Dear County Superintendents, District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and School Principals:

March is National Nutrition Month

The California Department of Education Nutrition Services Division encourages all schools, staff, and students to participate in National Nutrition Month^® (NNM^®) throughout the month of March. NNM^® is an annual nutrition education and information campaign created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The NNM^® focuses on the 5importance of making informed food choices, developing healthy eating habits, and participating in regular physical activity. The theme for NNM^® 2020 is Eat Right, Bite by Bite. Eat Right, Bite by Bite is fun, positive, kid-friendly, inclusive of and adaptable for all eating patterns and cultures, accessible, and easy to understand.

One of my priorities as State Superintendent of Public Instruction is student health. The intention of spending a month focusing on nutrition and physical activity is to enhance students' knowledge, exposure, skills, and positive attitudes toward health. I encourage schools to participate in the way that best fits their school, student population, and scheduled events. Schools can celebrate daily, weekly, or once during the month of March. Here are some ideas on how to get involved:

• Each day: Schools can choose to implement one simple habit or activity each school day during March. For example: Drink eight glasses of water per day, take part in a two-minute classroom dance party, invite parents to experience your healthy breakfast or lunch, go meatless for one day, eat a fresh piece of locally produced fruit as a snack, or take part in brain break activity. These activities or habits could translate into the rest of the year.

• Each week: Schools can choose one healthy eating or physical activity concept to encourage each week of the month. The same concept could be taught in different ways through the week, including messages during morning announcements, displaying posters in school hallways and classrooms, and teaching the physical activity or nutrition education concept in the classroom. For more ways to celebrate weekly, visit the Action for Healthy Kids Celebrate NNM® web page at https://www.actionforhealthykids.org/activity/celebrate-national-nutrition-month/.

• Once during the month of March: Schools can plan a trip to a farmers market, visit a local farm, show an impactful movie clip, or hold a health fair on school campus.

In support of student health, I strongly encourage all California schools to participate in the NNM^® because healthy students tend to learn better.

For more information about NNM^®, including resources and materials, visit the eatright NNM^® web page at https://www.eatright.org/food/resources/national-nutrition-month.

For questions on promoting NNM^®, please contact Desiree Rojo, Child Nutrition Consultant, Nutrition Services Division, by phone at 916-323-0213 or by email at drojo@cde.ca.gov.

Sincerely,

Tony Thurmond
State Superintendent of Public Instruction