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March is National Nutrition Month^®

Created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, this annual campaign focuses on educating people about the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. The organization’s vision is to have a world where all people thrive through the transformative power of food and nutrition.

To help individuals and families accomplish this, they offer these 10 tips:

1. Discover the benefits of a healthy eating style.
2. Choose foods and drinks that are good for your health.
3. Include a variety of healthful foods from all of the food groups on a regular basis.
4. Select healthier options when eating away from home.
5. Be mindful of portion sizes. Eat and drink the amount that's right for you, as MyPlate encourages us to do.
6. Keep it simple. Eating right doesn't have to be complicated.
7. Make food safety part of your everyday routine.
8. Help to reduce food waste by considering the foods you have on hand before buying more at the store.
9. Find activities that you enjoy and be physically active most days of the week.
10. Consult the nutrition experts. Registered dietitian nutritionists can provide sound, easy-to-follow personalized nutrition advice to meet your lifestyle, preferences, and health-related needs.

For more healthy eating resources, including tip sheets, quizzes, interactive tools, videos, and more, visit choosemyplate.gov.

Dealing with allergies

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S. and more than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies each year. People can experience allergic reactions to a wide variety of substances, including pollen, dust, food, insect stings, animal dander, mold, and medication.

While many people look forward to spring for warmer temperatures and renewed flower and tree life, it’s less anticipated by those who suffer from seasonal allergies, also known as hay fever. Common symptoms include sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, congestion, and a runny nose. While the pollen and other allergens in the air are inevitable, there are things you can do to help minimize the impacts.

The Mayo Clinic offers these strategies to help control seasonal allergies.

If you think your child may have allergies to pollen, or other environmental factors like dust or pet dander, check out these tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

To learn more about the prevalence of allergies in the U.S., take a look at this interesting list of statistics and facts compiled by WebMD.

How to plan for workplace emergencies and evacuations

Nobody expects an emergency or disaster – especially one that affects them, their employees, and their business. Yet the simple truth is that emergencies and disasters can strike anyone, anytime, and anywhere. You and your employees could be forced to evacuate your company when you least expect it.

This booklet is designed to help employers plan for that possibility. The best way to protect yourself, your workers, and your business is to expect the unexpected and develop a well-thoughtout emergency action plan to guide you when immediate action is necessary.