September 18, World Water Monitoring Day

World Water Monitoring Day

World Water Monitoring Challenge™ (WWMC) is an international education and outreach program that builds public awareness and involvement in protecting water resources around the world by engaging citizens to conduct basic monitoring of their local water bodies.

WWMC grew out of the World Water Monitoring Day program in 2012. While an official “day” continues to be observed each year on September 18, the broader “challenge” encourages people everywhere to test the quality of their waterways, share their findings, and protect our most precious resource. The program runs annually from March 22 (the United Nations World Water Day) until December 31.

The primary goal of World Water Monitoring Challenge is to educate and engage citizens in the protection of the world’s water resources. Many people are unaware of the impact their behaviors have on water quality. Conducting simple monitoring tests teaches participants about some of the most common indicators of water health and encourages further participation in more formal citizen monitoring efforts.

Farmer Consumer Awareness Day

Welcome to Farmer Consumer Awareness Days!  Quincy's Farmer-Consumer Awareness Day (FCAD) started in 1981 when Dennis Higashiyama was listening to the radio. He heard a story on the Paul Harvey show that illustrated how farmers and consumers had drifted apart - leaving many people with little or no understanding about how food actually arrives on their grocery store shelves.

Farmer Consumer Awareness Day is an opportunity for farmers to show off the fruits of their labor and demonstrate the tools and techniques they use in their work. For the consumer, it's a great way to learn about where your groceries come from and to talk to the people who grow them for a living. 

Resources
Best Local Farm Tour in Every State @tasteofhome

 

Kids Eat Right Month - The Kid Friendly Kitchen

Help your kids start young and master simple cooking tasks before moving on to more complex skills. Use these age-appropriate ideas to keep your kids excited, safe and well-educated in the kitchen! To learn more, visit Kids Eat Right at Kid-Friendly Kitchen Tasks Infographic

 

Back to School Nutrition Resource Guide Kids Eat Right Month

All over the country, children and parents are getting ready for the new school year to begin. With so much information about food and nutrition available on the Internet and in the news, Dietitians-Online has prepared the Back to School Nutrition Resource Guide.

Resources
Organizations, Associations, and Programs
School Nutrition Experts

Graphics

Lunchbox Safety
Planning School Meals Using MyPlate

Resources

Organizations, Associations, and Programs
	Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is your source for trustworthy, science-based food and nutrition information. The worlds largest organization of food and nutrition professionals, the Academy is committed to improving the nation's health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education, and advocacy.
	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.
	Home Food Safety Tips The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and ConAgra Foods public awareness campaign, Home Food Safety, is dedicated to providing home food safety statistics, information about foodborne illness and safe food handling information and tips.
	Choose MyPlate. The website features practical information and tips to help Americans build healthier diets.
	Vegetarian Resource Group Vegetarian Kids, Teens, and Family
	Action for Healthy Kids believes 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.
	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
	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. 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.
	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.
	Fruits and Veggies More Matters Gearing Up for Back to School
	National Dairy Council® (NDC)  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.
	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.
	The School Breakfast Program (SBP) provides cash assistance to  States to operate nonprofit breakfast programs in schools and residential childcare institutions. The program is administered at the Federal level by FNS. State education agencies administer the SBP at the State level, and local school food authorities operate it in schools.

School Nutrition Experts

Dayle Hayes, MS, RD
School Meals That Rock (Facebook)

Dayle Hayes is an award-winning Registered Dietitian, author, and educator. Dayle developed a program for parents, FIT KIDS = HAPPY KIDS; created 5 A Day BINGO, and produced several videos. As a parent and member of the School Nutrition Association, Dayle is dedicated to improving school environments. She collected success stories for Making It Happen; wrote a chapter on communicating with students in Managing Child Nutrition Programs: Leadership for Excellence; and developed Enriching Family Mealtimes, a kit for school leaders and educators. In 2008, she co-authored the Position of the American Dietetic Association: Nutrition Guidance for Healthy Children Ages 2 to 11 Years.

