Written by Anne Praino, Account Manager
March is a strange month. It can’t quite decide if it’s winter or spring, serving up snowstorms and 60‑degree days—sometimes within the same week. But unpredictability aside, March is perfect for something else: a fresh start. And fittingly, it also happens to be National Nutrition Month, which means there’s no better time to rethink how we fuel ourselves. Nutrition advice these days is loud and often confusing — fasting, superfoods, fiber, detox teas and protein… Oh, and did I mention protein? Yet despite all the noise, there’s one reliable point of agreement: whole, minimally processed foods support better energy and overall quality of life.
Food is your body’s primary energy source, and the quality of that fuel affects how you feel throughout the day. When you choose whole, unprocessed foods, your body receives steady, lasting energy along with the vitamins, minerals and nutrients it needs to function at its best. In contrast, highly processed foods are often loaded with preservatives, additives, sodium, trans fats and added sugars. These ingredients provide quick bursts of energy but little nutritional value, leaving you more likely to experience crashes, sluggishness and increased hunger shortly after eating. Over time, diets high in ultra‑processed foods can also contribute to inflammation in the body. Chronic inflammation has been linked to a variety of health concerns and can make you feel slower and more fatigued (Krans, 2024).
One of the most powerful ways to support long‑term health and longevity is to eat a balanced diet centered around whole, minimally processed foods. Research consistently shows that meals rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats can help protect your body as you age and contribute to a longer, healthier life. In contrast, eating too many highly processed foods – like refined grains, sugary drinks, fried foods and packaged snacks high in saturated or trans fats – can make it harder for your body to function at its best. Diets high in red and processed meats have also been linked to an increased risk of certain health conditions over time. This doesn’t mean you need to eliminate these foods completely; enjoying treats in moderation is perfectly normal. But choosing more whole foods plays an important role in healthy aging (Lubeck, 2025).
That’s why our March Toward Better Nutrition Challenge is designed to be as simple and approachable as possible. No rules to follow, nothing to track, and definitely no guilt—just one small daily step that builds momentum, much like March warming up one degree at a time. All month long, we’ll focus on a single, easy habit: swapping processed food for a whole‑food option each day. Maybe that means grabbing a piece of fruit instead of a cookie, choosing nuts instead of chips, or reaching for yogurt instead of a granola bar. Just one extra whole‑food choice a day, nothing complicated. By the end of March, you’ll have repeated this habit 30 times, and that tiny change may start to feel more natural than you expected.
Ready to Explore Further?
Please join us for NFP’s March Wise & Well Webinar, “Nutrition for Energy and Longevity,” on March 10, 2026, at noon. This session is designed to cut through the nutrition noise and focus on simple, evidence‑based ways to support your wellbeing. Register here for the webinar, and let’s march toward feeling better and living longer.
