March Madness: Be a Participant, Not Just a Spectator

March Madness: Be a Participant, Not Just a Spectator March Madness: Be a Participant, Not Just a Spectator
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity

This coming weekend marks the beginning of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Men’s and Women’s Basketball championship series. For 3 weeks, more than 60 women’s and men’s Division I teams will compete for a chance to play in the Final Four, the college basketball championship series. During the 3-week series, called March Madness or the Big Dance, friends and family will gather together to eat and watch their favorite teams take the court.

Do you have game?

Before you sit down to watch the games, grab some friends and play some hoops or ultimate frisbee. For more ideas about how much physical activity you need and fun ways to incorporate it into your day, check out CDC’s Physical Activity for Everyone.

Did you know that March is also National Nutrition Month?

Are you thinking about what you want to eat and serve your friends during the games?

The following web sites provide information about how you can plan and enjoy a healthy meal:

The CDC’s 5 A Day recipe database
American Heart Association’s Delicious Decisions*
National Institutes of Health’s Interactive Menu Planner*
Find out what the fruit and vegetable of the month are for March and ways to prepare them.

For ideas about how to add physical activity to your day and recommendations for a healthy diet pattern, visit the CDC’s Physical Activityand Nutrition Web sites