Monday, November 14, 2011

World Diabetes Day
November 14, 2011


World Diabetes Day (WDD) is celebrated every year on November 14th. The World Diabetes Day campaign is led by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and its association members. It joins millions of people worldwide in diabetes advocacy and awareness.


World Diabetes Day was created in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization. World Diabetes Day became an official United Nations Day in 2007. The campaign draws attention to the issues of importance to the diabetes world and keeps diabetes in the public spotlight. Diabetes Education and Prevention is the World Diabetes Day theme for the period 2009-2013. 

The Global Diabetes Plan was launched on September 18, 2011. The latest figures from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) reveal that currently 366 million people have diabetes, 4.6 million deaths are due to diabetes and US$ 465 billion is spent on care for diabetes. This disease is one of the century’s greatest health challenges and remains on a relentlessly upwards trajectory.

IDF has brought together world experts to develop a coherent framework of action to respond to the diabetes challenge.  These cost-effective solutions for action by governments, health care professionals and the global diabetes community are presented in IDF’s Global Diabetes Plan 2011-2021. (The presentation is available for download or viewing on video at http://www.idf.org/global-diabetes-plan-2011-2021)

The Big Blue Test is a program of the Diabetes Hands Foundation (DHF). It takes place every November 14 (World Diabetes Day). People with diabetes are invited to test their blood sugar at 2 pm (local time), do 14 minutes of activity, test again and share the results.


Meet Toby Smithson, RD, LDN, CDE

Toby Smithson is a Registered Dietitian, a Certified Diabetes Educator, a national spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, and holds a certification in adult weight management. Toby was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in October, 1968, and has managed diabetes personally every single day since with no hint of complications. Toby founded DiabetesEveryDay to share her insights into successful diabetes self-management.



DiabetesEveryDay.com members enjoy 24/7 access to weekly menu selections, recipes (developed by dietitians for heart health and carbohydrate management), grocery lists and a unique library of video clips featuring Toby Smithson. New content is added weekly, Toby draws upon her own extraordinary diabetes management success to make this overwhelming responsibility for self-care both understandable and practical. She explores not only the nuts and bolts….medical issues, food and physical activity….but also everyday lifestyle, emotional challenges, stress, and life changing motivation; the real keys to success. To learn more, visit DiabetesEveryDay.com

Blue Circle Dance

About 500 employees, families and friends of Novo Nordisk from all around the world filmed themselves while dancing to 'Move your feet' by Junior Senior. The idea is to generate awareness for diabetes on World Diabetes Day 14 November 2011.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Dietitians in the News and Blog Up-dates
November 9, 2011






Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Seven Favorite Paper.li Food and Nutrition Daily's

Paper.li is a content service. It enables people to publish newspapers based on topics they like and treat their readers to fresh news, daily. Paper.li believes people are the ones qualified to organize and oversee the content that matters most.



Kids Eat Right Daily@kidseatright
A national campaign of the American Dietetic Association and ADA Foundation to promote healthy eating and prevent childhood obesity.





Blogger; always learning, researching and writing about toddler nutrition. Have an idea or question related to toddler nutrition? Drop me a line!

Gloria Tsang, RD



Editor-in-Chief for HealthCastle.com. Author of @GoUnDiet book. Dietitian and nutrition geek.

Las Ratnayake




How2Cook4U hopes you will enjoy your cooking more and eating even more! 


I’m a Gardening Chef and Registered Dietitian, sharing Healthy Lifestyle, Recipe, Food & Nutrition tips using fresh Garden ingredients http://GardenCuizine.com

The Skinny on Nutrition From Registered Dietitians around the Web. 




Social Fast Food


Tuesday, November 1, 2011

November 2011 Wellness News

Current News, Resources and Events in Nutrition, Food, Health, Environment, Safety and Disability Rights. Encourages awareness and inspires ideas for Journalists, Educators, Consumers and Health Professionals. Wellness News is up-dated daily. To view the entire Newsletter online click here or subscribe to Wellness News by adding your email address to the link on the left.


November 2011

November Highlights

American Diabetes Month

Military Family Appreciation Month

Diabetic Eye Disease Month

Epilepsy Awareness Month
Lung Cancer Awareness Month and
COPD Awareness Month
National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month

National Healthy Skin Month
National Long term Care Awareness
National Marrow Awareness Month
National Family Caregivers Month
National Hospice Palliative Care

National Stomach Cancer Awareness Month
Pancreatic Cancer Awareness
Prematurity Awareness Month
National Adoption Month
Family Stories Month

World Vegan Month


National Roasting Month
Banana Pudding Lovers Month
Gluten Free Diet Awareness Month
National Fun with Fondue Month
National Georgia Pecan Month
National Pepper Month
National Pomegranate Month
Peanut Butter Lovers Month
Raisin Bread Month
Sweet Potato Awareness Month
National Pet Cancer Awareness
PTA Healthy Lifestyle Month
MADD's Tie One On For Safety Holiday (11/16-12/31)
Native American Heritage Month







Monday, October 24, 2011

Food Day 2011, What is a Serving Size?

