Senate Resolution No. 492 BY: Senator RIVERA MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 2025, as Nutrition Month in the State of New York WHEREAS, National Nutrition Month is a nutrition education and information campaign sponsored annually by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; National Nutrition Month is held annually in March, and was created to focus attention on the importance of making informed food choices, developing healthful habits with food and physical activity; and WHEREAS, The National Nutrition Month 2025 theme is "Food Connects Us"; and WHEREAS, The New York State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the state subsidiary of the National Association, participates in National Nutrition Month and represents more than 3,000 Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs), Nutrition and Dietetic Technicians Registered (NDTRs) and other food and nutrition professionals who are committed to improving the health of New Yorkers through research, education and delivery of health care services; and WHEREAS, Food is the substance by which life is sustained; the type, quality, and amount of food that individuals consume each day plays a vital role in their overall health and physical fitness; and WHEREAS, The New York State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics RDN and NDTR members actively participate in National Nutrition Month by educating New Yorkers on developing healthy eating routines and eating a variety of foods from all food groups; and WHEREAS, Registered dietitian nutritionists educate the public on cooking skills including cultural foods, traditions, and budgetary concerns, food preparation and meal planning skills; and WHEREAS, New Yorkers are educated by RDNs on how to utilize community resources such as SNAP, WIC and local Food Banks; and WHEREAS, RDNs educate New Yorkers on eating with the environment in mind, eating more plant-based foods, buying food from local farmers as possible and community gardens and growing food at home; and WHEREAS, The New York State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics encourages New Yorkers to seek advice from an RDN or seek a referral from their doctor to an RDN for their unique dietary needs and to receive medical nutrition therapy to help prevent and treat chronic disease; and WHEREAS, The New York State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and it's RDN's and NDTR members are advocates for advancing the nutritional status of all New Yorkers, all Americans and people around the world; and RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 2025, as Nutrition Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of National Nutrition Month; and be further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New York.