Eat Smart: National Nutrition Month

March 16, 2026

March is National Nutrition Month and the NYCDCC Benefit Funds is sharing helpful resources from the American Heart Association (“AHA”). Nutrition plays a key role in maintaining a healthy heart, as well as a healthy overall life. While personal needs and lifestyles vary, everyone can maintain a diet that’s not only nutritious but delicious and affordable. Feel free to share this information with your fellow members, family, friends, and community.

Note: The following information has been approved by the AHA, but as always, you should consult a doctor for medical advice when making dietary changes.

Healthy Dietary Patterns

The AHA recommends eating an overall healthy dietary plan that emphasizes the following:

– A wide variety of fruits and vegetables

– Whole grains and products made up mostly of whole grains

– Healthy sources of protein (Mostly plants such as legumes, and nuts; fish and seafood; low-fat or fat-free dairy; and, if you eat meat and poultry, ensure it is lean and unprocessed.)

– Liquid non-tropical vegetable oils such as canola, corn, olive, soybean and sunflower oils.

– Minimally processed foods

– Minimized intake of added sugars

– Foods prepared with little or no salt

– Limited or preferably no alcohol intake

Calories and Physical Activity

In addition to choosing nutritious foods, the AHA emphasizes the importance of knowing how many calories you eat and drink. The number of calories you need depend on several factors, including age and physical activity.

The AHA recommends you:

– Know how many calories you should eat and drink to maintain your weight. Nutrition and calorie information on food labels is typically based on a 2,000-calorie-per-day diet.

– Each week, aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity.

Additional Resources

Heart.org, the AHA website, offers a tremendous amount of resources for you and your family. Below are a few pages we encourage you to explore

5 Heart-Healthy Eating Habits: https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/nutrition-basics/5-heart-healthy-eating-habits

American Heart Association Recommendations for Physical Activity in Adults and Kids: https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/fitness/fitness-basics/aha-recs-for-physical-activity-in-adults

Making the Most of the Nutrition Facts Label: https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/nutrition-basics/making-the-most-of-the-nutrition-facts-label

Recipes and Nutrition Inspiration: https://recipes.heart.org/en/