Healthy Food Choices

Washington, Sep 25 (IANS) The idea of toys being given out as a part of children’s meal deals might be more acceptable if they are tied to healthy, nutrition-rich healthy food choices and part of a collectible set.

The findings come against the backdrop of obesity in the US — about one-third of adults are now obese, as are 17 percent of children aged two to 19 years, noted the Centers for Disease Control.

The belief is growing that toys with fast-food meals only serve to put fatty, calorie-dense selections into the mouths of children, the Journal of Public Policy and Marketing reported.

Researches Anna McAlister and T. Bettina Cornwell of the Universities of Wisconsin Madison and Oregon, found that pre-schoolers aged two to five years can be influenced to prefer a healthy food choice with the help of collectible toy sets.

Besides, 73 percent of the participating parents reported that they would be okay with such an approach while 92 percent strongly opposed pairing collectible toys with traditional, less-healthy fast-food meals, according to a University of Wisconsin statement.

‘The study tells us that the inclusion of a collectible toy influences the children’s perceptions of how the food is going to taste, and whether they will like it,’ said Cornwell, professor of marketing at Oregon Lundquist College of Business.

‘What was interesting to us — even more than we expected — was that the presence of the collectible toy moved the healthier food option up to the point that it was just as likeable as the fast-food offering,’ added Cornwell.

Healthy Food Choices

Collectible toys could foster healthy food choices

Although the United States Department of Agriculture unveiled MyPlate, the replacement for the food pyramid, just a few months ago, researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health say MyPlate doesn’t offer enough about good nutrition, and they’ve offered their own version.

Harvard unveiled its modified version of the USDA plate, called the Healthy Eating Plate. Walter Willett, professor of epidemiology and nutrition at Harvard, says it addresses the shortcomings of MyPlate.

“The main thing is that MyPlate isn’t specific enough to really give enough guidance,” Willett said.

MyPlate is a USDA resource that offers nutrition recommendations. It’s symbolized by a plate with four sections — fruits, vegetables, grains and proteins — with an attached glass of milk that the agency says should all be part of a healthy, balanced diet.

Harvard’s plate also has the same four sections but with more detailed information on what foods to eat, and which ones to avoid. For example, in place of the grains section, Harvard’s includes a whole grains section.

“There’s a distinction between any old grains and whole grains,” Willett said. Eating too many refined grains, such as white bread and white rice, can increase the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, he said.

Other differences include an explanation of what proteins are healthy — poultry, fish, beans and nuts — emphasizing the need for healthy fats, such as olive and canola oils and explaining that potatoes aren’t a healthy vegetable choice.

Harvard’s plate also replaces milk with water and recommends only one to two servings a day of low-fat milk.

“Modest dairy consumption is OK, but having a glass of milk wtih every meal is exessive and does not reduce the risk of osteoporosis and fractures,” Willett said.

The USDA has not yet responded to a request for comment.

Thumbs Up From Some Nutritionists

When the USDA unveiled its plate in June, nutrition experts praised it for its simplicity and for emphasizing the importance of key food groups, such as fruits and vegetables. While they say it’s an improvement over the food pyramid, some also support Harvard’s changes, saying the alternative plate offers more specific information about what to eat and what to avoid and also makes healthy recommendations.

“The Harvard plate . is detailed in its recommendations, differentiating among foods in a given caterogy and more importantly, it is explicit about foods not to eat,” said Dr. David Katz, founding director of theYale University Prevention Research Center.

“I believe whole grains and fiber are very important to cardiovascular and gastrointestinal health,” said Paul Ehrmann, founder and medical director of Family Health Care Center in Royal Oak, Mich. “It’s also beneficial with weight management.”

“This would be the type of diet that would reduce obesity, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia [an abnormal level of fats and/or cholesterol in the blood] and cardiovascular diseases,” said Dr. Carl Lavie, a cardiologist at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans, although he said he doesn’t see the harm in additional servings of low-fat milk.

Dr. Donald Hensrud, the chairman of preventive, occupational and aerospace medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., also supports the changes and said the Mayo Clinic offered a revised food pyramid several years ago with similar elements. The main difference, Hensrud said, is that Mayo’s pyramid has an allowance for 75 calories worth of sweets per day.

Are Recommendations Too Complicated?

Other experts, however, expressed worry that Harvard’s model is too complex.

