Hockessin, Del.- National Nutrition Month® was created by the American Dietetic Association (ADA) as a nutrition education and information campaign celebrated annually in March. This year's theme is "Eat Right with Color" and Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) encourages industry members to repeat the message in their own marketing and public relations efforts.
Fruits and vegetables are the most colorful items on any plate! Spread the word that increasing the consumption of colorful fruits and vegetables, in place of high-calorie, nutrient-poor foods, is central to controlling weight and gaining better health. This year's National Nutrition Month theme of "Eat Right with Color" fits well with the new 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendation to fill half our plates with colorful fruits and vegetables at every meal and snack. All industry members should capitalize on this great theme and its associated health message by extending its promotion through spring and summer. Here are some ways to do that.
Putting together an Adopt-A-School package based on this year's National Nutrition Month theme, "Eat Right with Color," is easy! This kit could include one Fruit & Veggies – More Matters® Creative Pockets Kit for $59.99, one Half-The-Plate poster for $4.75, one pad of Kids Fruit & Veggie Tracking Sheets that feature the Color Champions for $5.99, 30 copies of The Quest for Color! Activity Books at $1 each for a total of $30, and a set of 100 colorful Fruits & Veggies-More Matters Pencils at $25.99. That outfits an entire classroom with "Eat Right with Color" themed materials for less than $127! That's a lot of community goodwill and good PR for very little money! National Nutrition Month is the perfect time to let the media know you will be donating nutrition education resources to help combat childhood obesity.
Adopt-A-School packages can be customized to fit any size classroom and any size budget. They make great gifts for local schools, head start centers, libraries, a local scout troop, church group, or other youth organizations, and can be used to fill nutrition curriculum needs. Adopt-A-School packages can be sent directly to the recipients or to the donating company for a personal presentation media opportunity. For more information on the Adopt-A-School Program, contact PBH Catalog Sales Manager Don Schuler.
Call, e-mail, or write to local schools to let them know about any educational events your organization has planned this spring and summer that feature Fruits & Veggies-More Matters, like a Take Your Kids to the Supermarket promotion or any Supermarket School Tours, and inform them about the free nutrition education resources available for use in their classrooms at www.FruitsandVeggiesMoreMatters.org and www.FoodChamps.org.
Play up the most colorful items in the store by making sure the Fruits and Veggies-More Matters logo appears on appropriate product packaging and signage. Before being approved to carry the logo, food products must submit an image of the product's nutrition label to PBH and meet the logo's nutrition guidelines. To submit a product for logo consideration, contact PBH Production Manager Toni Eaton.
If your company hasn't already added a link from its website to www.FruitsandVeggiesMoreMatters.org, add one in National Nutrition Month. March is also the perfect time to sign up to receive the Fruit & Veggie Voice bi-weekly e-newsletter, the Recipe of the Week e-mail, or the Weekly Healthy Menu Idea e-mail and to forward them on to others who might be interested in subscribing. Pass along PBH and Fruits & Veggies-More Matters press releases to local media outlets. Check out the National Nutrition Month press releases available in both English and Spanish on ADA's website and consider passing those along to local media too.
"National Nutrition Month is a great opportunity to bring consumers the compelling message that colorful fruits and vegetables are an important aspect of a healthy diet," said Elizabeth Pivonka, Ph.D., R.D., president and CEO of PBH. "By helping consumers fill half their plates with a rainbow of fruits and vegetables, you're helping them move toward better health while also strengthening the health of your bottom line. Help consumers maximize the nutritional value of their meals and snacks in March, and all season long by encouraging everyone to Eat Right with Color!"
Source: Produce For Better Health Foundation