April is Fresh Florida Tomato Month Discover the Benefits, Planting Methods and Delicious Recipes

April is Fresh Florida Tomato Month and 

April 6th is Fresh Tomato Day.

Tomatoes are Low in Calories and rich in Vitamin C.

They are fun and easy to grow, indoors or outdoors.

Florida Tomatoes - So Delicious

Ten Health Benefits of Tomatoes
1. Tomatoes are the most concentrated food source of lycopene. Lycopene is an antioxidant that may play a role in the prevention and treatment of some cancers, such as colon, prostrate, breast, lung and pancreatic cancers.

2. Tomatoes are low in calories. One medium-sized tomato (about five ounces) has 25 calories, a great snack to include on a weight control program.

3. Tomatoes are high in Vitamin C. One-cup tomato provides about 78 percent of the daily value (DV)1. Consuming foods rich in vitamin C helps the body resist infection and aides in wound healing.

4. Tomatoes are a good source of fiber. One cup of diced tomatoes provides 7.9 percent of the DV for fiber. Studies show fiber may lower high blood cholesterol levels, aid in maintaining stable blood sugar levels and help an individual feel full longer.

5. One cup of tomatoes contains 22.4 percent of the DV for vitamin A. Vitamin A plays an important role in vision and night blindness.

6. Tomatoes are a good source of potassium (11.4% DV per one cup). Research indicates diets high in potassium can reduce the risk of heart disease and hypertension.

7. Tomatoes enhance the flavor and color of meals making food more appealing.

8. Tomatoes contain chromium; a mineral associated with helping people with diabetes control their blood sugar levels.

9. Vitamin B2, also known as riboflavin is found in tomatoes. One cup of tomatoes provides 5.1 percent of the DV for riboflavin. Studies on riboflavin show they may prevent migraines.

10. Tomatoes are a source of folate (6.8% DV per one cup). Folate has been shown to reduce the risk of stroke, heart disease and neurological defects in the fetus.

1 The Daily Value (DV) of foods comes from the Reference Daily Intake or Recommended Daily Intake (RDI). DV provides a frame of reference to evaluate the nutrients consumed.

Tomato Wellness – Snacks

Are you looking for some ideas of affordable, healthy snacks, that you can make out of products you already have in your cupboard? Corinne Dobbas, MS, RD stops in to show us some great easy treats that will keep your body nourished and provide you some great disease fighting dishes that everyone will enjoy!

Growing Tomatoes

 

Recipes
Time is ripe  by John Tanasychuk, Staff Writer, Sun-Sentinel
Tomatoes are making a comeback after Florida's winter freeze.

The article contains information on storage, handling, preparation and nutrition information. John includes 10 quick tomato recipes, including; one of my favorites, "Tomato Napoleons". To prepare cut peeled tomatoes into four crosswise slices. Layer with mascarpone cheese spiked with fresh dill and slivered smoked salmon. Serve on greens with toast. (Nutrition Information: 172 Calories; 8 g Protein; 18 g Carbohydrates; 3 g Dietary Fiber; 8 g Fat; 3.7 g Saturated Fat; 21 mg Cholesterol; 1229 IU Vitamin A; 24 mg Vitamin C; 97 IU Vitamin D ; 366 mg Potassium; 299 mg Sodium)

Resources
Florida Tomatoes
Tomato Products Wellness Council

National Autism Awareness Month Judy Converse, MPH, RD, LD A Look at Nutrition and Autism

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that manifests itself during the first three years of life. The rate of autism in all regions of the world is high and it has a tremendous impact on children, their families, communities and societies.

Throughout its history, the United Nations family has promoted the rights and well-being of the disabled, including children with developmental disabilities. In 2008, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities entered into force, reaffirming the fundamental principle of universal human rights for all.

The United Nations General Assembly unanimously declared April 2nd as World Autism Awareness Day to highlight the need to help improve the lives of children and adults who suffer from the disorder so they can lead full and meaningful lives.

World Autism Awareness Day 2011
Message by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

National Autism Awareness Month

The Autism Society, the nation’s leading grassroots autism organization, exists to improve the lives of all affected by autism. They do this by increasing public awareness about the day-to-day issues faced by people on the spectrum, advocating for appropriate services for individuals across the lifespan, and providing the latest information regarding treatment, education, research and advocacy.

Founded in 1965 by Dr. Bernard Rimland, Dr. Ruth Sullivan and many other parents of children with autism. The Autism Society is the leading source of reliable information about autism. The Autism Society's Advisory Panel is comprised solely of individuals with autism. They help Autism Society staff create programs and services that will advocate for the rights of all people with autism to live fulfilling, interdependent lives.

