May 19 - May 22, 2011 Dietitians-Online

May 19 - May 22, 2011
Dietitian Blogs and in the News
Books and Up-coming Events

May 22, 2011
Fooducate Blog. Sunday Comic Strip: Isn’t Food One of the Ingredients?

In the early 1990's Congress enacted the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act (NLEA), which gave the FDA power to require food manufacturers to label product.

May 21, 2011
When eating, try to focus on the food.  "Be aware of the fact that you're eating," advises dietitian Bethany Thayer, director of wellness programs and strategies for Detroit's Henry Ford Health System. "Pay attention to the food you're eating and the signals you're getting about your hunger level."

May 21, 2011

Soda addiction: Man sheds 70 pounds just 'kicking the can'. "The body doesn't know what to do with all that sugar", says Sue Cunningham, a registered dietitian with the University of Texas Health Science Center. "No more than 10 percent of calories should come from sugar".

May 21, 2011 

Nutrition experts partner to cut waste, foster healthy choices in school meals. The students who had recess before lunch tended to waste less food, said Stephanie Smith, a registered dietitian and graduate research assistant at Colorado State University

May 20, 2011

Food prices are rising, here's how to save $1,000 on groceries in a year. Cecilia Rokusek, registered dietitian and professor of public health and family medicine at Nova's College of Osteopathic Medicine provides seven tips to help avoid wasting food.

May 20, 2011
6 Foods to Eat If You're Skipping Meat. Kerri-Ann Jennings, M.S., R.D., Associate Editor, Nutrition for EatingWell Magazine states “having a balanced diet (meatless or not) is key to proper nutrition, so include these veggie foods in your diet to get critical nutrients your body needs.

May 19, 2011

Marilyn Wadum, Registered Dietitian compares Summer Time Treats and offers tips on how to make healthier choices when it comes to ice cream and other cool treats.

Up-coming Topics and Events

Monday, May 23.

National Taffy Day

Tuesday, May 24.

Sweets & Snacks Expo (May 24-26, 2011); Chicago, Illinois. All Candy Expo is now Sweets & Snacks Expo. It is the largest venue in the Americas to see New Products and New Trends, in New Categories, with New Merchandising concepts, from New Exhibitors, plus Invaluable Education and Industry Research.The largest confectionery, cookie and snack show in the Americas.

Wednesday, May 25.

National Senior Health & Fitness Day®

National Brown-Bag-It Day

 

Thursday, May 26.

National Cherry Dessert Day

Friday, May 27.
Heat Safety Awareness Day
National Grape Popsicle

Saturday, May 28.
National Brisket Day

July 17 - 20, 2011. Florida Dietetic Association Annual Symposium

September 24 - 27, 2011.   The 2011 ADA Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE), San Diego Convention Center. The ADA's annual meeting is the premiere event for food and nutrition professionals. Educational sessions will cover the hottest topics including obesity, alternative medicine, culinary trends, life-cycle nutrition and medical nutrition therapy. Meet with more than 8,000 registered dietitians, nutrition science researchers, policy makers, health-care providers and industry leaders, all in one place – at the annual Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE).

Books by Dietitians

 

National Employee Health and Fitness Day May 18, 2011

Employees’ Health And Fitness Programs

Workplace Wellness Programs enhance the
overall health and productivity of your organization.

Benefits For Employers

Increase employee productivity

Improve health care costs

Less illness and injuries

Reduce employee absenteeism

Benefits For Employees

Less stress

Improve physical fitness

Better eating habits or weight control

Increase physical and mental health 

6 Steps to Creating a Wellness Program

Presentor: Mitzi Dulan, RD

 

Bob Harper from the "Biggest Loser" provides
tips on how to stay healthy at work.

 

National Employee Health and Fitness Day™ is the third (3rd) Wednesday in May each year. Administered annually by the National Association for Health and Fitness. NEHF is a national health observance, created to promote the benefits of physical activity for individuals through their work site health promotion activities. Founded in 1989 National Employee Health and Fitness Day has enlisted tens of thousands of participants from employers around the world.

For More Information on how to Improve
Employee Health and Fitness visit the following links:

National Employee Health and Fitness Day Campaign

NCPAD The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability

May is National High Blood Pressure Education Month World Hypertension Day, May 17th

The World Hypertension League (WHL) is a division of the International Society of Hypertension (ISH), and is in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO).

World Hypertension Day was established to highlight preventable stroke, heart and kidney diseases caused by high blood pressure and to communicate to the public information on prevention, detection and treatment.

What is Blood Pressure? Blood pressure is the force applied against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood through the body.

Know Your Blood Pressure Number.  The first number, systolic blood pressure measures the maximum pressure exerted as the heart contracts. A measurement over 90 and under 140 is generally considered normal for an adult. The lower number indicates diastolic pressure is a measurement taken between beats, when the heart is at rest. A measurement over 60 and under 90 is generally considered normal for an adult.

