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Food Allergy Awareness Week: Spread the Word

Posted on May 14, 2013 by in Health News, New Products

Food Allergy Awareness Week is being observed May 12-18, 2013. We thought “What better time to debut two BRAND NEW food allergy resources?” As these issues increase, it’s important to educate staff, students, parents, and others on the importance of being aware of food allergies and sensitivities. Take a look at the resources below to help you do just that.

celiacGluten-Free and Celiac Disease Handout

Get in the know about gluten-free foods and wheat allergies. Discover who needs to follow a gluten-free diet with the Gluten-Free and Celiac Disease Handout. This two-sided tear-off handout features basic, need-to-know information about gluten, celiac disease, and gluten sensitivity. The front side of the handout explains what gluten is, identifies foods that contain gluten, and who needs to follow a gluten-free diet. The backside of the handout explains what is celiac disease and how it is diagnosed, what is gluten sensitivity, and includes a message to always ready ingredient labels on foods, medications, and cosmetics for hidden sources of gluten.

  • 8 1/2″ x 11″, 50 sheets, 2-sided
  • © 2013 Learning ZoneXpress
  • Item # 470015
  • Price: $9.95

peanutLactose and Peanut Allergy Handout

Focus on the challenges and considerations of two common food sensitivities and allergies with the Lactose and Peanut Allergy Handout. This two-sided tear-off handout features brief overviews of lactose intolerance and peanut allergy. The front side of the handout identifies sources of lactose, who is most likely to be lactose intolerant, and alternative sources of calcium. The backside of the handout explains the difference between a peanut allergy and a tree nut allergy, what can be done to prevent allergic reactions, the symptoms of an allergic reaction, and a definition of what is anaphylaxis.

  • 8 1/2″ x 11″, 50 sheets, 2-sided
  • © 2013 Learning ZoneXpress
  • Item # 470100
  • Price: $9.95

Grants for Good Dental care

Posted on May 10, 2013 by in Health News

dentalWe thought folks might be interested in the following from GrantStation…

Grants Promote Oral Health Programs for Babies and Toddlers
ADA Foundation: Samuel D. Harris Fund for Children’s Dental Health
The American Dental Association (ADA) Foundation provides grants for sustainable programs in dental research, education, access to care, and also provides assistance for dentists and their families in need. The Foundation’s Samuel D. Harris Fund for Children’s Dental Health provides grants of up to $5,000 to nonprofit organizations whose oral health promotion initiatives are designed to improve and maintain children’s oral health through primary prevention and education. For 2013, grant funding will be considered for community-based nonprofit organizations that offer parent/caregiver education programs to prevent early childhood caries in babies and toddlers by circumventing primary oral bacterial infection before it can take hold in the baby’s mouth. Approximately 17 grants will be provided. Applications must be received by June 10, 2013. Visit the ADA Foundation’s website to review the application information.

Where’s the nutrition in kids’ meals at restaurants?

Posted on April 12, 2013 by in Health News

One way to keep kids healthy is to cook meals at home from scratch. That way you know the ingredients, you know the cooking preparations and on a good day you can get the kids involved. But every good chef wants a day off. Unfortunately a recent indicates that kids’ meals at most larger chains are not close to the same quality nutrition as we see at home.

The New York Times reports…

A new study of the nutritional quality of meals for children on the menus of the nation’s largest chain restaurants has found that 91 percent do not even meet the standards set by the National Restaurant Association’s Kids LiveWell program.

An even larger percentage — 97 percent of restaurant children’s meals — failed to meet stricter standards developed by a panel of nutrition and health experts for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the nonprofit research and advocacy group that commissioned the study.

Subway did get a nice nod…

The center singled out Subway as the only restaurant that did not offer sugared drinks with its children’s meals, instead suggesting water or low-fat milk. All eight of the sandwich chain’s Fresh Fit for Kids meal combinations met the nutritional criteria.

The article also mentions a tool that we’ve promoted before too – Healthy Dining Finder. It’s easy to use and will help you connect to restaurants in your area that have healthy items on their menus. That’s part of the key too. The entire menu may not be healthy but Healthy Dining Finder will highlight the choices that are best for your family.

Is nutrition an economic issue?

Posted on April 10, 2013 by in Health News, USDA MyPlate

Yes! A recent survey indicates that kids of better educated parents have healthier diets. The Philly Inquirer reports…

Researchers looked at nearly 15,000 children, aged 2 to 9, in eight European countries — Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain and Sweden — to examine the connection between parents’ education levels and their children’s nutrition.

The study revealed that children of parents with low and medium levels of education ate fewer fruits and vegetables and more processed foods and sweet drinks, which are high in fats and sugars. Parents with higher levels of education were more likely to feed their children foods with more nutritional value, including vegetables, fruit, pasta, rice and whole-grain bread.