Caroline, RD at Giant Eagle® 

Pack an A+ Lunch for School

Lunchbox Safety

Kids Eat Right Month - Best Picks in a Vending Machine

August is Kids Eat Right Month, a new nutrition education, information sharing and action campaign created by Kids Eat Right, an initiative of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and its Foundation.

Portion Control Matters - Kids Eat Right

Resources
1. WebMD, Portion Size Guide
2. Kids and Portion Control, Jo Ellen Shield, RDN, Kids Eat Right
3. How to Avoid Portion Size Pitfalls to Help Manage Your Weight, CDC
4. What is the difference between a serving and a portion? NIH

 

 

National Dog Day Health Benefits

Health Benefits of a Pet

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

From Our Garden: Pasta, Mango and Green Bell Pepper with Ginger Thyme Dressing

Recipe: Pasta, Mango and Green Bell Pepper  
with a Ginger Dressing 

The last mango of the season. The tree produced 82 mangoes this year. We met our neighbors who came by to pick fruit from the tree. We made 6 Banana Mango Breads and 60 Muffins. Family and friends enjoyed these sweet and juicy mangoes. 

With this last mango, I wanted to make something different. There were two bell peppers ready for picking. What would blend well with this combination?

•     Pasta - hot or cold
•     Thyme from the garden
•     Ginger dressing

From Our Garden:
Pasta, Mango and Green Bell Pepper with
Ginger Thyme Dressing
Serves 3

Ingredients
3 cup Pasta, cooked
3/4 cup Mango, diced
1/2 cup Green Bell Pepper, sliced

Ginger-Thyme Dressing (Serving size: 2 Tablespoon)
1/4 cup rice vinegar
2 tsp sesame oil
1 tablespoon soy sauce, low sodium
1.5 tablespoon grated ginger root
1 teaspoon brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme
1/4 teaspoon finely chopped garlic
1/8 tsp white pepper

Directions

1. Prepare pasta, mango, and peppers. Place in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate.
2. Dressing. Whisk together all ingredients in a small bowl. Drizzle over pasta. 
3. Serve Hot or Cold.

Nutrition Facts

Ginger Thyme Dressing

Serving size. 2 Tbsp

Calories (kcal)             37

Protein (g)                   1

Carbohydrates (g)       2

Total Dietary Fiber (g) 0

Total Sugars (g)          1

Added Sugar (g)         1

Fat (g)                         3

Saturated Fat (g)        0

Cholesterol (mg)         0

Sodium (mg)              193

Nutrition Facts

Serving size.

1.25 cup Pasta, Mango and Green Bell Pepper with

2 Tbsp Ginger Thyme Dressing 

Calories (kcal)             249

Protein (g)                   8

Carbohydrates (g)       46

Total Dietary Fiber (g)  7

Total Sugars (g)           8

Added Sugar (g)          1

Fat (g)                          5

Saturated Fat (g)         0

Cholesterol (mg)          0

Sodium (mg)              199

Choosing foods from your garden makes the meal special and tastes better.  

National Sponge Cake Day - What a Difference Portion Control Can Make

Recipes
1. Sponge Cake Recipes, Food Network

 

August 2, Ice Cream Sandwich Day

An educated consumer has the knowledge to make healthy choices.

August Food, Nutrition, and Health Events

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 is updated daily and includes weekly and daily events. To view the entire Newsletter online click here. 

August
Events, Celebrations, and Resources

Food Events

Kids Eat Right Month

National Water Quality Month

National Goat Cheese Month

1-7 World Breastfeeding Week
 

National Farmer's Market Week
 


Exercise with Your Child Week

Wellness News employs young adults with "Special Needs" (Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Down Syndrome, Muscular Dystrophy). Contact Dr. Sandra Frank for additional information (recipenews@gmail.com).

Prepared by
Dietitians-Online
Weighing-Success
Wellness News

Sandra Frank, Ed.D, RD, LDN

Jake Frank

John Gargiullo