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. 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

  2. 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.

     

  3. 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: 

  4. 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.

  5. 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

  6. Breakfast on the Farm Registration Now Open - Sign Up Today!

    Jan. 09, 2019

    Mark your calendars! The 2019 Fulton County Breakfast on the Farm will be held on Saturday, June 15. The event will take place on the Hendricks & Krieger Dairy Farm just west of Fayette, Ohio. The event is FREE but you must register to attend. The registration link is: http://go.osu.edu/fultonbotf2019register

  7. Save The Date - Toledo GROWs Seed Swap - Saturday, February 23, 2019

    Jan. 07, 2019

    The OSU Extension Office will once again be part of the Toledo GROWs Seed Swap. This year the event will be held on Saturday, February 23 from 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm at Scott High School. The event has been tagged - the unofficial kick-off to the gardening season. The event is free and open to the public. Each guest will receive 5 tickets to swap for seeds. Gardeners are encouraged to bring seeds that were collected last year. All seeds need to be labelled.

  8. Lucas County Celebrates Dine In Day

    Nov. 10, 2018

    OSU Extension, Lucas County is excited to join thousands of families and numerous national organizations to celebrate "Dine In" on Family and Consumer Sciences Day, Decemeber 3rd. Anyone can take the national pledge online to commit to eating together as a family. “Dining In” can be as simple as planning to eat together as a family. Add these other easy steps for local resources as well as being counted as part of the national event (the national event is coordinated by the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences) 

  9. Bittersweet Farms #FarmerFocusFriday

    Nov. 01, 2018

     Bittersweet Farms

    Serving people with Autism

  10. Farmer Focus Friday: Weber Ranch

    Oct. 04, 2018

     “Meet your Meat”: these are the words Tony and Michelle of Weber Ranch live by and is the exact experience individuals will get when they visit the farm. Located in Wayne, Ohio, Weber Ranch has been providing an authentic alternative to the meat industry by raising grass fed beef, free range eggs, and pasture raised chicken and pork. The spacious farm offers ample space for the livestock to roam free and keep moving which creates an environment where there is no need for antibiotics or hormones.

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