Global Child Nutrition Month

(Google Image) 

By Diane Forrest, RN

I don't sleep much at night, having spent years turning my husband every 2 hours to prevent him from getting bed sores.    I leave my television set on all the time to keep me company.  During the wee hours of the morning there are many infomercials.  One of them is for donations to feed children in foreign countries.  For your donation ( approximately 50 cents a day, the cost of a cup of coffee) you will receive a picture of the child you are sponsoring, and a letter from your child. The commercial goes on to show children who are skin and bones, and have sad expressions on their faces, and hallow looks in their eyes.  It is heartbreaking to see and makes you wonder how that could happen in the world today.

Thirteen years ago the Global Child Nutrition Foundation was formed.  Their Mission is: “Expand opportunities for the world’s children to receive adequate nutrition for learning and achieving their potential.”  Their vision is: “A world in which hunger is not a barrier to children learning.”

(Google Image) 

With the vast amount of food that is produced, and wasted in the world today, there is no reason why any child should be hungry, but it happens.  Food that is sent to underdeveloped countries rarely makes it to the intended recipients. Many times the shipments are stolen and sold for profit.

(Google Image) 

April is Global Child Nutrition Month.  The website for the foundation offers these tips to help raise awareness for nutrition, as well as funds.  They include:

Top 10 Fundraising Ideas for Schools to Change Our World!

1. The Great Bottle Battle: Each class should decorate a container to be kept in their home room. During the contest period, classes will race to see which room can fill their container the fastest. The home room that collects the most money is the winner!
2. Help Serve: Every student has their favorite teacher. Students can “vote” on which teachers they want to help serve lunch on a specified day. Students can “vote” by placing money into jars decorated with participating teacher’s name/picture. At the end of the designated voting time, count the money and the top three teachers will help in the cafeteria, serving students.
3. World Food Day: Volunteer your time to prepare special foods from around the world and host an event in the cafeteria or at a school function. Students, parents, and staff can sample different foods from around the world.
4. International Night: Work with your local parent organization to host a “discover the world” party where a foreign film or a documentary on world hunger is shown. Parents can “buy” their tickets by making a donation.
5. Teachers vs. Students: Coordinate with a parent organization or student group to host teachers vs. student’s basketball game. Have the cafeteria staff and parents volunteer their time to host a concession booth to increase fundraising.
6. Community Milk Money: Wash empty milk cartons and band them with a creative Change Our World milk label. Take the containers to area businesses and ask them to place containers next to registers to collect change from customers during a set amount of time. Collect the change-filled milk cartons after the allotted time has expired.
7. Chain Builders: Have different classrooms and grade levels compete to see who can build the largest paper chain. Sell strips of paper for 25¢ each. Allow students to buy strips for a predetermined period of time. At the end of the donation period, count the links and display the chains to see which class wins bragging rights.
8. Pizza for the World: Have the students or staff build the largest pizza in your community by making a circle (chalk, rope, etc.) that they toss coins into, creating a “pizza” made with money that can be donated.
9. Car Wash: More than good clean fun, a car wash is a great way to spread the word. Work with student organizations or cafeteria staff to work the car wash and hand out information about your fundraiser, global hunger and GCNF’s vision.
10. Make A Match: Visit area businesses and ask them to match the funds collected at your school.

For more information on ways you can help, visit their site at: http://www.gcnf.org/about/mission-vision/

Save Your Vision Week/Month

(Google Image)

By Akindman

How important is your eye sight?

Close to 75% of North Americans believe that their sight is the most important sense they have according to protect-Your-Eyesight.com. Yet only about 40% of North Americans have an annual eye exam, and a full 85% admit that they do not care for their eyes as much as they should.

For those of us who have type II Diabetes, we should get our eye exam semi-annually event – I do!

(Google Image)

Save Your Vision Month educates the public about the importance of getting comprehensive eye examinations regularly in order to preserve the vision. Not only can taking the time to protect the health of your eyes reduce the risk of vision loss, but going for a routine eye exam can help detect systemic and chronic diseases like diabetes.

Protect Your Eyes

Wear Sunglasses

Wear a Wide-Brimmed Hat

Step Away from the Computer Screen

Quit Smoking

Eat Foods Packed with Antioxidants

Keep Blood Glucose in Check

Exercise Regularly

Lower Your Blood Pressure

Lower Your Cholesterol

Have a Comprehensive Dilated Eye Exam

What to Do When Your Eyesight Fades

(Google Image) 

The top 10 foods for good vision are:

Cold water fish;

Spinach, kale, and green leafy veggies;

Eggs;

Garlic, onions, shallots, and capers;

Soy;

Fruits & veggies – that contain A, C, and E and Beta-carotene, such as carrots, carrots, and squash;

Blueberries and grapes;

Wine;

Nuts & berries; and

Virgin olive oil.

