March is National Nutrition Month

March is National Nutrition Month and the USDA is leading a number of programs to highlight healthier eating.

In a blog post on its website, the USDA notes that it has pioneered more than 15 programs dedicated to fighting childhood obesity and other nutritional crises. The USDA cites the Agricultural Act of 2014 (the Farm Bill) as the catalyst for its programs. Among the programs highlighted in the blog post are the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Emergency Food Assistance Program.

The USDA has also increased access to local farmer's markets where fresh, local produce is being sold. This has been accomplished using the Healthy Incentives Pilot and expanding SNAP reach, making it more common for SNAP benefits to be accepted at farmer's markets.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack wrote on his own blog that he was excited to be piloting a number of programs that promote healthier eating among school-aged children. "More than anything, collectively, we are giving our next generation the gift of health. Investing in good nutrition and healthy habits today helps our kids grow up to be the smart, strong, capable leaders of tomorrow," Vilsack writes.

If you're making efforts to fight obesity and nutritional deficiency you can join with the USDA in commemorating the month of March as National Nutrition month. Use social media (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) to participate, tagging any related posts with the #HealthierNextGen handle.

For more information on National Nutrition month visit the USDA blog.