The Food Label Detective: Case. Mini Potato Pancakes, frozen; Manischewitz

The first statement I noticed was the 10 pancakes; then 2 pancakes per container. I was always an excellent math student and this did not add up. It should be 10 servings; unless there is a new math I'm not aware of.

Recommendations. 

1. Manischewitz. You should consider rewriting your label to reflect what is actually in the box.
2. For individuals with special dietary needs, I would hold off using this product until they can verify the nutrition information.

Below is the cooked version of the Mini Potato Pancakes.
The two pancakes weighed 63 grams (prior to cooking.) 

The label above states they should weigh 28 grams.* 

Each pancake measured about 2-inches x 2.25-inches.

*21 CFR 101.9(b)(10)(iii) 

The serving size and servings per container is based on the amount of the product as packaged or purchased needed to make the RACC (Reference Amounts Customarily Consumed) of the prepared product (required). A second column of nutrition information based on the "as prepared" basis may also be presented (optional).

Clearly this label does not provide nutrition information "as prepared." Guesstimated calories of two prepared pancakes using canola oil is about 100 to 125 calories. 

Edible Art E-Cards to Benefit the Environment and Employee Special Need Adults

The Wellness Calendar and eCards are projects created by people with Special Abilities. Wellness News employs young adults with "Special Needs" (Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Down Syndrome, Muscular Dystrophy). Due to the increased cost of postage our wellness calendar and eCards will be provided only through the Internet. The services are free, however we welcome donations via Paypal. Monies donated will be used to provide employment opportunities to special need adults. 

Sample eCards

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Customized eCards are available. For Customized eCards contact, Sandra Frank, Ed.D., RDN, LN at recipenews@gmail.com.
 

To learn more about the Wellness Calendar,
visit http://weighing-success.com/calendar.html

Please make a donation.

Have a happy, healthy, and safe holiday.

Sandra and Jake.

Prepared by
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Wellness News (www.weighing-success.com/WellnessNews.html)
Sandra Frank, Ed.D, RDN, LN
Jake Frank
John Gargiullo

Michelle Canazaro

Nutritional Analysis Detective Epicurious, Gourmet: Baked Flounder Fillets in Lemon-Soy Vinaigrette

Epicurious, Gourmet: 

Baked Flounder Fillets in Lemon-Soy Vinaigrette

Comparison

The recipe requires you purchase two raw 6-ounce flounder fillets. However, when analyzing the recipe you must take into consideration cooking. Epicurious, Gourmet analyzed the recipe using two 6-ounce flounder fillets cooked; this resulted in an inaccurate analysis.

Nutritional Analysis Services

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For more information, visit Dietitians-Online Nutritional Analysis Services

contact:
Sandra Frank, Ed.D, RDN, LN, FAND
recipenews@gmail.com
954-796-7235

Proud to Love Cooking! - The Kid's Dietitian

Blogger, Lucille Beseler MS, RDN, LDN, CDE - The Kid’s Dietitian

The launching of my new web site “the Kid’s Dietitian” has been an exciting project.  Our team has been working hard to create a site for families to nurture good nutrition.  Childhood obesity remains a significant problem for our youth.  Obesity in Adults is at an all time high leading to heart disease, diabetes and hypertension.  We hope to provide education that leads to individual change.  Our web site will have a collection of articles, tips and recipes.  Yes, recipes because we are starting a movement “Proud to LOVE cooking.”

Over the last 23 years of practice I have seen thousands of clients and their families and often I am told I hate to cook or one noted client told me “I do not do the cooking thing.”

So when did cooking become a skill that we should be ashamed to have.  Goodness with all the cooking shows on TV one would think American cooks but we don’t.  Our children have grown up taking boxes out of the freezer and putting those boxes in another box called a microwave.  Then they get to eat out of a plastic tray! UGH…

No wonder supermarkets and restaurant selling “natural and organic” food are at an all-time popularity.  Our children and adults are longing for wholesome, healthy food, and quasi home cooked.

 

I am not ashamed to say I love to cook for 1 or 20.  I have been cooking since I was 5 years old alongside my Grandfather.  I had a stool that would get me to the counter and we would cook together, exploring spices and herbs, cleaning vegetables, trimming meat and fish.  I never cut myself because he was there watching out for me! He taught me respect for good fresh food and being a cooking family Mom jump in on my cooking education after work or on the weekends.  The idea was if you like to eat then you should like to cook.  This does not mean you have to make 2 hour gourmet meals but having good basic skills can help you get a meal to the table in less than 30 minutes.  We all have 30 minutes to ensure a great meal gets to the table. Teach your children basic cooking skills. It will help the whole family as they can do some prep work to help get that meal on the table. 