Prevent Blindness America’s web site contains a wealth of good information regarding ones sight.  Highly recommend that everyone spends some time there and bookmarks this web site.  Here is a sample of the information you will find there:

Taking care of your sight

Signs of eye problems in adults

If you notice any signs of potential eye problems, see an eye doctor for a complete eye exam.

Even if you have no signs, regular eye exams are recommended—especially for those with some chronic health conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Early detection and treatment can be the key to preventing sight loss.

Any changes in the appearance of your eyes or vision should be investigated further. Some examples include:

The following may be indications of potentially serious problems that might require emergency medical attention:

Getting professional eye care

Wearing contact lenses

Pregnancy and your vision

Computers and your eyes

Healthy living, healthy vision

20/20 at 40 - our adult vision health initiative

Growing older with good vision

Medicare benefits and your eyes

Test your eyes

Living with low vision

Vision care financial assistance information

Remember to protect your eyes!
(Google Image) 

Links for additional information:

http://www.diabeticlivingonline.com/complications/eyes/save-your-vision/

http://www.preventblindness.org/taking-care-your-sight

http://www.aoa.org/documents/Vision-Lifestyle-Fact-Sheet.pdf

http://www.rebuildyourvision.com/blog/personal-stories/perfect-eyesight-in-2012/

http://wellness.georgetown.edu/resources/toolkit/46982.html

http://www.protect-your-eyesight.com/

Let's All Eat Right Day

(Google Image)

By Diane Forrest, RN

It has been nearly a year since I started writing on this blog.  In that time I have written about everything from soup to nuts and lots and lots of chocolate.  Who knew there were so many days that recognized different foods?  While we didn't write about foods every day, on the days where food was the subject, it was not a terrible crime to indulge in the more unhealthy choices, as long as it was done in moderation.

(Google Image)

Today however is Let's All Eat Right Day.  It's not just about what you eat, but when you eat, and how much.  I have a friend who will be celebrating his 74th birthday this year.  Last summer he suffered some heart problems that resulted in the placement of two stints.  This served as a wakeup call for him.  Concerned about his health and heart, he began to make changes in his lifestyle.  While he was once sleeping and napping all through the day, he has now settled into a routine pattern, a set time to go to bed, and a time to wake up.  While he still occasionally wakes up during the night, he maintains his schedule and keeps his day more productive and energetic.  He also started an exercise program at the YMCA, and has been faithful to go 3 days a week.  The other days he either bowls or performs other activities.  The one problem he runs into is his eating habits.  He doesn't eat the right foods, at the right times, or right amounts.  I have tried to explain to him that he wouldn't drive a car without gas, so he can't operate his body without fuel.

(Google Image)

He complains that he doesn't like to eat when he wakes, so he will eat breakfast around 11:00am.  Sometimes he will eat a healthy bowl of Oatmeal with orange juice, but other days it may be just toast and coffee.  He doesn't eat lunch, but snacks of junk food until supper.  He will normally have a decent supper, but he doesn't complete the recommended daily allowances.

The recommendations by the FDA are as follows:

Milk and Dairy	2 -3 servings a day
Meat	2-3 servings a day
Vegetables	3-5 servings a day
Fruit	2-4 servings a day
Breads and whole grains	6-11 servings a day
oil and sweets	sparingly

When President Obama was elected, his wife, Michele Obama set about to promote healthy eating.  Not only has she started a vegetable garden on the grounds of the White House, she travels around informing and promoting healthy eating, especially encouraging school age children to eat better, more nutritious meals.

(Google Image)

Today is Let's All Eat Right Day; however it’s not just a practice for just one day, but every day.  This day was chosen to celebrate the birthday of nutritionist Adelle Davis who was famous for advocating healthy eating, especially via her bestselling book, "Let's Eat Right to Keep Fit."  While it’s ok to splurge occasionally on some "forbidden" foods, make a special effort to maintain a more healthy and nutritious diet.

Sweet Potato Month

(Google Image) 

By Chef Diane,

Did your parents ever tell you about the tough time they had growing up?  My mother's story was she had to walk 10 miles, uphill, in the snow and carry hot sweet potatoes in her pockets to keep her hands warm, and then eat them for lunch.  She loves sweet potatoes, but only cookies them for the holidays.  She just likes them plain, with butter and topped with marshmallows.