High Blood Pressure is a Global Epidemic. Over 1.5 billion people world-wide suffer from high blood pressure (or hypertension).

Prevention and Control of High Blood Pressure

1. Maintain a Healthy Weight

2. Eat More Fresh Vegetables and Fruits

3. Cut Back on Salt Intake
4. Exercise
5. Check your Blood Pressure Regularly
6. If you are on medication, take the medication as prescribed.

Resources

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). National High Blood Pressure Education Program

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). High Blood Pressure Education Month

The International Society of Hypertension (ISH). ISH's main objectives are to promote and encourage the advancement of scientific knowledge in all aspects of research and its application to prevention and management of heart disease and stroke in hypertension and related cardiovascular diseases around the world.

The World Hypertension League (WHL).  The objectives of the World Hypertension League (WHL) are to promote the detection, control and prevention of arterial hypertension in populations.

Barbara Ruhs, MS, RD, LDN on the Mediterranean Diet and Supermarket Dietetics

“Larger national chains offer great career opportunities for dietitians,
especially if RDs aim for executive positions that implement
health and wellness as part of a company’s overall business strategy.”
- Barbara Ruhs, MS, RD, LDN 

Barbara Ruhs, MS, RD, LDN is our guest blogger, the "Neighborhood Nutritionist", "Supermarket Dietitian" and Bashas' in-house dietitian. She provides grocery shoppers with the necessary tools and resources to improve health and manage a food budget.

Barbara graciously agreed to answer some questions about the Mediterranean Diet.

May is National Mediterranean Diet Month

1. What makes the Mediterranean Diet unique?
In 1993 when The Mediterranean Diet was introduced by Oldways and the Harvard School of Public Health, it was unique from other pyramids and eating plans as it introduced the idea of “healthy fats” and also made the dietary recommendation that some alcohol in moderation had health benefits.  This was somewhat radical information back then.

In addition, the concept of “traditional diets” being the basis of a healthy diet was quite foreign (literally) to Americans. What exactly is a traditional American diet?! Thanks to Oldways (literally, Old-Ways!), The Mediterranean Diet, emphasized the benefits of a “back to basics” approach – eating  WHOLE foods as well as setting a context (with family & friends) as a “method” as to how to maximize the benefits of eating a healthy diet. 

As a dietitian, I love the entire concept of the “Med” diet approach to educating consumers on how to choose a healthy diet. It’s practical and focuses on what to eat vs. what NOT to eat.

2. Is Bashas' only available in Arizona?

Yes, Bashas’ Family of Stores is a locally owned and operated grocery chain since 1932. Bashas’ Family of Stores is special in many ways as a retail grocer. The chain operates 4 different formats (store types). Bashas’ is the mainstream grocery chain. Food City is their Hispanic format featuring many exotic fruits & vegetables (nopales, agave, and nearly 30 different varieties of chili peppers). AJ’s Fine Foods is the upper-scale, gourmet format that offers locally-made chocolates, craft beers, gourmet cheese, a sushi bar, a gourmet deli destination with Panini’s, pizzas and more, as well as a gourmet produce section featuring unique items like baby portabellas and maitake mushrooms, a vast array of specialty produce items (dragonfruit, gooseberries) and more. Finally, Bashas’ is truly unique from any other retailer as they operate several reservation stores, “Dine” (there is an accent on the “e”)…pronounced “dee-nay.” This is a Navajo term that translates to “The People.” Dine stores are fully staffed with Native American residents living on the reservation(s) and 10% of all profits go directly back to a reservation scholarship fun. Bashas’ is truly a great company to work for!

3. How are the colored tags on foods useful to someone on the Internet?

The colorful nutrition tags are most useful to shopper in the stores as they are unavoidable reminders to shoppers of products unique nutritional qualities. It helps shoppers to find better nutritional values – a shopper can compare products for price & quality and now they can evaluate based on nutritional content too.

Online, the tags can serve as an educational tool to help any person learn how to shop for healthier options. The nutrition qualifications for the tags are in compliance with the FDA’s nutrition labeling standards. In addition, many of the tags have additional nutrition requirements. Making the criteria a bit stricter for products was a great opportunity for me as a dietitian to apply my skills from a variety of different career experiences. My background in public health, academics, athletics and private-practice allowed me to view this project as a possible solution to help a broad audience improve personal health.

4. Can someone in Florida easily follow the Mediterranean Diet?

Absolutely! Finding olive oil, avocados, beans, leafy greens, seafood, nuts and whole grains is as simple as visiting your local grocery store. You don’t need to travel to Italy to enjoy pizza nor do you need to be surrounded by the Mediterranean sea to enjoy traditional Greek favorites like tzaziki (yogurt dip with dill),  hummus (mashed chickpeas with tahini/sesame paste), or delectable kalamata olives. Feed your imagination!



