Nutrition Month kicks off this March

By Marconi Calindas
Reporter

The CNMI will “Get a Taste for Nutrition” this month, as Northern Marianas College Cooperative Research, Extension and Education Service hosts the 5th Annual CNMI Nutrition Month.

The celebration will kick off Friday, March 4, from 12pm to 2pm, with a variety of fun and educational booths at the NMC Campus Student Center, Building J.

The theme of this year’s celebration is “Get a Taste for Nutrition.” NMC-CREES Nutrition Programs like the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program and the Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program are coordinating the event.

The Department of Public Health Diabetes Prevention and Control Program will participate by providing information on diabetes.

Different exhibits will showcase healthy food choices and physical activities. The event also aims to encourage everyone to take the first step toward making healthy food choices and attending physical activities.

“Trying new foods and new physical activities can jumpstart your plans for health,” said a media release from NMC-CREES.

The organizer would also like to remind the public to balance their diet by being careful of what they choose to eat. Seeking help from friends, NMC-CREES said, is the first step toward making healthy choices in life.

Starting March 9, every Wednesday of the month will feature an interactive exhibit set up in front of Building G at NMC. The exhibits will consist of food samples, portion sizes, weight management information, and many more.

On the same day, NMC-CREES will provide taste-testing of different local food and on March 16, it will provide a sample of a 2,000-calorie and 2,500-calorie menu that can help the public count the number of calories they eat in one meal.

On March 23, the celebration will invite the public to be more active by engaging in more fun and enjoyable activities, and on March 30, the public will get a dose of learning how to balance food intake and the activity levels they achieve everyday. The program said that eating right and living an active lifestyle are the keys to success in life.

For more information, contact Patricia Coleman or Joanne Ogo at 234-5498, Ext. 1714 or visit the NMC-CREES Nutrition Programs at the Northern Marianas College Building G.

Rota and Tinian will also observe the celebration. For inquiry on activities on Rota, contact Evelyn Mendiola at 532-9470, and on Tinian, contact Fely Hofschneider at 433-2576.