National Nutrition Month --- March 2007

March is National Nutrition Month. A healthy diet is high in fruits and vegetables, and evidence indicates that eating more fruits and vegetables can lower a person's risk for chronic diseases such as certain cancers and cardiovascular disease (1). Healthy People 2010 objectives include increasing the proportion of persons who eat adequate amounts of fruit and vegetables every day (objectives 19-5 and 19-6) (2).

In March, the Produce for Better Health Foundation, a nonprofit consumer education organization, introduced the Fruit & Veggies --- More Matters health initiative, which provides nutritional information, cooking advice, and shopping tips to help members of the public increase consumption of fruits and vegetables. CDC, the foundation, and other partners are collaborating through research, education, and environmental and policy strategies to encourage persons in the United States to eat more fruits and vegetables. Additional information on National Nutrition Month is available at http://www.eatright.org and on the Produce for Better Health Foundation's health initiative at http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org. Information regarding 5 A Day for Better Health, a CDC-led program (including several public and private partners) to increase fruit and vegetable consumption, is available at http://www.5aday.gov.

References

1. US Department of Health and Human Services, US Department of Agriculture. Dietary guidelines for Americans, 2005. 6th ed. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office; 2005. Available at http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines.
2. US Department of Health and Human Services. Healthy people 2010 (conference ed, in 2 vols). Washington, DC: US Department of Health and Human Services; 2000. Available at http://www.healthypeople.gov.

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Date last reviewed: 3/15/2007