In addition to working with Bashas’, Barbara has a thriving private practice specializing in Public Health and Nutrition Education, Retail Food/Grocery Industry, Sports Nutrition, Eating Disorder Therapy, Healthy Weight Management (Non-Diet Approach), and Entrepreneur-ism and Mentoring.

Supermarket Dietitians:
A New Paradigm for Public Health

by Barbara Ruhs, MS, RD, LDN

To learn more about Barbara Ruhs, visit the following links:

Website. Neighborhood Nutrition
Facebook. Neighborhood Nutrition

Twitter. @eatsmartAZ

LinkedIn. Barbara Ruhs

Blog. The Nutrition SKU...A Supermarket RD Perspective
Website. Bashas' Corporate Website

Resources
Oldways. May is Mediterranean Diet Month

Supermarket RD Toolbox

About Dietitians-Online.com

Dietitians and Dietetic Associations Worldwide provide an opportunity to explore numerous specialties, cultural diversities, advances in research, legislative news, current events, ADA campaigns, new recipes and creative ideas. 

When seeking nutrition advise, verify the organization and/or individual is a reliable resource. Check credentials, look for a Registered Dietitian (RD) or Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD). If in doubt, contact your countries dietetic association for additional information.

a. USA: Registered Dietitian (RD);  administered by the American Dietetic Association.
b. Australia: Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD); administered by the Dietitians Association of Australia.
c. United Kingdom: Registered Dietitian (RD);  administered by the British Dietetic Association.
d. South Africa: Registered Dietitian (RD);  administered by the Association for Dietetics in South Africa.
e. Canada: Registered Dietitian (RD);  Dietitians of Canada.
f.  International Confederation of Dietetic Associations.

A dietitian . . . .

• Is a person with qualifications in nutrition and dietetics, recognized by national authority(s). The dietitian applies the science of nutrition to the feeding and education of individuals or groups in health and disease.
• Receives a minimum of a Bachelor's degree with course work approved by the national dietetic authority.  Courses include food and nutrition sciences, foodservice systems management, business, economics, computer science, sociology, biochemistry, physiology, microbiology and chemistry.
• Completes a supervised professional practice of at least 500 hours.
• Passes a national examination prepared by the countries dietetic and nutrition authority.
• Completes continuing education in order to maintain one's credentials.

International Day of Families May 15, 2011

The United Nations International Day of Families is celebrated each May at the United Nations headquarters and around the world. The Universal Peace Federation joins in commemorating this day because it considers the family as a microcosm of the global community and because sustainable peace is grounded in the family as the most intimate social unit, the school of love.

2011 Theme: "Confronting Family Poverty and Social Exclusion"

"On this International Day of Families, let us resolve to support families as they nurture the young, care for the old and foster strong communities built on tolerance and dignity for all."

- Ban Ki-moon

Secretary-General's Message for 2011

The Family Meal

The Family Meal is a Tradition Celebrated All Over the World. Sharing family meals symbolizes love and communication. Eating dinner together keeps the doors of communication open. It's a perfect time to show your children they are your priority. Studies have shown children who eat dinner with their families are less likely to use alcohol, tobacco and/or illegal drugs and more likely to develop good eating habits.

 

Foods For Health:
Building Healthy Kids and Families

"Guyatitian" David Grotto offers healthy eating and physical
activity tips for building healthy kids and families.
Part of the International Food Information Council Foundation's

Foods For Health series

It's A Small World
A childhood favorite reminding me how special all Families are.
by Disney 

Food Allergy Awareness Week May 8 -14, 2011

The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) was founded in 1991 and is the world’s largest nonprofit organization providing information about food allergy to the media, schools, health professionals, pharmaceutical companies, the food industry, and government officials, as well as the food-allergic community.

FAAN’s mission is to raise public awareness, to provide advocacy and education, and to advance research on behalf of all those affected by food allergy and anaphylaxis.

Respect Every Bite

In 1997, FAAN created Food Allergy Awareness Week to educate others about food allergies, a potentially life threatening medical condition. This year they are celebrating the 14th annual Food Allergy Awareness Week (FAAW), May 8-14, 2011.

Food Allergy Awareness Week 2011

FAAN’s annual programs, include: Food Allergy Awareness Week, Food Allergy Conferences, Mariel C. Furlong Awards for Making a Difference, Food Allergy News for Kids Poster Contest, Teen Summit, Trick-or-Treat for Food Allergy, Walk for Food Allergy, Kids’ Congress on Capitol Hill.