Nutrition and Autism

For decades nutrition and diet therapies have been used to treat people with autism, yet no single protocol has emerged. The development of individualized nutritional assessment and a plan of care is crucial in meeting the needs of people with autism.

Research has shown nutritional deficiencies can impair learning, growth, and development in all children. Children with autism have nutrition problems and gastrointestinal issues more often than other children. These problems can present developmental challenges.

Judy Converse, MPH, RD, LD is a registered dietitian and the founder of Nutrition Care for Children, LLC (NCPA). She specializes in autism diets, special diets, biomedical interventions for autism, nutrition-focused strategies for babies and kids that help them learn, grow, and thrive.

Judy provides nutrition services for children ages 0-21, and works with non-profits, federal programs, and nutrition companies to provide education, training, and support on how nutrition and diets work for children with special needs.

The goal of NCPA is to assess nutritional status and develop a plan of care to "restore adequate and appropriate sources for calories, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates and correct essential mineral deficits. This can accommodate users of a variety of special diets."

For families affected by autism, gluten is one of the first items to be evaluated. Gluten sensitivity can have devastating effects on learning, growth, and behavior. Many studies have shown improvement in these factors when a gluten-free diet is followed.

To learn more about the work of Judy Converse, MPH, RD, LD follow her online at:
Website. Nutrition Care for Children
Website. Special Needs Kids Go Pharm-Free
Blog. Nutrition Care for Children
Twitter. @NutrCareAutism
LinkedIn. Judy Converse, MPH, RD, LD
Facebook. Nutrition Care for Children
Facebook. Special Needs Kids Go Pharm-Free

April Wellness NewsTopics for Journalists, Writers, Educators and Bloggers

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

April 2011 Highlighs

National Autism Awareness Month; April 2nd World Autism Day

Keep America Beautiful (3/1 - 5/31)

Global Child Nutrition Month

National Volunteer Month

Alcohol Awareness Month
Cancer Control Month

Child Abuse Prevention Month

Defeat Diabetes Month

Stress Awareness Month

IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) Month

National Donate Life Month

National Occupational Therapy Month

National Parkinson's Awareness Month 

Physical Wellness Month 

World Habitat Awareness Month
Fresh Florida Tomatoes Month

National Garden Month

National Pecan Month

National Soft Pretzel Month

Soyfoods Month 

National Youth Sports Safety Month

Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month 

 

Jazz Appreciation Month

April 22, 2011 - Earth Day

 

Creating Meals with Many Colors

During the past 4 weeks we introduced the benefits of eating foods with different colors (red, pink, orange, yellow, blue, purple, white and black).  Today is the last day of National Nutrition Month, so it's time to create meals using the many colors. The video illustrates the beauty of adding color to your meals. 

Book Review: “The Skinny Rules”, the 101 secrets every skinny girl knows

“The Skinny Rules,
the 101 secrets every skinny girl knows."

When I first heard the title of the book “Skinny Rules”, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The word skinny conjures up images of people underweight and malnourished. However, Molly Morgan, a registered dietitian and the author explains in the introduction – “Skinny is living a healthy and active lifestyle and it is not the size of the clothes you wear”.  In fact, the Skinny Rules are part of a healthy and fun journey through situations, events, physical activities, and fashion.

The suggestions and recipes are excellent and well researched from current experts in the field of nutrition and dietetics. The book is organized and easy to follow.

After reading the book, the title made sense. Many people strive to be skinny and Molly makes it a wonderful and healthy adventure.

About Molly Morgan, RD, CDN

Molly Morgan is a registered dietitian who counsels individual and corporate clients on good nutrition through her company, Creative Nutrition Solutions.

Her expertise is in the areas of nutrition communication and sports nutrition. As the nutrition consultant for the Ottawa and Binghamton Senators (NHL/ AHL hockey) Molly creates interactive workshops for players at all levels of the organization. Additionally she works individually with players and their families to create custom performance focused meal plans.

Molly has been featured as a nutrition expert by numerous media sources and publications including: CNN, Fitness, Health, Men’s Health, Readers Digest, Self, Shape, and Women’s Health.

Molly has won numerous awards in the area of nutrition promotion from The New York State Education Department and has been published in the Journal of Health Promotion and Practice (April 2009). She has been a presenter at the CDC Prevention and Wellness Summit and presents to numerous coaches and athlete workshops including New York State Association for Health and Physical Educators and New York State Public High School Athletic Association.

