websites, podcasts, and publications.
The International Food and Information Council (IFIC) is another great resource for publications that cover various nutrition and food safety topics.
The Food and Nutrition Information Center of the USDA provides credible, accurate, and practical resources for nutrition and health professionals, educators, government personnel and consumers.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest is a consumer "watchdog"group whose main purpose is to educate the public, advocate government policies that are consistent with scientific evidence on health and environmental issues, and counter industry’s powerful influence on public opinion and public policies. These are the guys and gals responsible for the laws that require Nutrition Facts on packaged foods (and most recently including trans fat on those labels), defining the term “organic” for foods, and help to put warning notices on alcoholic beverages. Click here to subscribe to their award-winning Nutrition Action Healthletter.
Harvard's School of Public Health - their mission is to advance the public’s health through learning, discovery, and communication. The Department's Chair, Dr. Walter Willett is best known for his 2001 book Eat, Drink and be Healthy, which presented a new Food Guide Pyramid and made nutritional recommendations based on current nutrition science. He is also the principal investigator of the second Nurse's Health Study, the most definitive long-term epidemiological study conducted to date on older women's health.
Still not convinced? Click here to learn more about the credentialing and professional requirements of an RD.
