Lansing, MI - In March, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program is joining with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to encourage Michiganders to focus on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits during National Nutrition Month.
“The 2024 theme, Beyond the Table, encourages healthy eating no matter where we get our nutrition,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “Whether you’re eating at home or on the road, it’s important to consider how we get, prepare, store and eat our foods.”
Beyond the Table addresses the farm-to-fork aspect of nutrition, from food production and distribution to navigating grocery stores and farmers markets, and even home food safety and storage practices. It also describes the various ways we eat, not only around a dinner table, but also on the go, in schools and restaurants, at games and events. This theme also includes sustainability, for instance, decreasing food waste from school and work to home and beyond.
During National Nutrition Month, the Michigan WIC Program encourages everyone to eat a variety of foods from the different food groups and buy local to support Michigan’s strong agriculture and farming heritage.
WIC is a federally funded program that serves low-income women, infants and children up to age five by providing nutritious food, nutrition education, breastfeeding promotion and support, and referrals to health and other services. WIC foods are selected to meet nutrient needs such as calcium, iron, folic acid, and vitamins A and C. WIC provides families with access to registered dietitians or registered dietitian nutritionists. These food and nutrition experts specialize in assessing one’s unique needs and providing personalized nutrition education and counseling to meet individual health goals.
To learn more about WIC or find an agency near you, call 211 or visit Michigan.gov/WIC.