March is recognized as National Nutrition Month, encouraging individuals to make informed food choices and develop sound eating habits. This month and year-round, the university offers programs and resources to support you.
Prepare nutritious foods at home
Making healthier meals at home doesn’t have to be hard or time consuming. In MHealthy’s free virtual cooking classes, chefs and dietitians demonstrate how to make easy and delicious nutrient dense foods in about 45 minutes. Registration for this month’s cooking classes is open March 3 – 20.
Hundreds of healthy recipes are also available in the MHealthy recipe database, searchable by ingredient, course, cooking style and more. Many of the most popular recipes also include short cooking videos that feature time-saving tips for selecting, cleaning, cutting and cooking fresh ingredients.
Choose healthier dining choices
If you’re dining at a university eatery or grabbing a snack from the vending machine, look for this five-sliced citrus circle icon. The more slices filled, the more nutrient dense the food. Nutrient dense means more fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, whole grains and fiber, and less saturated fats, added sugars and sodium. When looking for foods that are more nutritious, choose items that are in the 4 and 5 category.
Rethink your relationship with food
If you want to learn about intuitive eating and making better choices so you feel nourished, MHealthy’s Nourish Your Whole Self can help. Based on the concept of intuitive eating, this 12-week program helps you become thankful for your body, kind to yourself and eat and move meaningfully.
MHealthy also now holds monthly Nourished Mindset Intuitive Eating Webinars that explore the principles of intuitive eating and offer practical strategies and tips to help you eat more mindfully so you feel nourished. Registration for the March 31 webinar, “Moving Away from Dieting and Restrictive Eating,” is open March 10 – 30.
Pick up fresh produce on campus
Through a partnership between MHealthy and Argus Farm Stop, weekly produce boxes are available for convenient pick up on or near the Ann Arbor campus. Produce boxes are $30 per week and contain six to nine seasonal, locally-grown produce items hand-selected by Argus Farm Stop staff. Argus works with more than 50 small farms in Michigan that prioritize sustainable growing practices.
Ensure food security for all
Having access to healthy foods shouldn’t be a privilege. The Maize & Blue Cupboard food pantry provides U-M faculty, staff and students, who have an immediate need, with nutritious and nourishing food and the ability to prepare it for themselves or others.
Access online learning tools
The MHealthy Portal, powered by Asset Health, includes a number of nutrition-related programs and resources. Try out the Virtual Grocery Store, courses, goal setting and more. The portal is available to active benefits-eligible faculty and staff and their U-M health plan enrolled spouse/OQA.
Find more nutrition-related programs and resources on MHealthy's website.
