6

Events Through the Year

Holding events throughout the year will help reinforce healthy behaviors. Many events can be held at any time of year; 

consider incorporating the following national observances into your planning:

Time of Year National Observances Suggested Team Nutrition Events

August •	

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Back to school

Family Meals Month

Farmers Market Week 

(first full week in August)

President’s Challenge Physical 

Fitness Awards Program begins

Elementary and Middle School 

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•	

From East to West, Eat What’s Best: 

A Pen Pal Program, page 38

Starting your pen pal program at the beginning of 

the school year lets students participate all year long.

Shop Smart: A Mock Grocery Store, page 62

For Farmers Market Week, afterschool clubs 

can visit a local outdoor market and try 

regional products.

September •	

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National Hispanic Heritage Month

Ethnic Foods Month

National Fruits & Veggies – 

More Matters Month

National Food Safety 

Education Month

National Food Service 

Employees Day (September 25)

Middle School 

•	 Healthy Food Heritages: Investigating Nutrition 

Across Cultures, page 44

National Hispanic Heritage Month and Ethnic Foods 

Month are great times to learn more about healthy 

food choices from other cultures.

Elementary and Middle School 

•	 Can’t Beat How I Eat: A Fruit and Vegetable 

Challenge, page 17

During National Fruits & Veggies – More Matters 

Month, have students compete to see who can 

make the most healthy food choices.

October •	

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•	

National School Lunch Week 

(generally the second full week 

in October)

Walk to School Day (generally 

the first Wednesday in October)

Fall harvest

Halloween

Children’s Health Month

Eat Better, Eat Together Month

National Farm to School Month

Middle School

•	 You Control the School Menu: Vote for Your Favorite, 

page 74

Try holding this event during National School 

Lunch Week.

Elementary and Middle School 

•	 Start Your Day on the Right Foot: Walk to Breakfast, 

page 65

The changing seasons and cooler temperatures 

make a walk to breakfast more comfortable and fun 

– and Walk to School Day is a perfect time to kick off 

your walking club.
7

Events Through the Year (cont’d)

Time of Year National Observances Suggested Team Nutrition Events

November •	

•	

•	

•	

Thanksgiving

Elections

Native American Heritage Month

National Child’s Day (November 20)

Middle School

•	 Food Crusade: A Food Video Challenge, page 27

During election season, give students the chance to 

cast a vote for their favorite fruits and vegetables.

Elementary and Middle School

•	 Power Up With Local Athletes: Try a Sport Day, 

page 59

Football, soccer, and basketball season all overlap in 

November, making it a great time for students to get 

active with sports.

December •	 Holiday season – 

Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa

Elementary and Middle School 

•	

•	

MyPlate Food Drive: Lending a Healthy Hand, 

page 53

The holiday season is a natural fit for a food drive 

built around healthy food choices.

Food Explorer: A Scavenger Hunt To Power Up, 

page 30

If cooler weather keeps you indoors, get students 

moving with a scavenger hunt around the school.

January •	

•	

•	

New Year’s Day

Healthy Weight Week 

(third full week in January)

Family Fit Lifestyle Month

Elementary and Middle School 

•	 Fun, Food, and Fitness: A Family Party, page 41

Bring families together for Family Fit Lifestyle Month 

and Healthy Weight Week for a night of nutritious 

snacks and physical activity.

February •	

•	

•	

Valentine’s Day

American Heart Month

National Snack Month

Elementary School 

•	 Color Days: A Celebration of Fruits and Vegetables, 

page 24

Beat the winter blues with a day celebrating colorful 

fruits and vegetables.

Elementary and Middle School 

•	 The Chef in You: A Cooking Competition, page 20

Consider theming your cooking competition to match 

the season. Challenge students to create healthy 

snacks or sweet alternatives to Valentine’s Day candy.
8

Events Through the Year (cont’d)

Time of Year National Observances Suggested Team Nutrition Events

March •	

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•	

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•	

National Reading Month

Read Across America Day 

(on the school day closest to March 2)

Dr. Seuss Week (first week in March)

National Nutrition Month

St. Patrick’s Day

National School Breakfast Week 

(first full week in March)

National Agriculture Day (typically 

the Tuesday of Agriculture Week, 

which occurs during varying weeks 

in March) 

Elementary School

•	 Food Smarts: Reading About Eating and Moving, 

page 33

Students can curl up with a good book about healthy 

food choices during National Reading Month.

Elementary and Middle School

•	 Launch Your Day With Breakfast: Fuel Up 

To Help Your Day Take Off, page 47

During National School Breakfast Week, invite 

students and their families to enjoy a healthy 

school breakfast together.

April •	

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•	

National Garden Month

Earth Day (April 22)

Take Your Daughters and Sons to 

Work Day (fourth Thursday of April)

School Library Month/

National Library Week 

Global Child Nutrition Month

National Park Week (generally the 

last full week in April)

National Volunteer Week (generally 

the third full week in April)

Elementary and Middle School

•	

•	

Plant It, Grow It, Eat It!: Healthy Habits Take Root, 

page 56

During National Garden Month, plant your harvest 

and watch it begin to grow.

The Whole World of Whole Grains: Celebrating 

Cultures and Food, page 71

Global Child Nutrition Month can serve as a perfect 

backdrop for learning about the different whole 

grains children eat around the world.

May •	

•	

•	

•	

Mother’s Day

National Physical Fitness 

and Sports Month (May 1-7)

National Teacher Day (Tuesday of 

the first full week of May)

School Nutrition Employee 

Appreciation Week (generally the 

first full week in May)

Elementary School 

•	 Try-Day Fridays: It’s Fun To Find New Favorite 

Foods, page 68

During School Nutrition Employee Appreciation Week, 

celebrate school nutrition directors, managers, and 

staff with an event where everyone tries new foods.

Elementary and Middle School 

•	 Fun, Food, and Fitness: A Family Party, page 41

Get parents involved during National Physical 

Fitness and Sports Month by inviting both students 

and their families to take part in fun games, dances, 

and exercises promoting physical activity. 
9

Events Through the Year (cont’d)

Time of Year National Observances Suggested Team Nutrition Events

June •	

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•	

•	

•	

National Dairy Month 

National Fresh Fruit and 

Vegetable Month

Student Safety Month

International Children’s Day 

(June 1)

Father’s Day

Elementary and Middle School 

•	 Be a Food Champion: Stand Up for Your Favorites, 

page 14

For National Dairy Month and National Fresh Fruit 

and Vegetable Month, transform your students into 

food champions and promote the benefits of their 

favorite healthy food choices.

July •	

•	

•	

•	

•	

National Parents’ Day 

(fourth Sunday of July)

National Berry Month 

National Picnic Month 

Independence Day 

National Parks and Recreation Month

Elementary and Middle School 

•	 MyPlate Day: Fun With All Five Food Groups,

page 50

Enjoy the warm weather with a MyPlate Day that 

gets students active outside.

[Photo] Students paint a mural about physical activity and good nutrition 

at Carson Elementary School in Cincinnati, OH.