Newswise — CHICAGO – August is Kids Eat Right MonthTM, when the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and its Foundation highlight the role everyone plays in ensuring a healthy future for children.

An initiative of the Foundation’s Kids Eat Right program, Kids Eat Right Month focuses on the importance of healthful eating and active lifestyles for children and families, featuring expert advice from registered dietitian nutritionists to help families achieve the Kids Eat Right core principles: “shop smart, cook healthy and eat right.”

Kids Eat Right (www.KidsEatRight.org) offers resources including articles, infographics, videos and recipes to encourage nutritious, healthful eating among children and families. Kids Eat Right supports efforts of the White House to end the childhood obesity epidemic within a generation. “We have reached a critical moment in addressing the health and nutritional needs of our nation’s children.” said registered dietitian nutritionist and Academy President Dr. Evelyn F. Crayton. “Kids Eat Right Month draws attention to positive steps we all can take, from families and communities, to health care professionals and policy makers, to make sure we are doing everything we can to improve children’s health.”

Created in 2014, Kids Eat Right Month mobilizes registered dietitian nutritionists in a grassroots movement, sharing healthful eating messages with schools, communities and faith groups.

“August is back-to-school time and the perfect opportunity to reinforce the importance of proper nutrition and physical activity that will help ensure children are healthy, succeed in school and grow into healthy adults,” said registered dietitian nutritionist and Academy Foundation Chair Jean Ragalie-Carr. “By emphasizing the core Kids Eat Right principles, we can provide families with practical information they can use in their everyday lives.”

To help celebrate Kids Eat Right Month, the Academy has developed educational materials appropriate for every audience. These free materials will be available in July at www.KidsEatRight.org.

“In August and year-round, the Academy and our Foundation are committed to helping all kids eat right. Because raising the next generation of healthy kids starts now,” said Crayton.

The Kids Eat Right Month media kit is available now and includes the 2015 Kids Eat Right Month graphic, infographics, syndicated content, social media resources and much more. To schedule an interview or segment with a children’s nutrition expert, contact the Academy’s media relations department at 312/899-4769 or [email protected]. ###

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. The Academy is committed to improving the nation’s health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education and advocacy. Visit the Academy at www.eatright.org

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation is a 501(c)3 charity devoted exclusively to nutrition and dietetics. It funds scholarships and awards, public awareness and research projects and Academy strategic initiatives, and is the largest provider of scholarships and awards in the field of dietetics. Visit the Academy Foundation at www.eatright.org/foundation.