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National Nutrition Month to focus on eating habits by Malia Batzel and Erin Rayfield Dietetic Interns March is the month to celebrate National Nutrition Month, a campaign to focus attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. Initiated in March 1973 as a week-long event, “National Nutrition Week” became a month-long observance in 1980 in response to growing public interest in  nutrition. For 2003 ADA’s National Nutrition Month slogan, “Healthy Eating, Healthy  You,” recognizes that eating is one of life’s greatest pleasures. One key message this year is that Americans of all ages benefit from making healthful eating, physical activity, and lifestyle choices. Dietitians and other medical staff promote national nutrition month to educate others on a healthy lifestyle. In doing this Americans can better understand nutrition and how to live a healthy life.  When seeking nutrition information, it is important that you know the difference between a nutritionist and a registered dietitian. People  can call themselves a nutritionists, but a registered dietitian has successfully completed a college, and/or advanced degree in nutrition and passed a national exam.  The MUSC registered dietitians and dietetic interns will be promoting nutrition education through various activities during March. Look for the “green light” menu specials in the cafeteria. These “green-light” specials will give you the “go” on making wiser food selections. A Mediterranean Diet special will also be featured each week in the MUSC  Cafeteria.  More information will be provided about this diet that has been shown to decrease risk for heart disease, stroke, and cancer.  Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.