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Food, Nutrition and Health by the Month
National Food Days, Weeks & Months
Kayla Colgrove, MS, RD
Contributors: Kayla Colgrove, MS, RD, UNL Extension in Gage County; Alice Henneman, MS, RD, UNL Extension in Lancaster County; and Lisa Franzen Castle, MS, RD, PhD, Panhandle Research and Extension Center.
Questions or comments? Email Kayla Colgrove, MS, RD
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January
Quick Links to Days, Weeks, and Months in Calendar
Click on a link to find TIPS, RECIPES, and RESOURCES related to that day, week or month. Or simply scroll down the page.
Questions about January's Calendar? Email author, Kayla Colgrove, MS, Extension Educator
National Food Days
- News Year's Day (January 1)
- Spaghetti Day (January 4)
- Bean Day (January 6)
- Apricot Day (January 9)
- Popcorn Day (January 19)
- Granola Bar Day (January 21)
- Peanut Butter Day (January 24)
- Blueberry Pancake Day (January 28)
National Food Weeks
- National Folic Acid Awareness Week (January 6 -12, 2013)
- Pizza Week (second week of the month)
- Healthy Weight Week (third week of January)
National Food Months
- Birth Defects Prevention Month
- Canned Food Month
- Egg Month
- Family Fit Lifestyle Month
- Fiber Focus Month
- Hot Tea Month
- Oatmeal Month
- Prune Breakfast Month
- Slow-Cooking Month
- Soup month
- Wheat Bread Month
DAY | |
New Year's Day (January 1)
Additional Resources:
| |
Spaghetti Day (January 4) | |
Bean Day (January 6) | |
Apricot Day (January 9) | |
Popcorn Day (January 19) | |
Granola Bar Day (January 21)
Would you like more granola bar recipes? Check out the Granola Bar Recipe website or check out Breakfast No-Bake Granola Bars by Oregon State University Extension Service. | |
Peanut Butter Day (January 24)
For more peanut butter pointers, visit the National Peanut Board and PeanutButterLovers.com | |
Blueberry Pancake Day (January 28)
Blueberry Pancake Recipes:
TIP: Make your own blueberry pancakes by folding into the batter 1/2 to 1 cup fresh or pourable frozen blueberries per each cup of flour. For added fruit flavor, top with fruit sauce of berry jam instead of syrup and butter. | |
WEEK | |
National Folic Acid Awareness Week (January 6 – 12, 2013)
Additional Resources:
| |
Pizza Week (second week of the month)
Learn how to make a healthier homemade pizza in this blog posting by Extension Educator, Kayla Colgrove. Enjoy these pizza recipes from the Youth / 4-H section of our website. | |
Healthy Weight Week (third week of January) | |
MONTH | |
Birth Defects Prevention Month | |
Canned Food Month
Check out these canned food resources:
| |
Egg Month | |
Family Fit Lifestyle Month
Additional Resources:
| |
Fiber Focus Month
Additional Resources:
| |
Hot Tea Month
| |
Oatmeal Month | |
Prune Breakfast Month
Photo: Sylvain Gamel at http://flic.kr/p/6EJgtK / Creative Commons license: Attribution, Noncommercial | |
Slow-Cooking Month | |
Soup Month | |
Wheat Bread Month |
Happy New Year! Many people make New Year's resolutions pertaining to their health such as losing weight or getting fit. Check out 
Tips for Cooking Pasta
Bean-related teaching materials
People following a gluten-free diet can blissfully munch on our 
Eating folic acid can help prevent birth defects of the brain and spine. Women of childbearing age should take a multivitamin with folic acid every day. To learn more about this awareness week, check out 
Pizza can provide all the food groups ... and it tastes so good!
Avoid Portion Distortion
Time to raise awareness of birth defects and promote healthy pregnancies through National Birth Defects Prevention Month. Learn more about this prevention month from the 
Cracking the Date Code on Egg Cartons
Family Fit Lifestyle Month is the best time to get the whole family to create healthy lifestyle habits. For this month, check out 
Fiber has many health benefits, so focus on adding fiber to your diet during January. Make sure to follow these tips when adding more fiber to your diet:
Hot Tea Month was spearheaded by the Tea Association of the USA. Drinking may tea may offer some protection against such diseases as cancer and heart disease and help give your immune system a boost and protect against the flu.
Dried plums or prunes are high in fiber and phytochemicals and aren't just for breakfast anymore. They're a great kitchen staple as they store well and may be eaten out of hand or used in recipes. (Refrigerate the package after opening.)
Check these food safety tips for serving soup safely!
Meet the Grain Group
Healthy Bites Newsletter
Printer-friendly PDF handoutsBy Lisa Franzen Castle, MS, RD, PhD Email author
FREE Handwashing Posters & Other Materials
Help promote handwashing at your work or community site with these FREE materials! Includes a poster in English and Spanish, activity sheets for kids, table tents, health fair game, more ... Download here...
Features
Currently featuring ...
(Updated June 5, 2013)
Newsletters:
- Healthy Bites Newsletter
June: Dairy Month - Cook It Quick Newsletter
June Issue - Food Reflections Newsletter
June Issue: Nuts for Nutrition - Walk Nebraska Newsletter
June 2013: Choose Healthy Fat
Blogs:
- Making HealthierRDecisions
- Nutrition Know How Blog
(A new tip posted weekly) - Discover Foods Blog
(a new tip posted weekly) - Cook It Quick Blog
(published 1 -2 times/month) - A Runner Eats
(Written by a dietitian/former Univ. of Nebraska All-American runner)
Other:
- Food, Nutrition & Health by the Month Calendar
(June Issue)
- Food Fun for Young Kids (Pinterest)
- Easy (& Healthy!) Everyday Recipes (Pinterest)
- "Choose MyPlate" Update (video)
- 4-Day Throw Away (food safety app)
- Choose MYPlate: Selected Consumer Messages (free PowerPoint and online slide show)
- Test Your Salt Savvy (quiz)
View our funny AND educational collection of food safety videos from YouTube.