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

What a Difference Some Color Can Make!

Book Review: The Small Change Diet, 10 Steps to a Thinner, Healthier You

A weight control program emphasizing small changes and a lifetime of health. The author, Keri Gans, a registered dietitian shares her simple steps to achieving healthy, continued weight loss by making small adjustments that often lead to the biggest impacts. The key is mastering one new habit before expecting yourself to tackle another.

Each chapter describes a step in the program and excuses used "not to succeed"; tips to overcoming these excuses and a short review to see if you're ready to move onto the next step.

Take your time! Once you’ve completed all ten steps, you’ll feel healthier and thinner for a lifetime. The Small Change Diet turns "unhealthy" habits into healthy new habits that become second nature.

A great book for an individual looking for a refreshing and practical guide to achieving permanent weight control, while learning to enjoy healthy foods. Also, a terrific resource for registered dietitians who want to learn how to handle obstacles and excuses they may experience with their clients.

I found myself smiling each time Keri mentioned an excuse – I’ve used in the past or my readers have asked me.

Here is Keri Gans, MS, RD, CDN in her own words
as she describes "The Small Change Diet."

 

About the Author: Keri Gans, MS, RD, CDN

Keri Gans is a Registered Dietitian in private practice in Manhattan. She holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Nutrition from New York University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Ohio University. Before working solely in private practice Keri was a clinical staff dietitian at St. Lukes Roosevelt Hospital in Manhattan and North General Hospital in Harlem.

Keri has made numerous television appearances, including ABC Eyewitness News, Good Morning America, Discovery Times, and Fox The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet, and Dr. Oz's show. She is a regular guest on Sirius/XM's Dr. Radio and is frequently quoted in national publications. For over 5 years Keri was seen weekly on Manhattan public access TV in a nutrition lifestyle program called “Diet Diva”.

Keri is very active in professional organizations. She is a Spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association (ADA) and ADA Delegate for the New York State Dietetic Association (NYSDA). Other past volunteer positions include: NYSDA President, NYSDA PR Chair, NYSDA Annual Meeting Chair, Greater NY Dietetic Association PR Chair and Treasurer. Keri is the proud winner of the 2010 NYSDA Media Excellence Award and 2006 NYSDA Emerging Dietetic Leader Award.

You can learn more about Keri Gans
by visiting her online resources.
Website. http://www.kerigansnutrition.com
Twitter. http://twitter.com/kerigans

Check Your Batteries Day and Recharge March 13, 2011

Every day your body needs to recharge.
A great way to recharge is to start your day off with a healthy breakfast.

Registered Dietitian Day 2011 Quotes from Dietitians Worldwide

The goals of the American Dietetic Association (ADA) are to provide consumers with information on how to lead healthy lives, promote education, advance nutrition knowledge through research, and learn to make healthy choices.

Dietitians-Online was created to acknowledge the contributions of Registered Dietitians on the Internet and their global impact.

The experience in working with Dietitians-Online has been an amazing journey. I’ve met and discovered dietitians who demonstrate commitment, dedication, creativity, knowledge and excellence in the dietetic and nutrition profession. As I review and learn from the work of my colleagues and observe a new generation of dietitians, I am excited about the future of our profession."  -Sandra Frank, EdD, RD, LDN

Congratulations to
all the Dedicated Dietitians!

The video can be viewed as a slideshow for your convenience.
See below or Click the following link: Dietitians-Online

Dietitians-Online has available the RD Quotes from 2010 and

“The History of the American Dietetic Association”

 
Gifts for a
Registered Dietitian





 

National School Breakfast Week March 7-11, 2011

Rise and Shine with a Healthy Breakfast
A Special Thank You to Raffi and the Centre for Child Honouring for
providing permission to use "Rise and Shine" to encourage a Healthy Breakfast.

*Children who eat breakfast are less likely to be overweight.

*Children who eat breakfast have more energy.

*Children who eat breakfast concentrate better.

*Children who eat breakfast have higher grades in school.

*Children who skip breakfast may have learning and behavioral problems.

*Children who skip breakfast may develop nutritional deficiencies.

*Children who eat breakfast are

Alert, Energized and Ready for a Brand New Day.

The School Nutrition Association (SNA) created the School Breakfast Detectives Campaign to promote awareness about the benefits of school breakfast.

Resources and Tools
SNA’s Member resource website www.schoolnutrition.org/nsbw has menus, checklists, logos and activity sheets to help get your NSBW celebrations started.

"School Breakfast Detectives" Book Cover Contest
This year students have the opportunity to design their own school breakfast detective in the form of a book cover. Students also need to give the book a title with a healthy eating message e.g. "The Case of the Missing Breakfast".

All local contests end on March 11, 2011, and national entries are due March 31, 2011. Find out more and download contest forms at www.schoolnutrition.org/nsbw.

Raffi" (Raffi Cavoukian), C.M., O.B.C.

Founder and Chair, Centre for Child Honouring

He is known to millions as "Raffi", a beloved songwriter and performer, author, ecology advocate and founder of Centre for Child Honouring. Child Honouring is a vision for creating a humane and sustainable world by addressing the universal needs of children.

In his career, which spans three-decades, Raffi has refused all commercial endorsement offers, and Troubadour Music, his own company, has never directly advertised or marketed to children. He is a passionate advocate for a child’s right to live free of commercial exploitation.

"We invite you to be a part of the global movement that views honouring children as the best way to create sustainable, peacemaking societies."  - Raffi

To learn more about the Centre for Child Honouring, please visit the
Centre for Child Honouring and join "the compassion revolution."