National Nutrition Month is held annually, every March, and is a nutrition education and information campaign created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The campaign aims to focus on the importance of making informed nutrition decisions as well as developing good nutrition and good physical activity habits.
The theme for 2016 is “Savor the Flavor of Eating Right”. This theme is meant to encourage everyone to take time to enjoy food traditions and appreciate the flavors, pleasures and social experiences that food can bring to everyone’s lives. Developing mindful eating patterns are the best way to eat a healthful and enjoyable diet. This is especially important for dysphagia patients and those who work in dysphagia care. So, we here at Essential Puree salute National Nutrition Month.
The guiding principle of our cookbook is nutritional healing. National Nutrition Month was started in 1980 in response to the public’s growing interest in nutrition. The campaign aims to inform the public of the importance of making informed food choices and developing good eating and physical activity habits.
When Diane published the first edition of Essential Puree: The A to Z Guidebook, she chose to launch the book at the Florida Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics symposium in Orlando, Florida, in July of 2015. The theme of the symposium was “Nutrition and Aging.” Not all persons with swallowing difficulties or dysphagia have the condition as the result of aging. There are approximately forty medical reasons why a person might have swallowing difficulties, but many are related to aging.
All of them need great food. All of them must maintain their interest in food. All of them must have appetite. Diane introduced the new work to great enthusiasm among dietitians as well as students. She made made a lot of friends at the symposium who continue to give her advice and encouragement.
What an amazing community! What great work you do! Thank you for your work with those who need your invaluable skills! Thanks to all of you who loved the book and took the recipe cards for your patients. We continue to post recipes as well as tricks, tips, tools and techniques for the Essential Puree community.