Allergic? Don't Ignore The Fine Print
Teresa Beach, Registered Dietitian

Camp Tag

Camp TAG is a 5-day, half-day camp for children ages 3-12 that is due to launch in summer 2011. It will provide a safe place for children with food allergies and their siblings to have fun with no worries about having an allergic reaction, as well as give them an opportunity to meet other children who share the same conditions and know they are not alone.

For further information on FAAN, visit:
Websites: http://www.foodallergy.org/
http://www.faankids.org/
http://www.foodallergyevents.org/
http://www.foodallergyalliance.org/
Facebook. FAAN 
Twitter: @FoodAllergy

YouTube Channel: FAANPAL

Contact Information:
The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network
11781 Lee Jackson Hwy., Suite 160
Fairfax, VA 22033
(800) 929-4040 
http://www.foodallergy.org/

Molly Gladding, RD, LDN Dedication, Commitment and Leader in the field of Dietetics and Nutrition

"ADA is not an entity, it is people. Encouraging and supporting members
who are willing to volunteer and work for a stronger and more vibrant
profession is vital to our future success."

- Molly Gladding, RD, LD/N

Molly Gladding has been a registered dietitian since 1969. During the past 42 years, she has been a teacher, mentor, leader, friend, and advocate. She has worked as a Director of Food and Nutrition Services; Quality Improvement and Training Coordinator; Dietetic Internship Regional Coordinator; and WIC Coordinator.

In addition, Molly has been active in the dietetic association at the local, state and national level. She has held positions in the Florida Dietetic Association (FDA) as the Treasurer, Strategic Planning Chairperson, and President of FDA. She currently is the FDA Delegate for ADA and  a House of Delegate1 (HOD) representative for the ADA Finance and Audit Committee.

The Broward County Dietetic Association was honored to have Molly Gladding, RD, LD/N as our guest speaker on May 5, 2011. She recently attended the ADA Spring 2011 House of Delegates meeting (April 30 - May 1, 2011) and discussed the direction of our profession; identification of mega issues and market place relevance.

Below is part of the speech Molly Gladding presented.

Molly is an accomplished and dedicated registered dietitian who inspires others to get involved.  Molly - Are you sure you are ready to retire?


1 What is the ADA House of Delegates?

The HOD governs the profession. Each state and area of practice is represented by one or more delegates for a total of 100 delegates. The House Leadership Team (HLT) develops and implements program goals of the House. To learn more about ADA HOD, visit: http://www.eatright.org/hod/

May 9, 2011 National Women’s Checkup Day, a part of National Women's Health Week, May 8 to 14, 2011

National Women’s Health Week is organized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health (OWH). The goal is to empower women to make their health a top priority. This year's theme “It’s Your Time,” encourages women to take steps to live a longer, healthier and happier life.

There are some women who are so busy caring for their families and others, they neglect to care for themselves. During National Women’s Health Week remind your wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, and/or girlfriend to take steps to improve their health and prevent disease.

Take the Pledge!

The ninth annual National Women's Checkup Day is held during National Women's Health Week. This year it is on Monday, May 9, 2011.

Dedicate this day to visit or make an appointment with your health care professional. Schedule a check-up. Prevention and early detection are crucial to one’s health.

To learn more about National Women's Health Week visit the following links:

National Women's Health Week 

National Women's Checkup Day

Take the Pledge!

Interactive Screening Chart and Immunization Tool

Why is it important for women to participate in National Women's Checkup Day?

It is important for women to get regular checkups because: screening tests, such as mammograms and Pap tests, can find diseases early, when they are easier to treat. Some women need certain screening tests earlier, or more often, than others. Screenings and routine care can help women lower their risks of many health conditions, including heart disease.


How can women participate in this important event?
Women can participate in National Women’s Checkup Day by:
Contacting their current health care professional to schedule a checkup and get important screenings on National Women’s Checkup Day.

Discussing with their health care professionals which screenings and tests are right for them, when they should have them, and how often.

Learning which screenings and immunizations they need and at what age at (http://bit.ly/NWHWScreeningChart).

Taking the Checkup Day Pledge (http://bit.ly/CheckupDayPledge) and pledging to schedule at least one preventive health screening during May 2011.

For information about participating in National Women’s Checkup Day and other National Women’s Health Week activities, visit the National Women’s Health Week website at http://www.womenshealth.gov/whw or call 800-994-9662 (TDD 888-220-5446).

Women's Health Month 2011

The information provided here is from the National Women's Health Information Center (NWHIC). A service of the Office on Women's Health (OWH) in the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The Office on Women's Health (OWH) was established in 1991 within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Its Vision is to ensure that "All Women and Girls are Healthier and Have a Better Sense of Well Being." Its mission is to "provide leadership to promote health equity for women and girls through sex/gender-specific approaches." The strategy OWH uses to achieve its mission and vision is through the development of innovative programs, by educating health professionals, and motivating behavior change in consumers through the dissemination of health information.