TV Dinner Day Tracing the Roots of Modern Day Obesity

Invention and view of the original TV dinner

Health Issues

TV dinners have been associated with high amounts of salt and fat, which are linked to risk factors of heart disease and obesity. Today, a number of manufacturers and retailers are making meals that are lower in salt, fat, and artificial additives.

Read the label, be an educated consumer.

Resource

FDA. How to Understand and Use the Nutrition Facts Label

National School Lunch Week

"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 1930s 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 low-fat 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 “Celebrate NSLW. School Lunch invites creative and fun new menu items while appealing to students in all grade levels. 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. About the Farm to Preschool program at UEPI, Occidental College The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential childcare 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 Kids Eat Right is 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. 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.  Choose MyPlate. The website features practical information and tips to help Americans build healthier diets. Elmo Doesn't Fear School Lunch Elmo joins White House, Chef Sam Kass in the White House kitchen to talk about the importance of healthy and delicious school meals.  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 sponsored by National Dairy Council and the NFL, in collaboration with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Fuel Up is an in-school program that encourages the availability and consumption of nutrient-rich foods, along with daily physical activity. Fruits and Veggies   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 do not go hungry, and that they have access to nutritious meals." 

Egg Salad Week - Food Safety and Recipes

Egg Salad Week (the week after Easter). Dedicated to the many delicious uses for all of the Easter eggs that have been cooked, colored, hidden, and found.

Food Safety
If you plan to eat the Easter eggs you decorate, be sure to use only food-grade dye. (Some people make two sets of eggs - one for decorating and hiding, another for eating. Others use plastic eggs for hiding.) For an Easter egg hunt, avoid cracking the eggshells. If the shells crack then bacteria could enter and contaminate the egg inside. Also, hide eggs in places that are protected from dirt, pets, and other bacteria sources and keep hard-cooked eggs chilled in the refrigerator until just before the hunt. The total time for hiding and hunting eggs should be no more than two hours. Then be sure to refrigerate the "found" eggs right away until you eat them. Eggs found hours later or the next day should be thrown out — not eaten! 

When shell eggs are hard-cooked, the protective coating is washed away, leaving open pores in the shell where harmful bacteria could enter. Be sure to refrigerate eggs within two hours of cooking and use them within a week. Check your refrigerator temperature with an appliance thermometer and adjust the refrigerator temperature to 40°F (Fahrenheit) or below. 

Egg Salad Sandwich with Spinach and Tomato

INGREDIENTS

1 hard-cooked egg and 1 hard-cooked egg white. chopped

1 tablespoon 0% plain Greek yogurt

1 teaspoon light mayonnaise

2 tablespoons chopped celery

2 tablespoons chopped onion

ground black pepper

garlic powder

1/2 cup fresh baby spinach

2 slices tomato

1 whole-grain bread

DIRECTIONS

In a small bowl, combine the eggs, yogurt, mayo, celery, and onion. Add the pepper and garlic powder to taste. Place the egg salad, spinach, and tomato on a slice of whole-grain bread.

Resources
1. Egg Salad, Lightened Up. Egg salad can be high in fat, cholesterol, and calories but with a few simple tweaks, you can make light and delicious versions of this comfort food classic. Dana Angelo White #RDN

National Farm-City Week - Harvesting Healthy Choices

Farm-City Week is celebrated each year.  The purpose of Farm-City Week is to bring about a better understanding between rural and urban people by increasing their knowledge and appreciation of each other as partners in progress.

Farm-City: Harvesting Healthy Choices
Statistics indicated that about one-third of American children ages 6 to 19 are overweight, and a growing number of young people suffer from cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure.

Farm-City theme of “Harvesting Healthy Choices” gives farmers an opportunity to join forces with their city neighbors to show healthy food choices available.

Harvesting Healthy Choices allows the opportunity to talk about the health benefits of locally grown produce and other foods:

- the bone-building power of milk;
- the leaner choices in beef, pork, and poultry;
- the importance of folic acid-rich peanuts to expectant mothers;
- the cancer-fighting properties of soybeans;
- the antioxidant power of blueberries 

What’s more, modern agriculture produces healthier animals, more nutritious grains, and year-round access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Healthy food doesn’t just mean tofu and bean sprouts. A 5-ounce portion of lean beef or pork can be part of a balanced diet, and milk, cheese, bread, and even fried catfish still have a place on Alabama’s dinner table. 