The study was published in the March issue of the journal Public Health Nutrition.

MyPlate Healthy Eating Poster from Learning ZoneXpressIt’s not a big surprise but it reinforces the need to target messages to parents with limited education. How can we help narrow that gap? Certainly the MyPlate icon has been helpful. It’s a simple, straightforward icon that demonstrates what foods should be served – starting with making half your plate fruits and vegetables.

Learning ZoneXpress has a range products that help to support the effort to promote better nutrition to all parents. There are handouts for teachers, brochures for healthcare providers and MyPlate posters to reach parents wherever they go.

MyPlate on Parade

Posted on April 5, 2013 by in Health News

We love this idea we heard about on the Rochester (NY) Homepage. The local Extension Service folks put a healthy spin on spring break by hosting a fair called MyPlate on Parade…

MyPlate Healthy Eating Poster from Learning ZoneXpress“To get people to develop a healthier lifestyle,” says Dora Christian, who is the Nutrition Team Coordinator at Cornell Cooperative Extension. “To begin to eat more fruits and vegetables. To get more physical activities in their daily activities.”

MyPlate uses a place setting as a visual guide for what food groups your meals should contain.

“What we’re doing today is taking the MyPlate logo and making it come alive for people who come here,” says Christian.

There are 11 stations representing each of the food groups, everything from fruit and veggy art, to “snacking IQ,” where you have to guess how much food would add up to 100 calories.

Check the Rochester site for a video for more information. It looks like a great way to get folks interested in healthy choices and to help them understand MyPlate to the extent of being able to use the techniques at home!

Let’s Move! Active Schools – What is it?

Posted on March 27, 2013 by in FACS Resources, Health News, Special Offers, USDA MyPlate

Here’s the problem – only one in three kids is active every day!!
Here’s a result – active kids get up to 40 percent higher test scores

We need to get kids active. Let’s Move! Active Schools is a national program that promotes active students by encouraging schools to focus on five key areas:

  1. Physical Education – Learn how to build physical education programs that are inclusive, effective, and engaging.
  2. Physical Activity During School – Explore creative solutions for classroom-based physical activity that enhance existing lesson plans.
  3. Physical Activity Before and After School – Access programming guides and toolkits for successful before and after school programs.
  4. Staff Involvement – Find out how staff can effectively advocate for physical activity, from program planning to day-to-day details.
  5. Family and Community Engagement – Learn what steps you can take to make your school your community’s center for physical activity.

To support Active Schools, Let’s Move! has published a range of tools on:

  • Physical Education
  • Physical Activity During School
  • Physical Activity Before & After School
  • Staff Involvement
  • Community & Family Engagement

They also have some grant funding available:

Active Schools Acceleration Project - 1,000 to start the program of your choice: 100 Mile Club, BOKS, or Just Move. We’re awarding Acceleration Grants to 1,000 schools across the country.

Fuel Up to Play 60 – Up to $4,000 per year is available to any qualifying K-12 school enrolled in Fuel Up to Play 60. The competitive, nationwide funding program can help your school jumpstart and sustain healthy nutrition and physical activity improvements.

Presidential Youth Fitness Program – This funding opportunity supports participation in the Presidential Youth Fitness Program for a period of two years—providing eligible schools with 100% of the elements that make up the three core pillars of the Presidential Youth Fitness Program for Year 1 and 50% matching support for Year 2.

It’s a win-win-win situation. Kids win because they get healthier. Teachers win because kids are better able to concentrate. Schools win with grants and other support.

When filling your Easter basket, keep foodborne illness out

Posted on March 26, 2013 by in Health News

amazing eggDecorating and hunting eggs during the Easter holiday is fun for kids (and even some adults).  However, the last thing we want to put in our Easter basket is a foodborne illness.  If you have plans for an Easter Egg hunt, the Partnership for Food Safety Education has some great tips to keep in mind:

  1. Only use clean eggs that have been kept refrigerated.   Eggs that are dirty or cracked should be thrown out.
  2. Cook your eggs (hard-boil) before decorating them.
  3. Wash your hands before handling cooked eggs and do so carefully so they do not crack.  Cracks in the eggs are opportunities for bacteria to get inside.
  4. When decorating the eggs, use only products that are considered food-grade.  This includes egg dyes and liquid food coloring.
  5. Store your decorated eggs on a shelf in the refrigerator.  Don’t let them sit out at room temperature.
  6. Hide the eggs carefully so they are protected from dirt, pets, wildlife, insects, and lawn chemicals like fertilizer or pesticides.
  7. If the decorated eggs are to be eaten, they should be hidden, hunted, and either eaten or refrigerated within 2 hours.  In other words, don’t leave the decorated eggs out longer than 2 hours.  If the temperature is warmer than 90 degrees outside (and it has been in parts of Texas) then you only have 1 hour.  Decorated eggs that are kept at room temperature for longer than 2 hours should be considered only as decoration and then discarded.

