Nutrition Month History

March has been designated as Nutrition Month by dietitians of Canada since early 1980. In Ontario, Small group of nutritionists start the initiative in 1970 and chosen one week of the year as Nutrition week. They collaborated with other health professional and community groups. The campaign started to grow, and then local dietitians participated in the campaign by planning special activities in diverse places as shopping malls, work places, library and media. This broad approach contributed more success for the campaign. Therefore, the movement grows into other provinces and they started similar independent campaigns. After almost a decade, the campaign became so successful that all province associations and Canadian dietitian association joint together and announced the First National Nutrition Week. One year later, the campaign extended to one month because of the great accomplishments of the campaign.

Concurrency of Persian New Year with Nutrition Month

The first time I heard that March is Nutrition Month, it made me think, is it really a coincident that NowRuz (Persian New Year) and Nutrition Months both start in March and end by the end of the month!
The Persian New Year begins at the exact moment of the vernal equinox, when the sun crosses the equator and winter ends. The festivities continue for 13 days, start usually from March 21 and ends by the first day of April. It celebrates Fertility and renewal as it believed that the Nowruz is the earth’s birthday; therefore it is the best day to start fresh and initiate any change in your life. Nowruz is full of symbols of spring and fertility. Those who celebrate NowRuz arrange seven items called haft-sinn, which placed on the special cloth, Not Surprisingly they are mostly food! Apples represent beauty; garlic is Health ; wild olives is love, a dish of specially raised wheat or lentil sprouts represents Rebirth, a creamy pudding made from wheat germ regarded as Holy, sumac berries represent the color of sun and Victory, Vinegar stand for old age and Patience, basket of eggs symbolize Fertility, A jar of water is sometimes added to symbolize Purity and Freshness, along with bread, a traditional symbol of a Sustainer of Life. And non food items are gold fish represents Life, mirror symbolize reflection and Creation and candles represents enlightenment and Happiness.
on the other hand Nutrition Month has been designated to cherish healthy life style and start to make healthy eating changes
Now, I believe you are able to make more connection between Nutrition month and NowRuz in which both representing healthy lifestyle and a fresh start!