Eating well and living well is about choices – and is important to all ages in helping us create a healthier state. For more information on a balanced diet which includes fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy products please visit the Department of Agriculture’s “My Plate” Nutritional Guide at www.choosemyplate.gov.

Resource:

Florida Farm Bureau 

Quiz: How much time does your physician spend discussing nutrition and/or your diet with you?

The following questions were created to determine your interaction and confidence in your physician on the subject of nutrition and/or dieting. In addition, based on your responses, I urge you to read the CMS decision to cover "Obesity Therapy" and sign a petition to include the Registered Dietitian (RD), as a covered practitioner. Petition http://wh.gov/DWX 






Background/Definitions

Recently, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved coverage for "Obesity Therapy." Decision: CAG-00423N. As a registered dietitian and licensed nutritionist, I was pleased to hear people who suffer from obesity would be able to get assistance. However, I was surprised to learn the decision did not include the RD and would only cover the primary care physician with a specialty in family medicine, internal medicine, geriatric medicine, or pediatric medicine; or a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or physician assistant.

None of the above mentioned practitioners (except the RD) have required courses in Obesity Therapy and many have limited nutrition education. The RD has the education and experience to implement an Obesity Therapy component, in addition to practitioners in the field of psychology.

Who is a Registered Dietitian?
A Registered Dietitian (RD) is a food and nutrition expert who has met academic and professional requirements including:
1. Earned a bachelor’s degree with course work approved by ADA’s Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education. Coursework typically includes food and nutrition sciences, medical nutrition therapy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry, biochemistry, psychology, sociology, foodservice systems management, business, computer science and economics. 
2. Completed an accredited, supervised practice program at a health-care facility, community agency or foodservice corporation; 
3. Passed a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration; and
4. Completes continuing professional educational requirements to maintain registration.

Approximately 50% of RDs hold advanced degrees. Some RDs also hold additional certifications in specialized areas of practice, such as Adult Weight Management; Childhood and Adolescent Weight Management; Level 2 Adult Weight Management; pediatric or renal nutrition, nutrition support and diabetes education.
To learn more about the role of the RD visit http://www.eatright.org/

Quiz
1. Has your physician ever discussed nutrition and/or your diet with you?
   a. No        b. Not Sure            c. Yes

2. Has your physician ever said to you, “You need to go on a diet?”
    a. No       b. Not Sure            c. Yes

If you answered yes, please continue.
If you answered “not sure”, consider signing the petition.
 If no, you are probably in good health or you need a new doctor.

3. How much time did your physician (or nurse) spend on the following Nutrition and Dietary Assessments and Plan of Care Tools or Programs?

(1) Conduct a Dietary History 
   a. 0 to 1 minute    b. 1 minute to 3 minutes    c. Greater than 3 minutes

(2) Evaluate a Food Journal or Food Recall
   a. 0 to 1 minute    b. 1 minute to 3 minutes    c. Greater than 3 minutes

(3) Provide Diet Instructions
   a. 0 to 1 minute    b. 1 minute to 3 minutes    c. Greater than 3 minutes

(4) Teach Behavior Modification Techniques
   a. 0 to 1 minute    b. 1 minute to 3 minutes    c. Greater than 3 minutes

(5) Assist with Meal Planning 
   a. 0 to 1 minute    b. 1 minute to 3 minutes    c. Greater than 3 minutes

(6) Help with recipe modifications
   a. 0 to 1 minute    b. 1 minute to 3 minutes    c. Greater than 3 minutes


Score. Count the number of times you chose “a”, “b” and “c”. 
  a: _______            b. _______            c: ________

If you chose “a” and “b” more times than you chose “c”;
Please sign the Petition
Help Stop the Obesity Epidemic
Petition
http://wh.gov/DWX 

Conclusion
Obesity is a risk factor associated with numerous chronic diseases (heart disease, diabetes, cancer, etc). Over the last 20 years, the incidence of obesity in the U.S. has dramatically increased.

