OHIO — March is recognized as National Nutrition Month, where the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics pushes the importance of nutition education and eating healthy.

This year, the theme for the month is "Food Connects Us," and the Ohio Department of Health has tips for Ohioans to recognize the month.

What You Need To Know

  • "Food Connects Us," is the theme for 2025's National Nutrition Month

  • The Ohio Department of Health highlighted programs across the state for those looking to access healthier food options

  • One recommendation was shopping locally for produce 

  • ODH said screen-free meals were also a healthy practice to recognize the movement

ODH said one of the simplest ways to celebrate is by sharing meals, and to do so screen-free. This means without technology to distract or serve as an addition to the mealtime.

“You could try cooking a new, healthy recipe with others, and then sit down to enjoy the meal all together,” said Mike Siemenski, Public Health Nutritionist at the Ohio Department of Health, in a news release. “Perhaps you share something that has been in your family for decades, or you try something new you heard about from a coworker. The possibilities are endless.”

The department also recommended shopping locally to source ingredients for the meals, such as at farmers markets or pop-ups.

Those with SNAP/EBT cards also have programs and organizations available to help work more nutritional food into meals. ProducePERKS, a nonprofit, works to give a dollar-to-dollar match on all produce for up to $25. People with the cards who spend $25 on fruits and vegetables can get another $25 worth of produce for free. 

The program works at participating farmers' markets and grocery stores. To check out nearby locations, click here.

Meanwhile, the Ohio Women, Infants and Children's (WIC) Farmers Market Nutrition Program also provides coupons for eligible families to purchase fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs from farmers, farmers' markets and farm stands. This program is set to begin in June. 

Through WIC, there are also opportunities for mothers to acquire nutrition education, find support and seek lactation consultants and breastfeeding peers to help support mothers across the state.

ODH also offers a Health Promotion program that helps Ohioans in need find resources and access to healthy and affordable foods, such as:

  • "Food service guidelines that increase healthier options at worksites and community settings
  • A Food Access Coordinator who plans, implements, and evaluates food access strategies throughout the state
  • Farm to School, a United States Department of Agriculture program that promotes local food purchasing and healthier options for youth in pre-K through college
  • ODH’s Produce Prescription (PRx) program, which allows health care providers to prescribe free fruits and vegetables at participating locations for patients with chronic diseases and lack of access to nutritious foods"

ODH's Early Childhood Health Program, alongside the Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, also works to set Ohio children up with healthy eating to last throughout their lives. For more information, click here.

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