"Food Day is October 24 and will continue to be in the years to come. Food Day seeks to bring together Americans from all walks of life, parents, teachers, and students; health professionals, community organizers, and local officials; chefs, school lunch providers, and eaters of all stripes to push for healthy, affordable food produced in a sustainable, humane way. We will work with people around the country to create thousands of events in homes, schools, churches, farmers markets, city halls, and state capitals."

Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) are the Honorary Co-Chairs for Food Day 2011, and the day is sponsored by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the nonprofit watchdog group that has led successful fights for food labeling, better nutrition, and safer food since 1971. Like CSPI, Food Day will be people-powered and does not accept funding from government or corporations—though restaurants, supermarkets, and others are certainly encouraged to observe Food Day in their own ways.

Become a Food Label Detective
An Educated Consumer has the

Tools to Make Wise Decisions





1. Reduce diet-related disease by promoting safe, healthy foods.
2. Support sustainable farms and limit subsidies to big agribusiness.
3. Expand access to food and alleviate hunger.
4. Protect the environment and animals by reforming factory farms. 

5. Promote health by curbing junk-food marketing to kids. 
6. Support fair conditions for food and farm workers.

A special thank you to Marcela Lucena, Erik Bustillo, and the Florida International University, Student Dietetic Association for helping spread the word about Food Day.



Sunday, October 16, 2011

World Food Day
October 16, 2011



World Food Day was established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in November 1979. FAO celebrates World Food Day each year on October 16th, the day on which the Organization was founded in 1945.

“FOOD PRICES – FROM CRISIS TO STABILITY” has been chosen as the 2011 World Food Day theme to shed some light on this trend and what can be done to mitigate its impact on the most vulnerable.





WORLD FOOD DAY 2011
On World Food Day 2011, let us look seriously at what causes swings in food prices, and do what needs to be done to reduce their impact on the weakest members of global society.


The objectives of World Food Day are to:

*Encourage attention to agricultural food production and to stimulate national, bilateral, multilateral and non-governmental efforts to this end;

*Encourage economic and technical cooperation among developing countries;

*Encourage the participation of rural people, particularly women and the least privileged categories, in decisions and activities influencing their living conditions;

*Heighten public awareness of the problem of hunger in the world;

*Promote the transfer of technologies to the developing world; and

*Strengthen international and national solidarity in the struggle against hunger, malnutrition and poverty and draw attention to achievements in food and agricultural development.



To learn more about World Food Day, visit the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).


Saturday, October 15, 2011

Global Handwashing Day
October 15th

Global Handwashing Day 2011 will involve millions of people in over 100 countries around the world. Global Handwashing Day (GHD) was created to:

• Foster and support a global culture of handwashing with soap.
• Shine a spotlight on the state of handwashing in every country.
• Raise awareness about the benefits of handwashing with soap.



Why Handwashing with Soap?

Handwashing with soap is the most effective and inexpensive way to prevent diarrheal and acute respiratory infections, which take the lives of millions of children in developing countries every year. Together, they are responsible for the majority of all child deaths. Yet, despite its lifesaving potential, handwashing with soap is seldom practiced and difficult to promote.

Turning handwashing with soap before eating and after using the toilet into a habit could save more lives than any single vaccine or medical intervention, cutting deaths from diarrhea by almost half and deaths from acute respiratory infections by one-quarter. A vast change in handwashing behavior is critical to meeting the Millennium Development Goal of reducing deaths among children under the age of five by two-thirds by 2015.

Global Handwashing Day focuses on children because they suffer the most from diarrheal and respiratory diseases and deaths, but research shows that children can also be powerful agents for changing behaviors like handwashing with soap in their communities.



When should you wash your hands?
·         Before, during, and after preparing food
·         Before eating food
·         Before and after caring for someone who is sick
·         Before and after treating a cut or wound
·         After using the toilet
·         After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
·         After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
·         After touching an animal or animal waste
·         After touching garbage
 
For more information on handwashing with soap, including research, tools, and news visit www.globalhandwashing.org.


The Global Handwashing Day's theme video with
instructions for children on how to wash their hands properly.




It’s In Your Hands




Resources and References
1. CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Handwashing:Clean Hands Save Lives
3. Partnership for Food Safety Education, Fight BAC!  
4. The Scrub ClubA fun, interactive and educational Web site that teaches children the proper way to wash their hands. The site contains interactive games, educational music, downloadable activities for kids, educational materials for teachers and program information for parents.
5. Healthy Schools, Healthy People, It’s a SNAP!  (School Network for Absenteeism Prevention) program is a joint initiative of the CDC and American Cleaning Institute. This program seeks to improve hand hygiene habits to help prevent the spread of infectious disease and reduce related absenteeism. This grassroots, education-based effort can help improve health by making hand cleaning an integral part of the school day. Without proper hand cleaning, a single infection can quickly spread among students, teachers, family and friends.


Tuesday, October 11, 2011

National School Lunch Week
October 10 – 14, 2011

"In the long view, no nation is
healthier than its children,
or more prosperous than its farmers."
- President Harry Truman, on signing the
1946 National School Lunch Act.

Through the Years

The National School Lunch Program was created in 1946 when President Truman signed the National School Lunch Act into law. The National School Lunch Program is a federal nutrition assistance program. Through the years, the program has expanded to include the School Breakfast Program, Snack Program, Child and Adult Care Feeding Program and the Summer Food Service Program. In 1962, Congress designated the week beginning on the second Sunday in October each year as "National School Lunch Week."

The video below looks at the school lunch program from the late 1930’s to the present day and includes President Obama signing the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. One can see from the photographs some of the changes in the foods provided. There is an increase in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean protein and lowfat dairy. (Part of the video has clips from a film produced by the USDA in the mid-60s.)


School Lunch Resources 

Organizations, Associations, and Programs


 School Nutrition Association

2011 Theme: School Lunch – Let’s Grow Healthy”  Recognized as the authority on school nutrition, the SNA has been advancing the availability, quality and acceptance of school nutrition programs as an integral part of education since 1946. The School Nutrition Association is a national, nonprofit professional organization. 
Mission. To advance good nutrition for all children. 

National Farm to School Month
Farm to School is broadly defined as any program that connects schools (K-12) and local farms with the goal of serving healthy meals in school cafeterias, improving student nutrition, providing agriculture, health, nutrition education, and supporting local and regional farmers. Farm to School programs exist in all 50 states, but since Farm to School is a grassroots movement, programs are as diverse as the communities they serve.

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day. The program was established under the National School Lunch Act, signed by President Harry Truman in 1946.

Kids Eat Right your source for scientifically-based health and nutrition information you can trust to help your child grow healthy. As a parent or caretaker you need reliable resources and you can find them here, backed by the expertise of nutrition professionals.

Team Nutrition 10 Tips Nutrition Education Series; Menu Planner for Healthy School Meals; Eat Smart. Play Hard.™ Materials. Campaign launched by USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to encourage and teach children, parents, and caregivers to eat healthy and be physically active every day. Eat Smart. Play Hard.™ is about making America's children healthier. It's about practical suggestions that will help you motivate children and their caregivers to eat healthy and be active. Eat Smart. Play Hard.™ Campaign messages and materials are fun for children and informative for caregivers. Building Blocks for Fun and Healthy Meals; Fact Sheets For Healthier School Meals

Choose MyPlate.  The website features practical information and tips to help Americans build healthier diets. 

Let’s Move  is about putting children on the path to a healthy future during their earliest months and years. Giving parents helpful information and fostering environments that support healthy choices. Providing healthier foods in our schools. Ensuring that every family has access to healthy, affordable food. And, helping children become more physically active.

Elmo Doesn't Fear Obama's School Lunch

Elmo joins White House Chef Sam Kass in White House kitchen to talk about the importance of healthy and delicious school meals following President Obama's signing of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act.


We Can. The We Can! GO, SLOW, and WHOA Foods fact sheet (pdf) can be posted on the refrigerator or used when grocery shopping. The We Can! Parent Tips - Snack (pdf) 100 Calories or Less tip sheet can help consumers choose vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat (1 percent) milk for healthier snacks.

Healthy Children  The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and its member pediatricians dedicate their efforts and resources to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. Healthy Children - Nutrition; Food Allergies in Children

Action for Healthy Kids, we believe there are ways to reduce and prevent childhood obesity and undernourishment. Learn how Action for Healthy Kids is working with schools, families and communities to help our kids learn to be healthier and be ready to learn.


National Dairy Council® (NDC)
Child Nutrition Fuel Up To Play 60
sponsored by National Dairy Council and the National Football League, in collaboration with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).


Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school program that encourages the availability and consumption of nutrient-rich foods, along with at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity.

Fruits and Veggies More Matters

 

Additional Resources
 

The Chefs Move to Schools program, run through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will help chefs partner with interested schools in their communities so together they can create healthy meals that meet the schools’ dietary guidelines and budgets, while teaching young people about nutrition and making balanced and healthy choices.
 

Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA).  Improving child nutrition is the focal point of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA). The legislation authorizes funding and sets policy for USDA's core child nutrition programs. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act allows USDA, for the first time in over 30 years, opportunity to make real reforms to the school lunch and breakfast programs by improving the critical nutrition and hunger safety net for millions of children.

 

Final Rule (pdf): Cooperation in USDA Studies and Evaluations, and Full Use of Federal Funds in Nutrition Assistance Programs Nondiscretionary Provisions of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, Public Law 111-296 (6/29/11)


Priceless: School Lunch
 
"Priceless" launched the One Tray campaign depicting the cafeteria tray as the conduit for a reformed school food system that supports healthy children, local farms, and smart schools. The video was created by three IATP Food and Society Fellows, Shalini Kantayya, Nicole Betancourt, and Debra Eschmeyer to raise awareness for the Child Nutrition Act.
 

Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture stated “National School Lunch Week reminds us how important it is that our children be healthy and active, that they not go hungry, and that they have access to nutritious meals." 

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