What National Nutrition Month Means for Your Family

Every March, National Nutrition Month® is a reminder of something that affects all of us every single day: what we eat matters.

Food is not just fuel. What you eat affects your energy, your immune system, your mood, and your long-term risk for chronic disease. For children, the stakes are even higher.

According to the CDC, nearly 62% of the calories kids consume come from ultra-processed foods. That’s not a small thing. The eating patterns children develop early in life follow them into adulthood, and right now, most kids aren’t getting what they need to thrive.

This year’s theme for National Nutrition Month, “Discover the Power of Nutrition,” is an invitation to change that, and at Legacy Community Health, it’s a conversation we think is important.

Why Nutrition Matters More Than You Think

Research from Texas Children’s Hospital shows that building healthy eating patterns in childhood, ones that honor a family’s personal preferences and cultural traditions, leads to better health outcomes well into adulthood. In Houston, that means tamales and arroz con pollo and jerk chicken can absolutely have a place at a nutritious table. This isn’t about taking away the foods that feel like home. It is about understanding what your family needs and finding ways to pair that with the food you already love.

“What we eat is not just about food,” says Sean Barrett, Nutrition & Fitness Director at Legacy Community Health. “It is about culture, learned habits, behavior, coping mechanisms, and our knowledge of how they all flow together for our health physically and emotionally.”

Barrett sees two main nutrition gaps in the families Legacy serves — access to food due, food deserts and affordability, and knowledge of how food affects us daily, both physically and emotionally.

Practical changes include serving fruits and vegetables regularly, choosing whole grains when you can, cutting back on ultra-processed snacks, and making water the go-to drink at home instead of juice or soda. None of this requires a total grocery overhaul. Small, consistent habits over time matter far more than perfection.

One cultural eating habit that Barrett believes works strongly in families’ favor? “Sitting at a table and eating meals with our phones off. This allows family time and to share food and traditions, especially when there are multigenerational families.”

What Is Changing with SNAP in Texas

If your household uses SNAP benefits, you’ve probably heard that changes are coming. Starting April 1, 2026, Texas will restrict what can be purchased with SNAP benefits under a USDA-approved waiver. Sweetened beverages with five or more grams of added sugar, diet sodas and drinks with artificial sweeteners, and candy will no longer be covered. Staple groceries, produce, dairy, meat, bread, and most everything else you’d normally buy remain fully eligible.

For most families, the day-to-day grocery experience will not be a huge change, but it is important to understand what is shifting so you’re not caught off guard at checkout.

The federal government is also expanding work requirements for most adults without children, up to age 64. People with disabilities, pregnant individuals, and caregivers of young children are exempt.

Barrett anticipates that patients will have understandable concerns when they come in. “There’s confusion about what foods the administration is not allowing SNAP beneficiaries to use,” he said.

If any of this feels stressful or confusing, that’s completely understandable. But your core benefits aren’t disappearing, and you don’t have to figure out the details alone.

“It always works out, just not the way we plan it,” Barrett said. “Be patient and learn what is still available, and learn how to incorporate it into your diet. You will be surprised at all the foods still included.”

How a Legacy Dietitian Can Help

Legacy Community Health has registered dietitians who can sit down with you and work through exactly what these updates mean for your household. If you want help building a grocery list that works on a budget, figuring out which SNAP-eligible foods give your family the most nutritional value, or learning how to feed growing kids in a way that supports their health, that’s what our dietitians are here for.

Good nutrition starts with good support. Reach out to your Legacy care team to schedule an appointment with one of our dietitians.

Sources: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics | Texas Children’s Hospital | Texas HHS SNAP | Austin County News Online