Hope you will join me in our movement - Proud to love cooking! Subscribe at The Kid's Dietitian.

Lucille

Lucille Beseler MS, RDN, LDN, CDE - The Kid’s Dietitian
Website.  The Kid's Dietitian
Facebook. Family Nutrition Center of South Florida

Twitter.  Kid's Dietitian

Don’t leave money on the table - Why you should hire a billing company

I have had a private practice for 23 years and now a billing company for RDN’s – Bill it mnt .   I was able to meet many RDN’s that came over to our booth at the FNCE Marketplace.  It was interesting to hear their stories on billing.    The decision to hire a billing company or the software you use should be based on your unique practice.  If one has a small boutique type practice and sees less than 4 clients per day it maybe more cost effective to do your own claims.  On the other hand if you have a full time busy practice (7-10 clients per day) when are you going to have the time to do billing? 

Important questions to consider:

• How valuable is your time? Billing is time consuming when you look beyond filling out claim forms.  The claim form needs to be filled out and submitted in a timely fashion or it will be denied.  Once you complete the claim form and submit it tracking payment and denials is just as important and takes time.

• How much money are you going to leave on the table because you cannot chase denied claims or submit them in a timely fashion?  Many RDN’s are losing  $$ above the cost of doing business for this reason.  Many RDN’s told me the amount of money they are losing which was staggering.  One RDN told me she has 1 year of denied claims to settle. You are not in business to lose money.  Paying a company to do your billing will save you money otherwise don a blue coat and consider yourself a volunteer.

• Will adding more hours to your day doing billing impact on your quality of life causing burnout? 

• It is more profitable to see more clients and leave the billing to someone else – a staff member or an outside contractor?

If you want your practice to grow do what you do best while generating more income- see clients!

Free up your time and do more marketing to get more clients in the door!

To learn more visit:

Bill It mnt

Bill it mnt on Facebook

The Simple Life... When Apples and Blackberries Were Only Fruits

The Student Dietetic Association (SDA) at Florida International University (FIU) provided Free Apples and Blackberries to encourage healthy snacking. The technology college students are addicted to and the need for something healthy inspired the event. Students received free antioxidants, fiber and vitamins from the fruits instead of actual cell phones, while they learned the importance of healthy nutritional habits.

 

“What surprised me the most was that when other clubs give out free pizza, there is a line around the corner, but if you give out free fruits, you really have to market it well. It was a very eye catching, clever idea.”    - Megan Huard

"It’s a great idea that an association is giving out healthy snacks. I was tricked by the advertisement and thought they were giving some kind of phones. At the end, I learned about the benefits of apples and blackberries."   - Mario Garcia

"This was a great opportunity for nutrition education; it was great to see so many students interested in learning more about the benefits of these fruits and about our association."  - Marcela Lucena

The SDA at FIU is dedicated to making the world healthier, one plate at a time. Through on and off campus activities, they serve the community and fellow students as they teach the importance and benefits of good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle.

Bill It! mnt - Billing for RDN's by a RDN. We know your business - it's our business too.

Dear Colleagues:

Lucille Beseler MS, RDN, LDN, CDE President of Family Nutrition Center of South Florida is proud to announce the launching of  Bill it! mnt.

Bill it! mnt is a billing and practice management company designed for the RDN by a RDN!

Our goal is to simplify business for nutrition professionals to ensure their success!  Bill it! mnt  processes claims for Medicare and other payors.

We provide an array of services including:

•          Medicare application completion

•          Obtain NPI numbers

•          Contract negotiations

•          Accounting and Payroll services are available

INSURANCE BILLING

•          Create and submit claims

•          Manage denials and rejections

•          We make sure you get what you are owed

If you or a colleague has a small practice and is unable to hire billing staff? Don’t spend your valuable time doing billing. Your time is valuable, let the professionals do the billing and get your money fast. We know your business, it’s our business too! 

For more information, visit  www.billitmnt.com

Contact:

Lucille Beseler MS, RDN, LDN, CDE
Bill It! mnt, a subsidiary of Family Nutrition Center of South Florida

5350 W. Hillsboro Blvd. #105
Coconut Creek, Fl. 33073
954-360-7883
billitmnt@bellsouth.net

Facebook. Bill It! mnt