Healthy Bites Newsletters

April: Gear up for Gardening

Gardeners know, and research shows, that cultivating plants is beneficial for us. Gardening has been associated with improvements in attitudes toward health and nutrition, better school performance for kids, and community spirit. Every April communities, groups, and individuals celebrate National Garden Month. Gardening can be a great way to enjoy being outside, get exercise, enhance the community, and grow fruits and vegetables. Follow these helpful tips to gear up for gardening.

January: National Soup Month

What’s better on a cold winter day than a warm bowl of soup? Soup can be nutritious, easy to prepare, and inexpensive. It can be great hot or cold, prepared with minimal clean-up, only needs one pot, and the combination of ingredients is unlimited. Soup is a great dish for a variety of palettes and can be tailored to be spicy, savory or sweet. January is National Soup Month, a good time to think about how soup can fit into a healthy eating plan. Follow these helpful tips for making soup delicious and nutritious.

October: National Cranberry Month

Cranberries can add color, refreshing taste, and nutrients to foods and beverages. Available in many convenient forms, from fresh or dried to juices and sauces, cranberries are an ingredient you can use throughout the year. October is National Cranberry Month, and you can add fresh cranberries to breakfast breads, toss dried cranberries into a salad, or mix up a refreshing beverage with one of the many forms of cranberry juice. Photo by: Charles Armstrong (UMaine Extension's Cranberry Professional)

August: Kids Eat Right Month

Planning meals ahead of time can improve health while saving time and money. Getting children involved in planning and cooking meals can have benefits for the whole family, too. August is Kids Eat Right Month™, a nutrition education, information-sharing and action campaign created by the Kids Eat Right program, an initiative of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and its Foundation. Kids Eat Right Month™ spotlights healthy nutrition and active lifestyles for children and families, offering tips to help families cook healthy, eat right, and be active.

July: Picnics and Food Safety

Summer holidays provide a break from school and work, but we shouldn't break from being smart about food safety. More care is needed since foodborne illnesses increase during the summer. July is National Picnic month and summer picnics are a great way to enjoy the outdoors and each other's company. Keep your picnics with family and friends healthy and safe this summer by remembering the following tips.

June: Men's Health

Men's health issues significantly impact everyone around them and far too many men do not ever see a doctor unless there is something seriously wrong or a partner or spouse makes the appointment for them. A good time to do that is June, Men's Health Month. Anchored by a Congressional health education program, Men's Health Month is intended to increase awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. Check out the following tips and information for improving men's health.

May: Asparagus

Asparagus has been cultivated for culinary and medicinal purposes for more than 2,000 years. Versatile and healthy, it can be eaten raw or cooked, and is used fresh, frozen, or canned. Asparagus is generally available from April through June. Asparagus can be used in salads, side dishes, entrées or as an appetizer, and can be boiled, steamed, microwaved, roasted, or stir-fried. May is National Asparagus Month. Check out the following tips and information on buying, storing, and adding asparagus to a healthful eating plan.

March: National Nutrition Month

The key to achieving optimal health cannot be found in any one food, drink, pill or machine, but rather through commitment to healthy lifestyle behaviors, focused on maintainable and enjoyable eating practices and daily physical activity. As part of National Nutrition Month® 2015, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics encourages everyone to "Bite into a Healthy Lifestyle" to return to the basics of healthful eating and active living. This year's theme encourages people to adopt a healthy lifestyle focused on making informed food choices, consuming fewer calories, and getting daily exercise.

February: Smart snacking

January: Slow cookers

December: Pears are versatile, tasty, nutritious

November: Sweet Potatoes

September: Healthy, delicious rice