It’s National Fruits & Veggies Month! And this year it is being commemorated under the theme, Every Time You Eat, Have A Plant.
However, “the US is in the midst of a vegetable and fruit consumption crisis. 90% of us aren’t eating the recommended daily servings of vegetables, and 80% aren’t eating the recommended daily servings of fruits. To make matters worse, these percentages have actually declined over the past 30 years.” This troubling trend is the stark reality which Mary Ann Ellsworth, past president of the Association of State Public Health Nutritionists, is fighting to reverse.
“Our motto is improving nutrition, decreasing disease,” said Mary Ann who has a front row seat in witnessing the gravity of the situation. Hence, during her tenure as president of the ASPHN, she spearheaded an urgent rallying cry calling members, partners, and stakeholders to action. In our commitment to influence change towards a healthier lifestyle, this month we join forces with Mary Ann and the ASPHN to amplify this message.
“Although still in its infancy, we hope the ASPHN’s Checklist for Change may become a tool to build momentum to address healthier eating,” she said. The ASPHN’s checklist is a list of concrete strategies that include novel and actionable tactics that we can all use to effect change. A working member of the NJAND, Mary Ann is also actively involved in national partnerships that address policy change and collaboration between health, nutrition, and the produce industry.
As the Outreach Coordinator of the NJ Department of Health, WIC Program, Mary Ann said her office is currently focused on innovation and modernization to make WIC participation easier for families. She also utilizes social media platforms and website updates to help spread the word about the changes with consumers and providers. “Our office also contributes to NJWIConline.org, where WIC participants may complete their nutrition education requirements.”
For Mary Ann, healthy eating has always been a lifestyle factor. “Healthy eating always seemed like a basic life skill, I wanted to learn more about. Early influences may have been a factor. One of my favorite things to do as a child was to help my mom cook family meals. Helping to wash, peel, and cut veggies became my “specialty” and my first-grade teacher was a dietitian.”
A native of Scranton, PA, and a graduate of Marywood University where she earned both her Bachelors in dietetics and Masters in food and nutrition, Mary Ann has called New Jersey home for the last 40 years and considers Cape May a favorite beach destination.
