National Nutrition Month 2026:
National Nutrition Month is a month-long observance created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) to educate the public about the power of nutrition.
This year’s theme is “Discover the Power of Nutrition.” Healthy eating habits can mean a difference in quality of life and years. What is the power of nutrition? The power comes from eating a variety of foods daily to get all the beneficial nutrients, and from focusing on variety.
How does this theme fit into the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans? There are some things we can pick out to use and some we will have to throw back. From first impressions, the new guidelines follow the latest diet fads, advice that has been sold on bookshelves for a long time.
The current advice tells us to prioritize protein and milk over carbohydrates. Healthy carbohydrates include fiber. A high-fiber diet is associated with a reduced risk of colon cancer. While there is some consideration given to carbohydrates, they are an afterthought and we are encouraged to keep the number of servings low. The number of servings needed can vary by person; however, it is still a good idea to aim for 3 servings of whole grains per day. A serving size is considered one ounce. One ounce can be ½ cup of oatmeal or up to 3 cups of popped popcorn. These whole grains, which are rich in fiber, can help reduce the risk of heart disease, support weight management, and, as noted earlier, lower the risk of colon cancer. Fruits and vegetables are carbohydrates and are beneficial in healthy diets. They also provide nutrients and fiber.
The fact that the new inverted pyramid is heavy with red meat can be problematic. Current peer-reviewed articles have shown a link between higher consumption of red meat and heart disease and cancer. Speaking of cancer, there is also a link between alcohol consumption and cancer. MyPlate’s definition of alcohol moderation was 2 standard drinks a day for men and one standard drink a day for women. Standard drink sizes are 12 ounces of beer, 4.5 ounces of wine, 1 ounce of hard liquor, or a 4-ounce mixed drink. The current guidelines state that we should limit alcohol consumption; however, they do not specify what that might mean.
Grains, fruits, and vegetables are all important for those who want to focus on a plant-based diet. Plant-based diets are very healthy when foods are chosen to increase your nutrient intake. The new guidelines don’t have any clear guidance on how to consume plant proteins in place of animal protein. Plant protein options are important guidance for vegans and vegetarians. MyPlate had this information available. MyPlate, which provides simple guidance, was our prior Dietary Guidelines for Americans, not the Food Pyramid, which hasn’t been used in more than 20 years.
We are putting real food back at the center of the American diet. Real food that nourishes the body. Real Food that restores health. Real food that fuels energy and encourages movement and exercise. Real food that builds strength.
This statement assumes that canned, frozen, and some boxed items provide no real nutrition. Each of these types of processing ensures that nourishing foods can be shelf-stable and, in some instances, provide more nutrition or preserved vitamins and minerals than fresh produce. The guidelines are vague on this definition, and no definition has been developed through scientific consensus.
Many healthy foods must be processed commercially because most of us don’t have the equipment or the time to properly process foods to eat. Whole wheat flour or cooking oils are a good example of this. The only current guide for classifying processed foods is the NOVA Food Classification System. This system is problematic because some canned items, such as green beans and low-sodium soups, can be very healthy and are considered more processed than raw cookie dough. Most of us can easily see that the canned vegetables are going to provide more actual nourishment for our body than the cookie dough, cooked or uncooked.
Discover the power of nutrition by reading the labels of processed foods. Food labels have been made easier to interpret in the last few years. Labeling has added information on trans fat, added sugars, vitamin D, and potassium. It has made it easier to determine a serving size using standard measures. Chips are a good example of a quantity that manufacturers use; they then complete the definition by stating approximately how many chips there are.
Early in my career, someone asked me, “If you could only give out one piece of advice to improve someone’s health, what would it be?” My answer was and still is, eat more produce. The average American doesn’t eat enough produce daily. Eat your produce, whether it is canned, dried, or frozen. It is real food and that is the power of nutrition.