Molly is a member of the American Dietetic Association, New York State Dietetic Association, and numerous practice groups. She is certified in Adolescent and Pediatric Weight Management

To learn more about Molly, visit her online at:

Website. Creative Nutrition Solutions
Blog. Simply Nutrition
LinkedIn.  Molly Morgan 
Facebook.  Molly Morgan
Facebook. The Skinny Rules
YouTube.  Molly Morgan
Twitter.  @mollymorganrd

March 26, 2011 Earth Hour at 8:30 PM local time

Earth Hour 2011 Reminder.
Be a part of a Worldwide Event.
Today at 8:30 pm local time join the World
in turning off your lights for one hour.

Hundreds of millions get set to switch off and go beyond the hour

Within hours, people in a record 134 countries and territories across the globe will switch off their lights for an hour in a unified show of support for action towards a sustainable future for our planet.

About Earth Hour
Earth Hour is a global initiative in partnership with WWF (World Wildlife Fund). Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour on Saturday March 26, 2011 at 8:30 PM to show their support for environmentally sustainable action. The event began in Sydney in 2007, through a partnership between WWF Australia, Leo Burnett and Fairfax Media, when 2 million people in one city switched off their lights. By 2010, Earth Hour had created history as the largest voluntary action ever witnessed with participation across 128 countries and territories and every continent, including the world’s most recognized man-made marvels and natural wonders in a landmark environmental action.

About WWF
WWF is one of the world's largest and most experienced independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global Network active in more than 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

Hundreds of landmarks in thousands of cities will go dark at 8:30pm Saturday local time, as hundreds of millions of people take part in the world’s largest voluntary action for the environment. And with individuals, organizations and governments this year pledging to take their Earth Hour commitment beyond the hour, it won’t end when the lights come back on.

“As we head into the fifth Earth Hour, with a record number of countries and territories taking part, it is inspiring to see what we can achieve when we come together for a common purpose,” said Andy Ridley, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Earth Hour. “Imagine what we can achieve if we go beyond the hour.”

The event will cross the globe over 24 hours, from the first lights being dimmed in Fiji and New Zealand to lights being turned on again in Samoa. The transition will last longest in Russia, where 11 time zones are covered.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has pledged his support for Earth Hour saying: “Let us join together to celebrate this shared quest to protect the planet and ensure human well-being. Let us use 60 minutes of darkness to help the world see the light.”

Resources.
How You Can Help

50 Ways to Never Waste Food Again. Simple ideas that make a big difference in your budget and help save resources too.

To learn more about how you can be involved visit Earth Hour, 2011

International World Water Day March 22, 2011

International World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

An international day to celebrate freshwater was recommended at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). The United Nations General Assembly responded by designating 22 March 1993 as the first World Water Day. Each year, World Water Day highlights a specific aspect of freshwater. 

The objective of World Water Day 2011 is to focus international attention on the impact of rapid urban population growth, industrialization and uncertainties caused by climate change, conflicts and natural disasters on urban water systems.

This year theme, Water for cities: responding to the urban challenge, aims to spotlight and encourage governments, organizations, communities, and individuals to actively engage in addressing the challenges of urban water management.  

World Water Day 2011
Message by the UN Deputy Secretary-General
United Nations, New York, 22 March 2011 
UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro
delivers a message for World Water Day 2011 (22 March),

on the theme "Water for Cities: Responding to the Urban Challenge."

Water Has No Substitue; Share It Wisely. The National Geographic Society’s freshwater initiative is a multi-year global effort to inspire and empower individuals and communities to conserve freshwater and preserve the extraordinary diversity of life that rivers, lakes, and wetlands sustain.

Why Care About Water?

Diabetes Alert Day March 22, 2011

The American Diabetes Association has designated March 22, 2011 as Diabetes Alert Day.

The American Diabetes Association is at the forefront of the fight to prevent, treat, and cure diabetes. They provide education, promote awareness, advocate on behalf of diabetes patients and are the authoritative source on diabetes in the United States.

To learn more about the American Diabetes Association and events planned for Diabetes Alert day, Visit American Diabetes Association Alert Day

Great American Meatout Day March 20, 2011

About Meatout
Meatout is an international event exposing the public to the benefits of plant-based foods, while promoting the availability and selection alternatives to meat and dairy in mainstream grocery stores, restaurants, and catering operations. Meatout was launched in 1985 and is coordinated each year by FARM, a national nonprofit, public interest organization. FARM advocates plant-based (vegan) diets to save animals, protect the environment, and improve health.

Meatout TV Ad

Meatout has grown to become the world's “largest annual grassroots diet education campaign”. Participants are asked to "kick the meat habit on March 20 (first day of spring) and explore a wholesome, diet of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Meatout Facts:
•Over 30 million Americans have explored a meat-free diet.
•One in five teens thinks vegetarianism is "cool."
•National beef and veal consumption have dropped by 25 and 70%, respectively.
•Major manufacturers and retailers are marketing meat-free and dairy-free meals.
•Several national fast food chains are offering veggie burgers and several major baseball parks are selling veggie dogs.

