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Celebrate National School Breakfast Week (NSBW) – March 3-7
Mark your calendars now! National School Breakfast Week (NSBW) is March 3 - 7, 2025. This week highlights the importance of a healthy start to the day in fueling a child’s academic success.
Did you know? Children who eat breakfast are more likely to:
- Reach higher levels of achievement in reading and math.
- Score higher on standardized tests.
- Have better concentration and memory.
- Be more alert and maintain a healthy weight.
In Michigan: The Michigan School Meals Program for the 2024-2025 school year ensures free breakfast and lunch for all public-school students, grades Pre-K through 12.
- Learn more about NSBW by visiting the website at: National School Breakfast Week - School Nutrition Association
- Learn more about the Michigan School Meals Program by visiting the website at: Michigan School Meals Program
March is National Nutrition Month®
Each March, the Physical Activity and Nutrition (PAN) Unit joins the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to celebrate National Nutrition Month.®
Every year, the celebration centers around a theme that highlights the importance of developing healthful eating habits and making informed food choices. This year, the theme is “Food Connects Us.” Whether through a local farmers’ market, grocery store, or your own vegetable garden, food connects us to our cultures, our families, our communities, and each other.
During National Nutrition Month,® the PAN Unit encourages everyone to enjoy healthy, balanced meals. Sharing a meal is an opportunity to build lifelong healthy habits for yourself, with your children, and for those who are breastfeeding, ensure babies receive optimal nutrition.
Celebrate National Nutrition Month® this March by deepening your connection with food and making informed, healthful choices. Here are a few ways to get started:
- Explore Nutrition Assistance Programs: Learn more about the Michigan Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program and the valuable resources they offer in your community.
- Shop Local: Support local farmers and enjoy fresh, seasonal produce by visiting your local farmers’ market.
Check out National Nutrition Month Resources from the Michigan Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics:
- Grow Your Own Food: Start a vegetable garden, get inspired with this container garden calendar from the Michigan Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
- Snack Smarter: Try these healthy snack ideas from Michigan Registered Dietitians
Sources:
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. (n.d.). About National Nutrition Month. Retrieved February 12, 2025, from https://www.eatright.org/about-national-nutrition-month
- Michigan Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. (2025). National Nutrition Month. https://eatrightmich.org/national-nutrition-month/
- Michigan Farmers Market Association. (n.d.). Find a farmers market. Retrieved February 12, 2025, from https://mifma.org/find-a-farmers-market/
What You Should Know About Stroke and High Blood Pressure
A stroke is a medical emergency that can happen to anyone, at any age and at any time. Know the facts! You can take steps to reduce the risk of having a stroke by taking some simple steps.
- Avoid smoking, vaping, and secondhand smoke.
- Get adequate sleep.
- Eat healthy foods that are low in saturated and trans fats.
- Limit your alcohol consumption.
- Get at least 150 minutes of active movement in every week. This will help you to keep a healthy weight and, as a bonus, can help you decrease your stress and help you sleep better too! Check out www.livetothebeat.org
These lifestyle recommendations also work against high blood pressure.
Do you know your blood pressure numbers? High blood pressure is a leading cause of strokes, as well as kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, dementias, and other life-altering conditions.
Regular medical checkups are important to detect and manage blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, take your medications as directed, measure your blood pressure often, and talk to your doctor about additional things you can do to minimize your risk of high blood pressure and stroke.
Do You Know the Signs of a Stroke?
Stroke was the 4th leading cause of death in Michigan in 2022. A person having a stroke needs to get to the hospital as soon as possible, and quick recognition can save lives!
YOU can make a difference. Use the memory tool B.E. F.A.S.T. to recognize the signs of a stroke:
- Balance: Sudden loss of Balance;
- Eyes: Loss of vision in one or both eyes;
- Face: Face looks uneven;
- Arms: Arm or leg is weak and/or hanging down;
- Speech: Speech is slurred or person is having trouble speaking or seems confused; and
- Time: If you see any of these symptoms, it's time to act F.A.S.T.!
Call 911 and get the person to the hospital as soon as possible to help ensure the best possible chance of recovery.
Pregnant? Learn About Preeclampsia
Do you know that pregnancy and the six weeks after giving birth is a time when birthing people are at higher risk of a life-threatening high blood pressure condition called preeclampsia?
From 2015 to 2019, complications related to high blood pressure caused more pregnant Michigan individuals to die than any other reason.
Be sure to keep your prenatal and post-delivery appointments, and watch your blood pressure and blood sugar. Make sure to know the warning signs for preeclampsia, such as increased swelling, headache, and shortness of breath. If you experience any of these, talk to your doctor without delay!
For more information, visit the Preeclampsia Foundation at www.preeclampsia.org.
Did You Know Blood Pressure Can Affect Your Brain Health?
It is normal for your brain to change as you get older. Having healthy blood pressure can lower your risk for memory loss and confusion. Follow your healthcare provider's guidance to manage your blood pressure.
- Monitor your blood pressure.
- Do not use tobacco products.
- Practice good sleep habits.
- Be physically active.
- Eat healthy meals.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Limit alcoholic beverages.
- Manage stress.
- Take medications as prescribed.
For more information about blood pressure, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention High Blood Pressure website.
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