From: CDC, U.S. Obesity Trends National Obesity Trends 
“About one-third of U.S. adults (33.8%) are obese. Approximately 17% (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2—19 years are obese. During the past 20 years, there has been a dramatic increase in obesity in the United States and rates remain high. In 2010, no state had a prevalence of obesity less than 20%. Thirty-six states had a prevalence of 25% or more; 12 of these states (Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia) had a prevalence of 30% or more.”

In over 30 years as a practicing RD, I have never seen a primary care physician sit with a patient to go over a diet history, food recall, diet instruction, behavior modification, meal planning, and/or recipe modifications. My current doctor still provides diet handouts from pharmaceutical companies.

Based on the current CMS decision, the cost of Obesity will go higher, as people get larger because of inadequate "Obesity Therapy".

Please sign the Petition
Help Stop the Obesity Epidemic

Petition

http://wh.gov/DWX 

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. National Farm to School Month 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." 

Dear Congress. Please Pass the Nutrition Bill Don't Let Our Children Go Hungry

Dear Congress.

As a registered dietitian and an educator, I know hunger and inadequate nutrition impacts the ability to learn. Hungry children lack concentration, are often irritable and more likely to become ill. In contrast, students who come to class well-nourished have fewer behavioral and attendance problems, and have higher test scores.

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act offers a real chance to improve nutrition for all children. By improving opportunities for healthy meals in and out of school, the bill would take an important step forward in addressing both child hunger and obesity.

The bill would help reduce hunger and increase children's access to healthy meals, including by better connecting eligible children with free school meals. It would also authorize grants to retain summer food program sponsors, improve and expand breakfast programs, and encourage states to develop comprehensive strategies to end child hunger.

Thank you for your consideration of my views on these important issues.

Sincerely,
Sandra Frank, Ed.D., RD, LDN

Will Dieting Make You Fat?

Will Dieting Make You Fat?
from Dr. Sharma's Obesity Notes » blog by Arya M. Sharma, MD

I have often heard from my patients that with previous weight loss attempts they not only gained all of their weight back but in fact gained additional pounds, making them heavier than they ever were before - in other words, they report to have dieted themselves “fat”.

Does this in fact happen? Is excess weight gain perhaps even a natural consequence of trying to control your weight by dieting?

This question was now addressed by Jennifer Savage and Leann Birch from Pennsylvania State University in a study published this month in OBESITY.

A total of 176 women were assessed at baseline and followed over four years. Three groups of women were identified: those making no effort to control their weights (N; 23%), those using healthy strategies (H; 43%) and those using both healthy and unhealthy strategies (H+U; 35%).

Despite adjustment for numerous confounders like education, income, and initial BMI, women using both healthy and unhealthy strategies (H+U) gained significantly more weight (4.56 kg) than the N group (1.51 kg) and H group (1.02 kg) over the four year observation period.

Interestingly, these differences were already apparent in the third year, when the H+U group gained significantly more weight (2.86 kg) than the H group (0.03 kg) and N group (0.44 kg).

Perhaps not surprisingly, the H+U weight control group had higher scores on weight concerns, dietary restraint, and had poorer eating attitudes than women in the H or N groups.

Healthy strategies included reducing calories and amount of food, eliminating sweets, junk food and snacks, increasing activity, eating more fruit and vegetables, eating less fat or less high-carb foods, and eating less meat.

Unhealthy strategies included skipping meals, using diet pills, liquid diets, appetite suppressants, laxatives, enemas, diuretics, and fasting.

These findings suggest that self-reported weight control attempts do not necessarily lead to large weight gains, but using unhealthy strategies to control weight does.

As the authors point out, the main reason that women who used healthy weight control strategies were probably more successful was simply because these strategies are more sustainable than the unhealthy strategies like fasting, skipping meals or using liquid diets or pills, which may simply lead to loss of control, overeating and excess weight gain over time.

Another important aspect of this study noted by the authors is that women with greater weight concerns were apparently more likely to engage in unhealthy practices thus setting themselves up for greater weight gain in the long run. This point, if validated in other studies, clearly sends a warning that simply promoting weight concerns may actually exacerbate weight problems in the long run.

Thus, providing proper guidance on healthy weight loss strategies is essential to avoid making the problem worse than it already is.

On the other hand, the study also shows that women who adopt healthy weight control techniques can very much minimise weight gain over time, even if no actual weight is lost in the long run.

AMS

Edmonton, Alberta

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