Meatout Mondays
To keep the spirit of Meatout alive throughout the year, Meatout Mondays were developed. Those who sign up for Meatout Mondays pledge to eat compassionate plant-based foods every Monday. Each subscriber receives a weekly colorful e-mail containing recipes, product suggestions, health news, encouragement, and inspiration. To view past issues, click here.

The Benefits of Meatout
"Kicking the meat habit" holds lasting benefits for consumer health, world hunger, resource conservation, environmental quality, and animal protection.

Kicking the meat habit reduces our risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, and other chronic diseases that cripple and kill nearly 1.4 million Americans annually.

Kicking the meat habit raises our energy level, lowers our food budget, and simplifies food preparation and cleanup.

Kicking the meat habit preserves our topsoil, water, and other food production resources vital to the survival of our children and their children.

Kicking the meat habit protects our forests, grasslands, and other wildlife habitats.

Kicking the meat habit saves animals from caging, crowding, deprivation, drugging, mutilation, manhandling, and agonizing slaughter. Each person who adopts a plant-based diet saves over 80 innocent animals each year. Over a lifetime, an individual can save more than 6,000 animals just by going vegan.

To learn more, visit the Meatout website.
A free Vegetarian Starter Kit is available at http://www.vegkit.org/.

Introducing the Green Foods National Nutrition Month

Green Foods

Host: Grace

Food Sources

Alfalfa, Artichokes, Arugula, Asparagus, Avocado, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccoli rabe, Brussels Sprouts, Celery, Chives, Collard Greens, Cucumbers, Dandelion Greens, Edamame, Endive, Fennel, Green apples, Green Beans, Green cabbage, Green Grapes, Green Olives, Green Onion, Green Pears, Green Peas, Green Pepper, Green Tomatoes, Honeydew, Kale, Kiwi, Leeks, Lettuce, Limes, Mint, Okra, Oregano, Parsley, Pistachios, Snow Peas, Spinach, Sugar snap peas, Swiss Chard, Tarragon, Tomatillo, Wasabi, Watercress, Zucchini.

Do you know other foods that are Green?

Ways to increase Green Food Intake:
•Add spinach or broccoli when cooking pasta, rice or soup.
•Freeze green grapes for a sweet snack.
•Add thin slices of green apples or zucchini on a sandwich.

About Green Fruits and Vegetables.
Green in plants signifies the presence of the plant pigment chlorophyll. The nutrients found in these fruits and vegetables may reduce cancer risks, lower blood pressure, and LDL cholesterol levels, improve vision, enhance the immune system, and fight harmful free radicals.

Green fruits and vegetables are rich in many vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, folate, vitamin C, and beta-carotene (vitamin A). They contain phytochemicals such as luteins and indoles, which may reduce the risk of heart disease. They are high in fiber and support a healthy digestive system.

Definitions:
Phytonutrients (or phytochemicals) are found in plants. They are part of what gives fruits and vegetables their colors. Phytonutrients help protect plants from diseases found in the environment and protect us in a similar way. Studies have linked an increase of fruit and vegetable intake with lowering the risk of specific cancers and heart disease. The following list describes how phytonutrients may also help protect human health.
1. Act as an antioxidant.
2. Improves immune response.
3. Improves cell-to-cell communication.
4. Destroys cancer cells.
5. Repairs DNA damage caused by toxins in the environment.

Antioxidants. As the body uses oxygen, there are by-products (known as “free radicals”) that can cause damage to cells. Antioxidants can prevent or slow down the damage caused by these free radicals and decrease the risk of many chronic diseases, such as heart disease and cancer. Antioxidants may also improve the immune defense and lower the risk of infection. Some examples of antioxidants include vitamin A (beta-carotene), vitamin C, vitamin E, lutein, lycopene and flavonoids.

Wellness News employs young adults with "Special Needs" (Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Down Syndrome, Muscular Dystrophy). My staff started the project in September 2010. Over the next five months, we would take over 600 photographs of colorful foods in order to create the March presentation for NNM. Many of the photographs are available for purchase with the proceeds going to special need young adults. Contact Dr. Sandra Frank for additional information (recipenews@gmail.com).

Prepared by
http://www.dietitians-online.com/
http://www.weighing-success.com/
Wellness News (www.weighing-success.com/WellnessNews.html)
http://www.wheelchair-connection.com/
Sandra Frank, Ed.D, RD, LDN
Jake Frank
Lance Li

Jonathan Cruz