ADA’s name changes, but nutritional guidelines stay the same

It’s that time of year again! Spring break is approaching, and before you know it summer and shorts weather will be here (God willing!). So it only seems appropriate that March is National Nutrition Month.

National Nutrition Month (NNM) had its beginnings in 1973 as National Nutrition Week.

It kicked-off with a presidential proclamation, TV and radio public service announcements, news releases, and bumper stickers, all featuring the theme “Invest in Yourself—Buy Nutrition.”

The message was enthusiastically embraced by American Dietetic Association (ADA) members as an opportunity to promote the profession as well as to serve as a vehicle for delivering nutrition education messages to the public.

A lot has changed over the years, including the ADA’s name change last year to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND).

According to AND President Sylvia Escott-Stump (whom I have had the pleasure of hearing speak and used the textbook she wrote while I was in school) the ADA had its beginnings in 1917 after working to feed the troops healthfully during World War I.

“The name Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics promotes the strong science background and academic expertise of our members, primarily registered dietitians. Nutrition science underpins wellness, prevention and treatment,” Escott-Stump said.

Through the years, the message of Registered Dietitians around the world has remained basically the same.

Unfortunately research hasn’t always been on our side. You know what I mean.

First we say eggs are bad, then they’re not.

Same goes for coffee.

But our basic message has always been a simple one: eat in moderation, don’t cut out entire food groups, eat from the rainbow, be active, etc. Continue reading →