Discover the Power of Nutrition

See Lucas County Extension promote National Nutrition Month on WTOL's Good Day program.

Each year during March, we celebrate National Nutrition Month®, which is a nutrition education and information campaign sponsored by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. It invites everyone to learn about making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits.

The theme for National Nutrition Month® 2026 is Discover the Power of Nutrition, which highlights the power nutrition has in helping individuals and communities thrive.

Our food and beverage choices have the power to help us thrive. To get the most benefit from the foods and beverages you choose throughout the week, consider the following tips:

  • Choose healthful foods from all the food groups.
  • Alternate your food choices for a variety of nutrients. Including a variety of foods within each food group can help you to get the nutrients you need. 
  • Avoid fad diets that promote unnecessary restrictions. They may advertise quick and easy solutions, but they often don’t promote healthy or sustainable habits. 

Resources can be a big obstacle when it comes to healthy eating. But there are things you can do to stay nourished on a limited budget. 

  • Make a grocery list and stick to it so you buy only what you need. Check store sales when you’re planning your meals.
  • Modify recipes to use less expensive ingredients – for example, replace some or all the meat in a soup or casserole with beans, or use frozen or canned vegetables in place of fresh ones.
  • Learn cooking skills that work with the tools you have. Know how to prepare a variety of dishes and make use of budget-friendly ingredients.
  • If you’re eligible, consider signing up for community resources, such as SNAP, WIC, and local food pantries. Visit our Food Assistance Resource Guide to learn more.

Contact your local EFNEP team to learn where free programs are delivered in your community. 

  1. Garlic Mustard Information

    Nov. 06, 2019

    On Wednesday, November 6, 2019, OSU Extension Lucas County Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Amy Stone, presented an educational update on garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata). This invasive plant can be a problem in natural areas and in landscapes. To learn more about this plant and managment options, check out the Ohio State University Extension's Garlic Mustard FactSheet

  2. Plans Underway for the 2020 Master Gardener Volunteer Pogram

    Oct. 10, 2019

    Plans are underway for the 2020 Master Gardener Volunteer Program. An application is available online on the MGV page of this website, or by emailing Amy Stone at stone.91@osu.edu or calling 419-578-6783. 

  3. Edibles in the Landscape

    Aug. 27, 2019

    Earlier this month Sarah Turner-Smith, a Bowling Green State University Dietetic Intern partnered with the OSU Extension Lucas County office to help promote local foods. This partnership is a good example of how the work of horticulture and nutrition complement one another for healthy plants and healthy eating!  The following article was posted on the state Live Smart Ohio blog about the “cherry” you might not know.  Have you heard of a Cornelian cherry dogwood tree (Cornus mas)? Not a true cherry, but its oblong shaped fruit turns red, just like the common cherries.

  4. 2019 Green Industry Summer Session - Wednesday, August 7, 2019

    Jul. 18, 2019

    It is that time of the year again. For nearly 25 years, the first Wednesday of August has been home for the Green Industry Summer Session. The event is in collaboration with Ohio State University Extension and Owens Community College (OCC) with the event being held on the campus of OCC.

  5. ODA Confirms Sudden Oak Death in Ohio

    Jul. 17, 2019

    Sudden Oak Death Confirmed in Ohio

  6. New FactSheet Updated Online - How To Hire An Arborist

    Apr. 12, 2019

    Looking to hire someone to work on your trees? Check out this updated FactSheet on How To Hire An Arborist. The FactSheet includes tips to hire a professional and resources available that might be useful including an online search by zipcode. OSU Extension FactSheet HYG1032

  7. Local Volunteer Recognized

    Apr. 12, 2019

    After retiring as a kindergarten teacher in the Toledo Public School system, Judy Hanes knew she wanted to combine her passion for working with children and her love of gardening. She enrolled in the Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program offered through The Ohio State University local county Extension office and promptly returned as a volunteer to Hawkins Elementary School where she spent so many years in the classroom. Judy created a garden outside the school doors which has turned into an outdoor classroom and garden club with Hawkins students.

     

  8. Organic Food & Farming Education and Research (OFFER)

    Apr. 03, 2019

    Interested in organics? OSU has a website called the Organic Food & Farming Education and Research or OFFER. OFFER's mission statement is to provide research and educational support for producers, processors, and marketers of organic foods with the goal of expanding the abundance, quality, and variety of certified organic foods available to consumers.

    Recent updates have made to the site and include new articles and resources. This information is available on the OFFER Organic Food & Farming site.

    Here are some highlights: 

  9. City of Toledo Accepting Applications To Provide Water Access For Community Gardens

    Mar. 07, 2019

    City of Toledo accepting applications to provide water access for Community Gardens

    The Community Garden Water Program is designed to provide access to water on urban lots where neighborhood organizations and non-profit partners help residents grow healthy fresh foods in community gardens.

    Community organizations may apply now through April 1 to be considered to receive a water tap, curb stop, meter pit, remote-read meter, backflow prevention device, and a hose connection for gardens where water is not readily available. Estimated value: $2000.

  10. Gypsy Moth Evident in Lucas County

    Jan. 09, 2019

    Last summer, many residents in Lucas County encountered the gypsy moth caterpillars in their landscapes and woodlots. Several areas within the county and across the state have qualified to be included in the Ohio Department of Agriculture's Gypsy Moth Program. Before treatment options will be made in the spring of 2019, ODA will be hosting several open houses to share treatment maps and answer questions residents may have. In Lucas County, the open house schedule will be as follows: 

     

    Monday, February 11, 2019, 6pm – 8pm

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