Via: NIM.NIH.Gov
If you frequent your local grocer, you may have encountered this dilemma while in the produce section–whether or not to buy organic. New research has found that there is no strong evidence that organic products have nutritional health benefits.

The few studies that were conducted were short term and showed to have limitations. In the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Alan D. Dangour and his colleagues write, “A surprising and important finding of this review is the extremely limited nature of the evidence base on this subject, both in terms of the number and quality of studies.”

No information was gathered detailing the long term effects of eating organic foods and the impact on overall health and the environment. But those who buy organic products consume them for other reasons. Organic products are made without the use of conventional pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, antibiotics or hormones. All of which may indeed show to have long-term benefits.

As a parent, the things you do and say have a tremendous influence on your child’s behavior. Encourage your child to live a healthy lifestyle by talking the talk and walking the walk. Don’t know where to start? Here are a few ideas.
Eat Right

There are many ways to assure that you have a healthy diet. One is to get enough fruit and vegetables each day. A growing body of research shows that fruits and vegetables are critical to promoting good health. To get the amount that’s recommended, most people need to increase the amount of fruits and vegetables they currently eat every day.
Action steps:

* Keep a bowl of fresh fruit on your kitchen counter.
* Place a box of raisins in your child’s backpack and in your briefcase.
* Add strawberries, blueberries or bananas to your cereal, oatmeal, or toast.
* Read more about nutrition for everyone in your family.

Engage in Physical Activity

Photo: Two boys and a bowling ballRegular physical activity is important for all age groups. Being active helps control your weight, strengthen your bones and muscles, improve your mental health and mood, and reduces your risk of many life-threatening diseases.
Action steps:

* Encourage your children to be active for at least one hour a day.
* Set a positive example by leading an active lifestyle yourself.
* Take family walks or play active games together.
* Read more about physical activity guidelines.

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School meals matter. Just ask any teacher or parent and they’ll tell you that children who lack proper nutrition have trouble focusing in school. Medical authorities and nutrition researchers have documented that youngsters who eat nutritious meals every day and lead active lifestyles tend to excel. More importantly, our schools are on the frontline of efforts to improve childhood nutrition, our collective health, and the future of our great nation. Improving the meals that our kids eat in schools is an important step to achieve that goal.

As secretary of agriculture, I oversee the federal government’s school nutrition programs, and these programs are uniquely positioned to lead the way to improve poor diets, promote physical activity, and advance the nutritional education of America’s children. The commitment of the Obama administration to these issues is very real, as evidenced by the launch of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign to solve childhood obesity within a generation. The Let’s Move campaign will combat the epidemic of childhood obesity through a comprehensive approach that builds on effective strategies, and mobilizes public and private sector resources. And now the First Lady is using the upcoming reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act as the legislative centerpiece to improve the overall nutrition of school meals.

The importance of school meals is underscored by the current state of the health and nutrition of our nation’s children. Obesity is our fastest-growing public health issue with roughly 1 out of 3 children overweight or obese. The lack of access to proper nutrition is also leading to food insecurity and hunger among our children. A recent USDA report showed that in 2008, an estimated 16.7 million children lived in households that experienced hunger multiple times throughout the year. Meanwhile, school-age children are not eating the recommended levels of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products, according to a 2009 Institute of Medicine report.

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It’s been many years since I had to prepare lunches for schoolchildren. But I did do it for more than a decade, and mostly on a budget. With hot lunches at many schools being costly or of poor nutritional value, it is certainly wiser and healthier to pack your own. While there is a proliferation of individually packaged lunchbox items, they are rarely a good value and rarely the healthiest option for your child(ren). I realize that time constraints need to be weighed, along with health benefits and nutrition, so I’m hoping to bring some fresh perspective to that age-old chore of packing school lunches. Feel free to chime in on items that you have found work well. The more, the merrier.

They say variety is the spice of life, and it can be important to youngsters as well. While there is that occasional child who will only eat pb&j with barbecue potato chips every day for six months, most children like to see something different and have new surprises in their lunch bag. And speaking of bags, if at all possible, try to convince your child that a reusable lunch bag (thermally insulated) or old-fashioned lunch box is the way to go. They even have plain metal lunchboxes that children can decorate and personalize. If they are feeling really adventurous, you could buy them a bento box (like this one), tiffin (a 2-tier one or 3-tier), or the Earth-friendly Goodbyn to use for lunch (some kids just like to be unique). These are all earth-friendly options.

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VIA: WebMD.com

By Kathleen Doheny

WebMD Health News

Researchers found fast food may cause a person to be more impatient and desire instant gratification. In one experiment, researchers had two groups of college students stare at  the center of a computer screen while ignoring the outside corners. One group was asked to look at a computer screen with blank squares in the corners; the other group was to look at a computer screen with fast food logos flashing in the corners. After staring at the computer screens, both groups were to read specific passages. In the end, the students who were exposed to the logos had faster reading speeds.

In another experiment, participants were asked to think of a time when they had fast food or a time when they went grocery shopping. They were then asked to rate a list of items according to desirability. Half of the list contained time-saving products and the other half contained items that were not. The participants which were instructed to think about a time when they had fast food preferred the time-saving items more than the other group.

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VIA:  National Heart Lung And Blood Institute

Why the Nutrition Facts label is important

• Check servings and calories. Look at the serving size and how many servings the package contains. If you consume one serving, the label clearly outlines the nutrients you get. If you double the servings you eat, you double the calories and nutrients, including the Percent Daily Value (% DV).
• Make your calories count. Look at the calories on the label and note where the calories are coming from (fat, protein, or carbohydrate). Compare them with the other nutrients, like vitamins and minerals, to decide whether the food is worth eating.
• Don’t sugar-coat it. Since sugars contribute calories with few, if any, nutrients, look for foods and beverages low in added sugars. Read the ingredient list and make sure that added sugars are not one of the first few ingredients. Some names for added sugars (caloric sweeteners) include sucrose, glucose, high-fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, maple syrup, and fructose.
  
• Know your fats. Look for foods low in saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol to help reduce the risk of heart disease (5% DV or less is low, 20% DV or more is high). Most of the fats you eat should be polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. Keep total fat intake between 20% to 35% of calories.
• Reduce sodium (salt), increase potassium. Research shows that eating less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium (about 1 teaspoon of salt) per day might reduce the risk of high blood pressure. Most of the sodium people eat comes from processed foods, not from the salt shaker. Also, look for foods high in potassium (tomatoes, bananas, potatoes, and orange juice), which counteracts some of sodium’s effects on blood pressure.

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Prep: 5 minutes; Cook: 10 minutes. If you can’t find precut sirloin tips, have the butcher cut a trimmed sirloin steak into 1 1/2-inch pieces.

Prep: 5 minutes; Cook: 6 minutes. Have everything chopped, sliced, and minced, but don’t begin cooking the stir-fry until the rice is just about ready.

Ingredients

•    1 teaspoon olive oil
•    3/4 pound peeled and deveined large shrimp
•    1 small garlic clove, minced
•    1 cup trimmed snow peas
•    1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
•    2 green onions, thinly sliced
•    2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice (1/2 small lemon)
•    1/8 teaspoon salt
•    1/8 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

Preparation

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp and garlic, and sauté 5 minutes or until done. Add snow peas and remaining ingredients; sauté 30 seconds.

Oxmoor House, JANUARY 2003

VIA:  Health.Com

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