“People struggle to make changes, so simple steps make changes seem less daunting,” said Connie Diekman, director of university nutrition at Washington University in St. Louis. “Healthy eating is about proper food choices and portions, along with enjoyment — not fear or avoidance.”

“Perhaps we should aim to show a breakfast plate, lunch plate, snack plate or in some cases, a bowl to illustrate the concept, i.e., a turkey wrap with roasted veggies and an apple embraces the plate, but in one item,” said Leslie Bonci, director of sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. She believes visual elements are more effective.

Others disagree with some of Harvard’s dietary recommendations.

“Not everyone needs whole grains with every meal,” said Molly Kimball, sports and lifestyle nutritionist at Elmwood Fitness Center in New Orleans. “If they get penty of fiber-rich veggies and they have the carbs from fresh fruit and/or low-fat dairy, they may not need to double up on the carbs/calories of a whole grain starch.”

“Milk and dairy should not be limited for children, women and for the elderly. Low fat types of dairy should instead be chosen,” said Carla Wolper, assistant professor of eating disorders research at Columbia University.

But Willett believes the Healthy Eating Plate will ultimately lead people to make better choices.

“There is a huge amount of data to support the benefits of healthy food choices, and they make a very, very big difference in people’s health,” he said.

Harvard Researchers Unveil New Healthy Eating Plate

Los Angeles, Calif. (PRWEB) March 23, 2010

Healthy lifestyles and kids nutrition have been consistently leading the headlines. From the health and nutrition movement championed by First Lady Michele Obama and schools to Jamie Olivers Food Revolution television show and the many newly-released books, Americans are more aware than ever before about the importance of developing good eating habits.

With Easter rapidly approaching, stocking kids Easter baskets with healthy alternatives to chocolate and candy is a smart start to lead children down the path of healthier eating. While parents know its important to provide nutritional treats for their children, they may not understand how to do so. To help educate parents, kids and healthcare professionals, a mom that is also a registered dietitian created SuperKids Nutritionto offer expert tips and tools for healthy eating.

More more parents and kids want to learn how to incorporate healthy food choices into their daily lives, said Melissa Halas-Liang, SuperKids Nutrition founder. With Easter right around the corner, taking the time to learn how to pack a health-conscious Easter basket is a perfect way to kick-start healthy eating habits.”

Healthy Easter Basket Tips
SuperKids Nutrition is challenging parents and kids to jumpstart a healthy lifestyle change starting with healthier Easter baskets. To continue the nutritional challenge long after the holiday, superkidsnutrition.com offers free tips, tools and resources. The website empowers parents to build a healthy family through easy-to-read information, coloring pages, activities, recommended childrens book and more. Here are a few suggestions for creating a healthy Easter basket from SuperKids Nutrition.

Healthy, Sweet and Fun Easter Basket Ideas:

• Bunny Cupcakes Bake or purchase whole grain carrot mini muffins decorate with bunny cupcake toppers for extra fun.
• Mix-It-Up – Fill Easter eggs with sugar free gum, colorful Easter erasers, popcorn, stickers, Easter tattoos or trail mix with dried cranberries and golden raisins.
• Too Cute Clementines will add a bold splash of spring color and are a sweet treat kids will love to eat. Mini red and green apples work well too.
• Frozen Fun Freeze-dried fruit tastes just like candy kids love bananas, mangos and apples. Be sure they brush their teeth afterwards.
• Egg Hunt – Replace egg-shaped chocolate with egg-shaped chalk. Place the chalk eggs in colorful mesh netting and tie with ribbon.
• Veg Out Now that spring is here, inspire kids to grow a vegetable and herb garden by packing a garden tote (in place of a basket) with a seed kit, mini pots and kid-size gardening gloves and spade.
• Book-It Include Easter coloring books and crayons as well as educational books teaching kids eating healthy can be fun. Super Baby Abigails Lunch Time Adventure is a neat read with a garden theme that will take children on a healthy eating journey with the Super Crew kids.

SuperKids Nutrition aims to empower children and families to reach their full potential by having the energy and good health needed to accomplish their life goals, said Halas-Liang. While providing information is important, I knew that it should also be fun for kids. As a result, we created the Super Crew characters.

Super Crew Makes Healthy Eating Fun for Kids
To make learning about healthy eating fun for kids, Melissa created the Super Crew characters, superhero kids who get powers from eating healthy foods of certain colors. Brought to life through the website, coloring pages and beautifully illustrated childrens books, the Super Crew encourages kids to understand and value the importance of good nutrition. In addition to children books, the Super Crew are featured in fun learning activities that can be downloaded on superkidsnutrition.com and deliver nutrition concepts in activities that also teach science, math, reading and fitness.

