AND tip of the day: Spring Break Road Trip Safety

 

 

TIP OF THE DAY

 

March 28, 2013

Spring Break Road Trip Safety

Whether you're heading to a campground or a resort for spring break, don't forget to pack nutritious snacks for the road and keep them safe with these easy tips:

Choose Carefully

• Pack easy-to-transport, shelf-stable foods. Good choices include cereal, trail mix, popcorn, single-serve applesauce, peanut butter sandwiches, fresh or canned fruit, carrots or celery.

Clean Up

• Wash hands with soap and water during food preparation, especially between tasks.
• If you don't have access to a restroom, pack moist towelettes or hand sanitizer.
• Have everyone in the family clean up before digging in.

Know Your Foods' Limits

• Don't let food sit unrefrigerated for more than two hours. (In temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, refrigerate food within one hour.)
• Pack food with plenty of ice or a frozen ice pack in an insulated lunch bag or cooler.
• Use a refrigerator thermometer to make sure the temperature stays below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Keep Coolers Cool

• As the weather starts to warm up this spring, place coolers and lunch bags in the back seat instead of the trunk. The environment tends to be cooler in the car, especially when the air conditioning is on.

For more food safety information on keeping your family safe from food poisoning, visit www.homefoodsafety.org.


SOURCE: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

AND tip of the day: American Diabetes Alert Day

 

 

TIP OF THE DAY

 

March 26, 2013

American Diabetes Alert Day

Diabetes Alert Day is a "wake up call" for all Americans to understand their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

With Type 2 diabetes, the pancreas makes insulin, but it does not make enough or your body doesn't use the insulin it makes. Eight in 10 people with this Type 2 diabetes are overweight and Type 2 diabetes is becoming more common in children and teenagers because of the increase in obesity in these age groups.

Risk factors for Type 2 diabetes include:

• Being over age 45
• Having a close family member with diabetes
• Being in a certain racial or ethnic group
• Being overweight or obese
• Being physically inactive
• Having low HDL cholesterol or high triglycerides levels and high blood pressure
• Women who have had gestational diabetes or have delivered a baby weight 9 pounds or more.

The good news is that even if you have some of these risk factors, healthful eating, regular moderate exercise and weight loss if you are overweight can reduce your risk.

If you are at risk for Type 2 diabetes or already have Type 2 diabetes, consult a registered dietitian in your area and visit our Understanding Diabetes page.




SOURCE: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

AND tip of the day: Happy Passover

 

 

TIP OF THE DAY

 

March 25, 2013

Happy Passover

Today marks the beginning of Passover. The Passover Seder contains many symbolic foods, most notably, the matzah.
A staple of many Passover meals is matzah, a thin, cracker-like unleavened bread. Tradition states matzah served during Passover should be made with only water and flour, but year-round versions can include flavoring like onions and garlic.
Relatively low in fat and calories, matzah can be enjoyed in moderation all year in it's true form or ground in your food processor and used in everything from pancakes to cupcakes. Matzah comes and in unsalted and whole-grain varieties and can be found in most supermarkets.
Happy Passover!
To learn how to Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day, visit the National Nutrition Month page and consult a registered dietitian in your area.



SOURCE: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

AND tip of the day: Nutrition and Autism

 

 

TIP OF THE DAY

 

March 11, 2013

Nutrition and Autism

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report about one in 88 children has been identified with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). How does ASD affect eating habits?
Just about every child, with or without autism, can be choosy and particular about the foods he or she eats. But people with ASD often repeat behaviors and have narrow, obsessive interests which can affect eating habits and food choices. This can lead to health concerns like:

• Limited food selection/strong food dislikes. Someone with autism may be sensitive to the taste, smell, color and/or texture foods. They may limit or totally avoid some foods and even whole groups of foods. Common dislikes include fruits, vegetables and slippery, soft foods.
• Not eating enough food. Kids with autism may have difficulty focusing on one task for an extended period of time. It may be hard for a child to sit down and eat a meal from start to finish.
• Constipation. This problem is usually caused by a child's limited food choices. It can be remedied through a high-fiber diet, plenty of fluids and regular physical activity.
• Medication interactions. Some stimulant medications used with autism, such as Ritalin, lower appetite. This can reduce the amount of food a child eats, which can affect growth. Other medications may increase appetite or affect the absorption of certain vitamins and minerals. If your child takes medication, ask your health-care provider about possible side effects.

Consult a registered dietitian in your area and visit the Academy's Autism and Diet page to identify any nutritional risks based on how your child eats; answer your questions about diet therapies and supplements advertised as helpful for autism; and help guide your child on how to eat well and live healthfully.



SOURCE: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

AND tip of the day: Tips to Eat "Your Way"

 

 

TIP OF THE DAY

 

March 7, 2013

Tips to Eat “Your Way”

The National Nutrition Month^® 2013 theme, "Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day," encourages personalized healthy eating styles and recognizes that food preferences, lifestyle, cultural and ethnic traditions and health concerns all impact what you reach for when you’re hungry.
Make sure your weight management plan is truly "Your Way" by asking if it includes:

• Foods from all five food groups
• The right number of servings from each group
• Food you enjoy eating
• Foods you can buy at your supermarket
• Some of your favorite foods
• Foods that fit your budget and lifestyle
• Regular physical activity or exercise.

If the answer is "yes" to all the questions, you're eating right "Your Way."
Consult a registered dietitian in your area who can develop a personalized weight management plan that meets your personal needs, and learn more about how to Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day, by visiting the Academy's Nutrition Education Resource page.



SOURCE: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

AND tip of the day: Flouride

 

 

TIP OF THE DAY

 

March 6, 2013

Fluoride: Not Just in Your Toothpaste

Fluoride provides health benefits throughout a person’s life, especially for bones and teeth. Fluoride helps harden tooth enamel and so helps protect your teeth from decay. It also may offer some protection from osteoporosis, or brittle bone disease, by helping to strengthen your bones.
Consuming too little fluoride may cause tooth enamel to weaken and put you at greater risk of cavities. Consuming excess amounts can cause fluorosis which is when the teeth become mottled, or marked with brown stains although teeth are healthy in every other way. An Adequate Intake (AI) for fluoride levels for children ages four to eight is 1 milligram daily, ages nine to 13 is 2 milligrams daily, for teens 3 milligrams daily and for adults the guideline is 4 milligrams for men and 3 for women. Fluoride is not widely available in food.
For more information on nutrition and oral health, consult a registered dietitian in your area and visit Eat Right Nutrition Tips.



SOURCE: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics