November 15, America Recycles Day and Use Less Stuff Day

November 15, 2012: America Recycles Day; Use Less Stuff Day; 

Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day; Great American Smokeout

America Recycles Day is dedicated to the promotion of recycling programs in the United States. Since 1997, communities across the country have come together on November 15th to celebrate America Recycles Day.

Keep America Beautiful believes each of us holds an obligation to preserve and protect our environment. Through our everyday choices and actions, we collectively have a huge impact on our world. Keep America Beautiful follows a practical approach that unites citizens, businesses and government to find solutions advancing core issues of preventing litter, reducing waste, and beautifying communities.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

According to the U.S. EPA (US Environmental Protection Agency), recycling:
*Conserves natural resources to help sustain the environment.
*Reduces the need for landfilling and incineration.
*Saves energy and prevents pollution.

Recycle Guys in the Supermarket

How You Can Help

1. Each community has different standards for what can be recycled and how to do it. Visit Keep America Beautiful and enter your zip code for your local information and resources.

2. Plastic. Look for the recycling symbol on plastic packaging or containers. #1 and #2 plastics should be accepted by almost every recycler.

3. Cans. Aluminum and steel cans are always welcomed by recyclers, and most metals can be recycled infinitely with no loss of quality.

4. Recycling and Traveling. Keep two trash bags in your vehicle - one bag for garbage, and one for recyclables. Pre-sorting makes it easier to transfer your recyclables to the proper container once you’ve reached your destination.

5. Recycle your wireless phone. Millions of out-of-service phones are waiting to be reused or recycled. Find a local charity with a phone recycling program, or visit http://www.kab.org/  to download a postage-paid mailing label and return your unused phones.

6. Paper. In addition to newspaper recycling, most communities will accept corrugated cardboard, and some will even accept junk mail, catalogs and phone books.

7. Electronics. Never throw old computers, monitors, TV’s, printers, or other electronics in the landfill. Instead, donate them to a local charity for reuse, or find out about your local e-cycling programs.

8. Reduce the amount of trash you throw away and reuse products before you throw them out or recycle them. This creates the least impact on the planet and our resources. 

The Thursday before Thanksgiving is "Use Less Stuff Day." The purpose of this day is to raise awareness to the amount of garbage produced in American between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. The estimated extra waste amounts to 25 million tons of garbage.

Through education, and in collaboration with many individuals and organizations around the world, the aim of Just-Use-Less.com  is to share the message of common sense, timeless wisdom, and gratitude for what we have been given. Just Use Less.

Ways to Use Less Stuff During the Holidays and Any Time

Plan meals using portion control to minimize waste. Recommendations: Food/Drink Portion Per Person Turkey 3 ounce, without bone Stuffing 1/4 cup Sweet Potato Casserole 1/3 - 1/2 cup Green Beans 1/2 cup Cranberry relish 2 to 3 Tablespoons Pumpkin Pie 1/8 - 1/10 of a 9" pie

After a party, put leftovers in plastic containers or bags and send them home with guests, or donate to food banks.

Bring your own camera instead of using disposable cameras.

Cancel mail order catalogues you know longer use.

Bring your own shopping bags.

Consolidate your purchases into one bag rather than getting a new bag at each store.

Plan your shopping in advance. Save money on fuel by making fewer trips to the stores. Avoid last minute shopping when you won’t have time to make careful gift choices.

Consider giving gift certificates or making a donation to a favorite charity in your friend/family's name.

Give homemade food or something you’ve made yourself from reused items.

Shop for gifts at antique stores, estate sales or flea markets, since one person’s trash is another’s treasure.

When buying electronics, remember to buy rechargeable batteries to go with them.

Send e-greetings to family, friends and business associates who are on-line. Did you know about 2.65 billion Christmas cards are sold each year in the US?

Get a tree that can be planted or mulched afterward, or buy an artificial one.

Compost your food waste. Fruits and vegetables and their peels, pits and seeds are all perfect for composting, a great natural fertilizer.

Resource: The Use Less Stuff Report

The Use Less Stuff Report (ULS) Bob Lilienfeld is the editor of The ULS Report, a newsletter aimed at spreading the benefits of source reduction. The goal of ULS is to help people make more informed decisions about the products and packages they take home every day.  

October is National Pretzel Month

How Pretzels are Made

Pretzels with Dips

A Look at Pretzel Commercials Over the Last 39 Years

In 1971, the use of the word "Salt", did not have the negative effects it has today -

as seen in the Mister Salty Pretzel's commercial below.

Today, the popular advertisement words are Sustainability or Renewable.

 

August 26, 2012 National Dog Day Health Benefits of Having a Dog

Studies have found that:
• Pet owners are less likely to suffer from depression than those without pets.
• People with pets have lower blood pressure in stressful situations than those without pets.
• Playing with a pet can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine, which calm and relax.
• Pet owners have lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels than those without pets.
• Heart attack patients with pets survive longer than those without.
• Pet owners over age 65 make 30 percent fewer visits to their doctors than those without pets.

Caring for a pet can help with those healthy lifestyle changes by:

• Increasing exercise. Exercise doesn’t have to involve boring repetition at a gym. Taking a dog for a walk, riding a horse, or simply chasing a kitten around are fun ways to fit healthy daily exercise into your schedule.

• Providing companionship. Isolation and loneliness can make disorders such as depression even worse. Caring for a living animal can help make you feel needed and wanted, and take the focus away from your problems. Most pet owners talk to their pets, some even use them to work through their troubles.

• Helping meet new people. Pets can be a great social lubricant for their owners. Dog owners frequently stop and talk to each other on walks or in a dog park. Pet owners also meet new people in pet stores, clubs, and training classes.
• Reducing anxiety. The companionship of a dog can offer comfort, help ease anxiety, and build self-confidence for people anxious about going out into the world.
• Adding structure and routine to your day. Many pets, especially dogs, require a regular feeding and exercise schedule. No matter your mood—depressed, anxious, or stressed—you’ll always have to get out of bed to feed, exercise, and care for your pet.
• Providing sensory stress relief. Touch and movement are two healthy ways to quickly manage stress. This could involve petting a cat or taking a dog for a walk.

Pets and older adults
The key to aging well is to effectively handle life’s major changes, such as retirement, the loss of loved ones, and the physical changes of aging. Pets can play an important role in healthy aging by:
• Helping you find meaning and joy in life. As you age, you’ll lose things that previously occupied your time and gave your life purpose. You may retire from your career or your children may move far away. Caring for a pet can bring pleasure and help boost your morale and optimism. Taking care of an animal can also provide a sense of self-worth.
• Staying connected. Maintaining a social network isn’t always easy as you grow older. Retirement, illness, death, and moves can take away close friends and family members. And making new friends can get harder. Dogs especially are a great way for seniors to spark up conversations and meet new people.
• Boosting vitality. You can overcome many of the physical challenges associated with aging by taking good care of yourself. Pets encourage playfulness, laughter, and exercise, which can help boost your immune system and increase your energy.

Resources and References

American Humane Association

5 Ways Pets Can Improve Your Health
The Therapeutic Benefits of Pets

Edible Art: Olympic Colors

The symbol of the Olympic Games is composed of five interlocking rings, colored blue, yellow, black, green, and red on a white field. This was originally designed in 1912 by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, adopted in June 1914 and debuted at the 1920 Antwerp Olympics.

The Olympic Charter states the Olympic symbol represents the union of the five regions of the world and the meeting of athletes from throughout the world at the Olympic Games.

Olympic Colors made from fresh foods.

Olympic Cups and Skewers

Cup: Layer raspberries, blackberries, kiwi, yellow squash, and blueberries in a dessert cup.

Skewer: Use a wooden skewer. Add the following fruits and/or  vegetables: zucchini or kiwi; yellow squash or grapefruit; blueberries; raspberries; and black berries.

Serve skewer in Olympic cups.

Nutrition Information.

41 Calories

1 g Protein

10 g Carbohydrates
3 g Dietary Fiber

0 g Fat

0 g Saturated Fat

0 mg Cholesterol
36 mg Vitamin C

1 mg Sodium 

Resource.
Factsheet the Games of the Olympiad
Wikipedia, Olympic Symbols

July is National Hot Dog Month

National Hot Dog and Sausage Council
How It's Made - Hot Dogs
U.S. Laws Regulating Hot Dogs
Food Safety
Hot Dogs and Nutrition
Hot Dogs and Sodium Nitrate
Choking risk
Commercials Then and Now

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce designated July as National Hot Dog Month in 1957. The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (http://www.hot-dog.org) is an organization created in 1994 by the American Meat Institute and is funded by contributions from hot dog and sausage manufacturers and suppliers of equipment, ingredients and services. The Council conducts scientific research and provides information to consumers and media on questions related to quality, safety, nutrition and preparation of hot dogs and sausages.

What's In A Hot Dog by Joy Bauer

How It's Made - Hot Dogs  

U.S. Laws Regulating Hot Dogs (http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/hot_dogs/index.asp)
A hot dog, frankfurter or wiener is a cooked sausage. They are made from beef, pork, veal, turkey, chicken, or a combination and the label must state the type of meat and other foods used.

Federal Standards of Identity.
1. Hot dogs may not contain more than 30% fat or no more than 10% water.
2. Beef or all-beef: Contains only beef with no soybean protein or dry milk solid fillers added.
3. Kosher: All-beef, usually heavily seasoned.
4. Frankfurter may contain up to 3.5 percent fillers and made from a combination of meats.
5. Turkey or Chicken Franks can contain turkey or chicken and turkey or chicken skin and fat in proportion to a turkey or chicken carcass.
6. If variety meats, cereal or soy fillers are used, the product name must be changed to "links" or the presence must be declared on the label. Hot dogs can be 15% byproducts; heart, kidney, liver or other organs. But it must be labeled.
7. Up to 3.5% non-meat binders and extenders (such as nonfat dry milk, cereal, or dried whole milk) or 2% isolated soy protein may be used, but must be shown in the ingredients statement on the product's label by its common name.
8. If a hot dog has a casing, or a thin skin and it is different than the meat used in the hot dog, the label must say so. For example, if a chicken hot dog has a pork casing, the label must list the pork casing on the ingredients list. If the casing is artificially colored, the label must indicate this
9. All ingredients in the product must be listed in the ingredients statement in order of predominance, from highest to lowest amounts.
10. To protect consumers against Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, mechanically separated beef is considered inedible and is prohibited for use as food. It is not permitted in hot dogs or any other processed product. (Mechanically separated meat is a process whereby meat is separated from the bone by scraping, shaving, or pressing the meat from the bone without crushing, breaking or grinding the bone.)
11. Mechanically separated pork is permitted and must be labeled as "mechanically separated pork" in the ingredients statement. Hot dogs can contain no more than 20% mechanically separated pork.
12. Hot dogs can contain any amount of mechanically separated chicken or turkey.
 

A vegetarian hot dog is a hot dog produced completely from non-meat products. Vegetarian hot dogs are usually from some sort of soy protein, but some contain egg whites (not acceptable to vegans). There are also vegetarian hot dogs made from tofu.

Food Safety
1. Hot dogs should be reheated until steaming hot before eating, due to the threat of listeriosis.
2. If there is no product date, hot dogs can be safely stored in the refrigerator in the unopened package for 2 weeks; once opened, only 1 week.
3. Frozen hot dogs maintain their quality for about 1 or 2 months.
4. Do not leave hot dogs at room temperature for more than 2 hours and no more than 1 hour when the temperature goes above 90 °F.
 

Hot Dogs and Nutrition
The traditional hot dog is high in fat and salt, and contains very little or no fiber. Yet Americans typically consume 7 billion hot dogs during Hot Dog Season which runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Below is a list of hot dogs, from beef, pork, turkey, low fat, no fat and vegetarian. Moderation, individual needs and preferences are key to planning your meals. If you are someone that eats hot dogs more than once a week, it might be wise to choose a lower-fat variety.

The analysis provided is based on 2 ounces cooked. It is important to read the label and check the portion size. Some of the hot dogs listed below were rounded up to 2 ounces in order to show a comparison of equal weight.

Hot Dogs and Sodium Nitrate/Nitrite

Many brands of hot dogs contain sodium nitrite and nitrate. It is used as a food preservative, flavor enhancer, prevents spoilage and helps prevent botulism. Sodium nitrite and nitrate occur naturally in some vegetables, fruits, grains, spices and water. In the 1970’s there were a number of studies that linked the consumption of nitrite with cancer in laboratory rats.

As a result, the FDA and the USDA commissioned a comprehensive review of sodium nitrite's role as a food additive. The results from the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) stated that nitrite does not cause cancer, although exposure to high nitrite levels in certain populations may be associated with cancers. The NAS recommended people's exposure to both nitrates and nitrites be reduced as much as possible without endangering the protection against botulism.

The meat industry made substantial changes in the past 20 years to address the concerns about nitrite in cured meats. It reduced the use of nitrite in the processing of cured meats and now averages one-tenth of what the regulations allow.

In a Consumer Report analysis, it was found that the nitrates and nitrites in all the hot dogs tested were well below the maximum level for the additives established by the USDA. A hot dog labeled uncured cannot add nitrates or nitrites, but that does not necessarily mean the product is free of them. The three uncured hot dogs tested contained nitrites and nitrates because the compounds occur naturally in spices and other natural ingredients added during processing.

As I reviewed the literature, it was clear the controversy over nitrites causing cancer still exists today. The American Institute for Cancer Research report found that consuming one 50-gram serving of processed meat (about one hot dog) every day increases the risk of colorectal cancer by 20 percent. According to the AICR, the average risk of colorectal cancer is 5.8 percent, but 7 percent when a hot dog is consumed daily over years.

Choking Risk

Policy Statement Prevention of Choking Among Children, American Academy of Pediatrics http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/peds.2009-2862v1 (pdf)

Hot dogs present a significant choking risk, especially for children under 14 years of age. Seventeen percent of all food-related asphyxiations are caused by hot dogs. It is suggested the size, shape and texture of hot dogs be modified to reduce the risk of choking. Pediatric emergency doctors note that a wedged hot dog is almost impossible to dislodge from a child's windpipe. To serve hot dogs safely for children, one should slice the hot dog into bite-size pieces. For adults it is recommended to slice hot dogs down the middle length-wise.

Commercials Then and Now

Hebrew National Hotdog Commercial

1978 commercial for Oscar Mayer Hot Dog Wieners. Hot diggity!

OSCAR MAYER, 1960’s

Hot Dog Commercial (2010)

OSCAR MAYER Selects. They're a great way to re-connect with your family.

Create a Kid-friendly Kitchen

June is Home Safety Month and the
 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has prepared tips to

Cooking and spending time in the kitchen is fun for kids, and also provides parents with an opportunity to teach children about healthy nutrition. Here are tips to create a kid-friendly kitchen:

Cooking with Kids - Kitchen Safety - The Smart Shopper

From the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Kids Eat Right program.

Kids Eat Right, Monday Message for June 4, 2012

Article of the Week

Help your child become a better eater by inviting one of
their friends to dinner. http://bit.ly/KRMCpL

Hot Tip

Looking for nutrition powerhouse that's easy to prepare?
Look to potatoes! http://bit.ly/KRMZAG

Recipe of the Week

It's asparagus season. Try this delectable veggie grilled,
steamed or broiled! http://bit.ly/L4FtD9

Featured Video

These 15 minute pickles are a great alternative to chips.
Plus they're fast and easy to prepare.  http://bit.ly/uT8c5g  

15 Minute Pickles

Kids Eat Right, Monday Message for May 28, 2012

Article of the Week

Young people with a positive image of themselves don’t obsess about calories, food or weight. 

4 ways to give your child the gift of a positive body image. http://bit.ly/K0Ynv3  

Hot Tip

Pack food right from the refrigerator into your picnic cooler
immediately before leaving home. http://bit.ly/KuWAOp 

Recipe of the Week

Pick up a precooked pork loin roast from your
supermarket deli counter to make these
quick sandwiches for your kids. http://bit.ly/KZLrmG  

Featured Video

Want to give your kids a tasty, creamy snack that hits the spot on hot days? 

Try Mom's Mango Smoothie! http://bit.ly/pYWKAl  

The Kids Eat Right Monday Message is a benefit of the Kids Eat Right Campaign Volunteer program.

May 25, 2012 Nutrition Highlights, Events, and Food Finds

Heat Safety Awareness
Brown-Bag-It Day
Gifts from the Garden

Cooking with Spaghetti Squash

National Brown-Bag-It Day

Gifts from the Garden Month

Not yet, but in about 6 to 8 weeks I should have a
garden filled with fresh vegetables.

Cooking with Spaghetti Squash

Recipe Makeover: Bon Appétit Slow-Roasted Salmon with Cherry Tomatoes and Couscous

The original recipe is located at the following link: Slow-Roasted Salmon with Cherry Tomatoes and Couscous 

With some slight changes and portion control, you can save over 200 calories, 10 g fat, 30 mg Cholesterol, and 237 mg Sodium.

Modified Slow-Roasted Salmon with
Cherry Tomatoes and Couscous

Ingredients
Yogurt Sauce
1 cup plain low fat Greek yogurt
1/2 cup plain low fat yogurt
3 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest

Salmon
5 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1/2 bunch dill fronds
1/2 bunch thyme sprigs
3-pound center-cut skin-on salmon fillet (prepare 4 oz cooked Salmon per person)
8 ounces small cherry tomatoes on the vine

Tomatoes and Couscous
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
1 cup Israeli couscous, dry (1/2 cup cooked per person)
1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Directions
Yogurt Sauce. Mix yogurts, dill, chives, and lemon zest in a medium bowl until well combined. Can be prepared 3 days ahead. Cover and chill.

Salmon. Preheat oven to 325°. Pour 3 Tbsp. oil in a roasting pan just large enough to fit the salmon. Make a bed of herbs in bottom of pan; top with salmon, skin side down. Drizzle salmon with remaining 2 Tbsp. oil. Top with tomatoes. Bake until salmon is just cooked through in the center (a small knife will slide easily through flesh), 25–30 minutes.

Tomatoes and Couscous. Toss tomatoes in a medium bowl with 2 Tbsp. oil and parsley. Set aside. Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Add couscous and cook until tender, about 7 minutes. Drain couscous; transfer to a large bowl. Stir in butter and 1 Tbsp. oil. Gently fold tomatoes into couscous.

Serving. Use a large spoon or fork to serve salmon, leaving skin in pan. Serve with yogurt sauce and couscous.

The Patient, Physician and Nutrition

Are you eating well?
Is not a medical nutrition diagnostic tool.

When was the last time your physician asked you -

what are you eating?

By the time a nutrition deficiency

shows up in your laboratory test -

Prevention is too late.

Contact the

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

to find a Registered Dietitian

in your area.

www.eatright.org

Stamp Out Hunger with the National Association of Letter Carriers on May 12, 2012

On Saturday, May 12, 2012, the National Association of Letter Carriers will do their part to Stamp Out Hunger across America. Now in its 20th year, the Stamp Out Hunger effort is the nation's largest single-day food drive. In 2011, 70.2 million pounds of food was donated, which brought the grand total of donations to more than 1.1 billion pounds of food collected over the history of the drive.

Donate items, such as canned meats, fish, soup, bottled juice, vegetables, pasta, cereal and rice that do not require refrigeration. Please do not include items that have expired or are in glass containers.

Stamp Out Hunger 2012 

Who's Hungry in America?

Remember to help out on May 12, 2012.

Place non-perishable food products in a bag and leave at your mailbox.
Your Letter Carrier will deliver the food to local food banks.

To find out how you can help go to

Stamp out Hunger Food Drive

Nutrition Education for Older Adults, No 7

Choose nutrient-dense foods. 

Nutrition Education for Older Adults, #6

Nutrition Education for Older Adults, #5