Each one of the 12 months is recognized nationally as having a specific focus. I picked a few I thought were particularly interesting and researched them.

January is National Soup Month. Soup was originally a fast- food. There are many different types of soups: cream based, broth based and soups that contain beans and vegetables, such as chili and gazpacho.

Campbell Soup Company is the most well known soup company. Campbell was founded in 1869. Dr. John T. Dorrance, nephew of the general manager of the company, invented condensed soup in 1897.

My favorite soup is broccoli and cheese and my mom makes the best that I have ever eaten.

February is National Sweet Potato Month.

The sweet potato is native to Central and South America.

According to http://www.ncsweetpotatoes.com, North Carolina is the leading producer of sweet potatoes in the United States. Sweet potatoes contain many healthy nutrients, including Vitamin E. In fact, two- thirds of a cup of sweet potatoes can provide people with 100 percent of the U.S Recommended Daily Allowance of this vitamin.

I have always liked sweet potatoes and they are my mom’s favorite vegetable. My favorite way to eat sweet potatoes is to bake them and then add a little butter and cinnamon.

March is Women’s History Month. Women have made many valuable contributions to history. Susan B. Anthony, born in 1820, formed the National Woman’s Suffrage Association and fought for women’s rights. She is also the first woman to have her picture on an American coin, the silver dollar.

Florence Nightingale, who was born in 1820, was a nurse who worked on the battlefield during the Crimean War. She is considered the founder of modern nursing.

Emily Dickinson, born in 1830, was a famous American poet.

Other influential women include Marie Curie, a famous scientist who won two Nobel Prizes and discovered radium and polonium; Amelia Earhart, the first American woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean alone, and Madeline Albright, the first woman to be appointed the U. S. Secretary of State.

July is National Baked Beans Month. Many people believe that Boston was the birthplace for baked beans, but the National Restaurant Association says that the Narragansett, Penobscot and Iroquois Indians created the first baked bean recipes.

I like baked beans because my mama has a special recipe for them, which she calls Baker Beans. She adds all sorts of good ingredients to the beans like green peppers, onions and sausage. Her beans are delicious and I always look forward to them.

September is National Sight Saving Month. This is important to me because I have worn glasses ever since I was eight- years- old and I understand how it is to not be able to see very well. I appreciate my glasses and contact lenses which enable me to see and I encourage everyone to take care of their eyes and visit their eye doctor regularly.

Eye Care America, a national non- profit organization that provides eye exams and eye health information to medically impoverished communities, offers several tips for healthy eyes.

First of all, Vitamin A is great for your eyes and will help you maintain healthy vision. Foods rich in vitamin A include carrots, yams and dark leafy greens.

Secondly, be aware of your family’s history with eye disease. Also, protect your eyes from the sun because over exposure to the sun’s rays can cause cataracts.

The organization also recommends that people over the age of 65 have their eyes examined annually.

October is National Cookie Month. My favorite kind of cookie is chocolate chip. I believe there is nothing better than a chocolate chip cookie hot from the oven with a cold glass of milk.

Lastly, December is Read a New Book Month.

I love to read and I encourage everyone to try to read, even if it is not their favorite thing to do.

Reading opens up so many doors for people. It expands vocabularies and lets people have adventures without even leaving the comfort of their homes. Reading is also a great way to learn new facts.