When my dad started frying turkeys at Thanksgiving, he sliced sweet potatoes and fried them too, made chips.  Now you can even go to restaurants and order sweet potato fries too.  Seems to have been a big explosion in the awareness of sweet potatoes with good reason too.

(Google Image) 

Did you know that the sweet potato ranks number one in nutrition?  Sweet potatoes are high in the following: beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin B6 and vitamin C; fiber, thiamine, niacin, potassium and copper. They are also a good source of protein, calcium, vitamin E.  Sweet potatoes rank highest in Vitamin A and beta carotene.  Vitamin A promotes good vision, especially in low light. It may also be needed for reproduction and breast-feeding. Vitamin A helps form and maintains healthy skin, teeth, skeletal and soft tissue, mucus membranes, and skin. It is also known as retinol because it produces the pigments in the retina of the eye.

Beta-carotene is an antioxidant. Antioxidants protect cells from damage caused by substances called free radicals. Free radicals are believed to contribute to certain chronic diseases and play a role in the aging processes.

My great state of Mississippi produces 19% of the country's total sweet potato crop.  Mississippi has about 150 farmers growing sweet potatoes on about 8,200 acres (33 km2), contributing $19 million dollars to the state's economy. Mississippi's top five sweet potato producing counties are Calhoun, Chickasaw, Pontotoc, Yalobusha, and Panola. The National Sweet Potato Festival is held annually the entire first week in November in Vardaman (Calhoun County), which proclaims itself as "The Sweet Potato Capital", they also elect a Sweet Potato queen who goes on to participate in the Miss Mississippi Pageant.

(Google Image) 

Since sweet potatoes are being recognized all month, you have plenty of time to try them, try some new recipes, or eat sweet potato fries instead of regular fries.  Who knows you may like them better, they are better for you too.

Another way to eat them is in bread.  A friend of mine gave me her sweet potato bread recipe, so I’m sharing it with you.  Enjoy!

Sweet Potato Bread

(Google Image) 

Ingredients:

• 3 Cups sugar
• 3 cups self rising flour
• 2 cups cooked mashed sweet potatoes (cook in microwave until done, scoop it out of the skin)
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup oil
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon coconut extract
• 1 cup shredded coconut (optional)

Directions

Mix all ingredients well, pour in greased loaf pan, bake in preheated oven at 350 degrees for an hour, or until done.

Sweet Potato Nutrition Facts (for one medium size sweet potato)

• Calories 130
• Fat 0.39 g
• Protein 2.15 g
• Net Carbs 31.56 g
• Dietary Fiber 3.9 g
• Calcium 28.6 mg
• Sodium 16.9 mg
• Potassium 265.2 mg
• Foliate 18.2 mcg
• Vitamin C 29.51 mg
• Vitamin A 26081.9 IU

National Junk Food Day

By Diane Forrest

Proper nutrition has been a very prevalent topic in the news lately.  Changes have been made to the food pyramid and the first lady, Mrs. Obama has made nutrition her top priority.  There have been changes made in school lunches as well as the removal of all snack machines in schools.  Better nutrition has been on a lot of minds lately.  Today however, you can forget about all that!  Today is National Junk Food Day, a day where you can eat whatever you want without feeling any guilt, as long as you return to a nutritious, healthy diet tomorrow.

What is Junk Food?   Junk food is a term that was coined in 1972 to describe food with empty calories, or no nutritional value.  People have different tastes when it comes to junk food.  Some like sweets, while others like salty.  Some like fried, some baked.  There was a study done that suggests that junk food alters the brain's activity.  To prove this they fed a diet of junk food to lab rats for many weeks, and then replaced the junk food with a healthy diet, and the rats starved for 2 weeks!!!

I don’t consider myself to be a junk food junkie, however one year while working on a portable health clinic I was invited to the annual conference in Tampa Florida.  It was a weeklong conference, and all the meals were provided.  The theme of the conference was healthy eating.  Well you can guess what the menu was like.  Needless to say my digestive system was all out of whack, and by Friday I was chowing down on some scrambled eggs, bacon, grits and biscuits, with a cream cheese Danish on the side!

So on Junk food day, throw caution to the wind and eat some of your favorite empty calorie, no nutrition foods and toss out the guilt, cause tomorrow it's back to healthy eating once again.

Did you know:

• The average American eats about 24.5 pounds of candy per year, with 11.6 pounds being chocolate candy
• There are 3,961 confectionery and nut stores in the U.S.
• The top five ice cream flavors are vanilla, chocolate, butter pecan, strawberry and chocolate chip mint
• More than 90% of households in the U.S. consume ice cream
• Not into candy or desserts? The U.S. has 12,804 McDonald's restaurants