celebrate a world of flavors during National Nutrition Month!

March is National Nutrition Month® and 2022 has an exciting theme, “Celebrate a World of Flavors”. Nutrition professionals are working to expand our idea of what a balanced plate can look like.

MyPlate is a visual representation of how our plates should look for maximum nutrition. We aim for three food groups at every meal and two food groups included with every snack to help us achieve a well-rounded diet throughout the day. Here are some MyPlate-friendly examples of foods from different cultures:

• Try making this brown rice chicken congee, a Chinese porridge, and add veggies like shiitake mushrooms or asparagus.
• Borscht is a traditional beet soup of both Ukraine and Russia. The soup is a base of beets and yogurt or sour cream, with added garnishes like potatoes, diced radishes, hard boiled eggs, cucumbers, and dill. The soup can be served hot or cold, so it’s perfect for any season.
• Try Menemen (Turkish-Style scrambled eggs) made with tomatoes, onions, and chilies served with toasted bread for a twist on your usual breakfast.
• A classic Greek salad combines fresh vegetables with healthy fats from olives and feta for satisfying, salty snack or side dish.
• Brazilian Pork and Bean Stew (Feijoada Brasileira) is Brazil’s national dish. It is a stew traditionally served with orange wedges, rice, collard greens, and toasted manioc (cassava) flour for crunch!

This March and beyond, try a food from a culture different than your own. Make a new dish yourself or find a local restaurant with a different cuisine. Practice making MyPlate-friendly choices while learning about other people and cultures through something that connects us all: food!

Check out the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics for more about National Nutrition Month.