National Nutrition Month: Find Your Flavor
March is National Nutrition Month, a nutrition education campaign created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the organization for nutrition professionals.
The campaign focuses on encouraging people to make informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. And, what better time to start or continue healthy habits than in college!
Nutrition Month is also an opportunity to answer questions, clear up misinformation and share ways to enjoy delicious, healthful foods. We have all kinds of activities planned around campus this month, with the Nutrition Month theme of “Find Your Flavor.” Flavors in food are varied and complex. There are five different flavors (sweet, sour, umami, bitter, spicy), thousands of levels of intensity, and the temperature, smell, sight, and feel of foods contribute to the taste sensation of each food as well. The result is an infinite number of flavor combinations.
We encourage students to enjoy complementary and contrasting tastes, such as spicy microgreens combined with the sweetness of berries in fruit smoothies and other highlighted dishes around campus. We will feature smoothie bike events at several dining commons. As always, our smoothie bike creations avoid gluten and the top eight allergens (peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, fish, dairy, soy, eggs and wheat) so that most students can enjoy them.
The “Find Your Flavor” theme supports our commitment to health as many of the recipes we are highlighting are plant forward and feature wonderful taste profiles. The goal is to show students and guests that delicious and nutritious can be at the same table.
Lisa Carlson, MS, RDN, LDN
Campus Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
Northwestern Dining