Personally, I like the plastic eggs that can be filled with special treats.  After the hunt is over, the plastic containers can be washed and reused the next year.  This also allows you to be a little creative in the type of treats that kids get when the eggs are found.

Get more information on decorating eggs safely.

Make a Plan for National Public Health Week: April 1-7

Posted on March 20, 2013 by in Health News, Inspiration, Physical Activity

How are you planning to celebrate National Public Health Week? The American Public Health Association (APHA) makes it easy to find a way to get involved or as they put it – Join the Movement:

  • Become a Partner: Show your support for public health and prevention by helping to spread the word
  • Submit an Event: If you plan to host a related event, this is a great tool for promoting your local Public Health Week activity
  • Take Action: Reach out to policy makers to help them make healthy decisions for our community.
  • Attend an Event: Find an event in your area where you can celebrate National Public Health Week.

NPHW

MyPlate on a Budget – Bloggers Report

Posted on March 18, 2013 by in Health News, Inspiration, Special Offers

We’ve just run across a fun series called My Plate on a Budget. Two health-focused bloggers (Jenny Bardsley of Teaching My Baby to Read and Rose McAvoy of Our Lady of Second Helpings) are striving to stick to a budget and stick to MyPlate standards during the month of March.

They are using the USDA website for Cost of Food at Home to see how easy or difficult it is to be cost and health aware at the same time. Jenny Bardsley appears to be the one taking it to the street while Rose McAvoy offers comments and perspective.

Bardsley’s posts are entertaining and helpful. Her posts remind me of Barbara Ehrenreich’s Nickel and Dimed, where as an undercover journalist she writes about trying to get by on low income jobs. Bardley’s pursuit of health is more successful than I remember Ehrenreich’s work.

There are some interesting observations. For example, life on a budget means a much less full fridge at the end of the week and sometimes the food you can afford isn’t part of the recipe but it gets used anyways.

There are some good tips – such as planting basil for a tasty and affordable solution to store-bought basil, which can be very expensive. This is a tip I at least enjoy every summer, so I’m glad to see others enjoy it too.

How is the heath stacking up? Well, you’ll have to check out her blog for the details but it’s stacking. As anyone who feeds kids knows, they don’t like everything. But it turns out that they do like some surprising things – like Cauliflower Indian Stew! And interesting note is how hungry the author is feeling – and as she points out…

For the past two weeks I’ve followed the Thrifty budget.  I’ve fed my family healthy, nutritious, Choose MyPlate following meals.  But I’m not feeling particularly well-fed myself.

This makes me think about all of the moms out there who might not be feeding themselves properly due to cost. 

We’re eager to continue watching to see how MyPlate on a Budget pans out!

Think Healthy Thursday: Want to reduce heart attacks? Think Mediterranean

Posted on March 14, 2013 by in Health News, Think Healthy Thursday

mediterranean posterWe have some unusual and pretty positive news to share from a recent report highlighted in The New York Times…

About 30 percent of heart attacks, strokes and deaths from heart disease can be prevented in people at high risk if they switch to a Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil, nuts, beans, fish, fruits and vegetables, and even drink wine with meals, a large and rigorous new study has found.

It’s a potential game changer for folk in high risk categories. The results were recently published in The New England Journal of Medicine of a study that tracked 7,447 people in Spain who were overweight, were smokers, or had diabetes or other risk factors for heart disease to follow the Mediterranean diet or a low-fat one…

One group assigned to a Mediterranean diet was given extra-virgin olive oil each week and was instructed to use at least 4 four tablespoons a day. The other group got a combination of walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts and was instructed to eat about an ounce of the mix each day. An ounce of walnuts, for example, is about a quarter cup — a generous handful. The mainstays of the diet consisted of at least three servings a day of fruits and at least two servings of vegetables. Participants were to eat fish at least three times a week and legumes, which include beans, peas and lentils, at least three times a week. They were to eat white meat instead of red, and, for those accustomed to drinking, to have at least seven glasses of wine a week with meals.

They were encouraged to avoid commercially made cookies, cakes and pastries and to limit their consumption of dairy products and processed meats.

The scientists were measuring basic results: heart attacks and strokes and death. Again the New York Times reports…

The study ended early, after almost five years, because the results were so clear it was considered unethical to continue.

At Learning ZoneXpress, we’re pleased to report that we’ve been fans of the Mediterranean diet for a while now. In fact we have a colorful poster that promotes and explains the Mediterranean Diet. It’s a great addition to a lunchroom, classroom, staff room – even a Mediterranean Restaurant!