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March 2025
Volume 11 | Issue No. 94
March marks National Nutrition Month,
an annual campaign created by the
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to
emphasize the importance of informed
food choices and sustainable eating
habits. This year's theme, "Food Connects
Us," highlights the role of food in uniting
individuals, families, and communities.
Food is more than just nourishment —
it is central to cultural identity, family
traditions, and social cohesion. But access
to healthy food is not equal for everyone.
While food has the power to bring people
together, systemic barriers — particularly for
marginalized communities — create deep
divides in nutrition access, health outcomes,
and food security.
Throughout history, food has served as
a bridge between people and cultures.
Traditional meals tell stories of heritage,
migration, and resilience. "Food has
connected people for a very long time,
particularly in cultural traditions," said
Kelsey Gardiner, Ph.D., assistant professor of
nursing and health studies at the University
of Missouri-Kansas City. "But in the U.S., that
connection seems lost compared to other
parts of the world. In many places, meals
are events that bring people together.
Here, we often see mealtimes as just
something quick and convenient." Across
the world, gatherings and celebrations
center around meals that are passed down
through generations. Whether it's breaking
bread together in religious services, sharing
tamales during Día de los Muertos, or
preparing a pot of gumbo as a family
in Louisiana, food fosters belonging and
community.
The ability to participate in these traditions
assumes access to fresh, high-quality
ingredients. That access is often shaped by
geography, income, and systemic inequities
— barriers that disproportionately impact
marginalized communities, particularly
people of color, low-income families, and
rural populations. But for many, access to
healthy food is not a given.
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"The bags of produce they receive are enough to feed
the family, not just one individual."
- Janet Rhone, Manager of Community Health
and Career outreach at University Health.