Havoc at Hillside Market and Super Baby Abigails Lunch Time Adventure are two books that feature the Super Crew. The books offer adventures that engage children and come to life on the vibrant pages. In addition to the stories, each book provides parents with ideas on how to peak their childs interest in learning about healthy nutrition and trying new foods. Books are available at superkidsnutrition.com.

About SuperKids Nutrition
SuperKids Nutrition Inc. was founded in August 2006 by Melissa Halas-Liang, MA, RD, CDE to save the world one healthy food at a timeTM. The SuperKids Nutrition team also represents a diverse, nationally recognized group of Registered Dietitians and nutrition professionals who specialize in childhood, school and family nutrition. The SuperKids Nutrition website, books and other educational resources are available to parents, teachers, and healthcare professionals looking for tools and information on eating healthfully and raising a healthy family. To learn more, visit http://www.superkidsnutrition.com.

Create Healthy Easter Baskets Join the Food Revolution

Healthy Food Choices For Toddlers

If you have ever spent any time in the company of a toddler, then you know they can be very picky about what they eat. Encouraging healthy eating when your child is young helps foster healthy habits that will last a lifetime. Even the pickiest eaters can be tempted with healthy food choices -just don’t be surprised if they want the same snack for days in a row

The best thing you can do to encourage your toddler to eat a healthy diet is to offer a wide range of choices. Toddlers tend to be very fickle- and just because they refused a particular food today, doesn’t mean they won’t absolutely love it when you offer it next week. When your toddler is used to the flavors and textures of things like vegetables and naturally sweet foods like fruit, they will turn to these items first when they are hungry, instead of filling up on greasy chips or candy.

One of the best ways to encourage your toddler to eat a healthy diet is to do so yourself. It is hard to convince a child of any age to eat apples and grapes if you fill your own diet with fast food and sweets. Children are natural born mimics, and they to be just like their parents and the “big kids” in the family. Toddlers want to eat what they see the rest of the family enjoying, so take the opportunity to set a great example, and let your toddler watch you enjoy a healthy variety of snacks.

When you are choosing snacks for your toddler, try to avoid anything containing refined sugar. Stick to things like applesauce, yogurts, and diced fresh fruits. Babies are not born with a need for sugary snacks, but can quickly develop the taste for refined sugar as they get older. Fresh fruits have the ability to meet that sweet craving without having the harmful effects of large amounts of refined sugar. Fruits also provide your little one with a daily dose of vitamins and fiber as well.

Look for snacks that provide some calcium, low-fat milk, low-fat yogurt, low fat cheese and calcium fortified juices. As your child grows from an infant to a toddler they need lots of calcium to ensure healthy bones and growth. Consider offering real ice cream or frozen yogurt in place of sugary popsicles or frozen treats, both of these items are rich in calcium, and have some protein as well.

Toddlers also need a good supply of iron to be healthy, so consider serving snacks or meals rich in iron. You can add broccoli to macaroni and cheese, or sneak some iron rich meats into pizza sauce. Don’t forget beans, dried fruits and iron-fortified cereals-you can serve these on their own, or use as ingredients for making other foods.

In a hurry? Forget fast food–there are some great prepackaged products that offer completely organic options for your child. While these may e a little more expensive, they do ensure that your child gets the nutrients they need. You can combine these premade items with fresh fruit and milk for a well rounded but quickly made meal.

By planning ahead and knowing what nutrients your child needs most, you can be sure that your toddler is eating a well rounded, healthy diet.

Healthy Food Choices For Toddlers

Healthy Food Choices For Toddlers

Are you ailing from any kind of disease? Are you suffering from fever, menstruation cycle, cancer or any kind of disease? Here is some information about healthy food choice during medical necessities. We all are very familiar with the problems of fever. Healthy food choice during health problems are chosen very carefully. If a doctor is recommending a diet for the patient, then strictly follow the diet or else you can follow the diet which is recommended here.

Healthy food choices during health problems are very crucial. For the duration of menstruation cycle, a woman goes a lot of change inside her. The hormone rushes out of her body and is tiring. A right kind of food and right quantity with a healthy choice of the food is smartness. A woman faces a lot of cramping which is a deadly effect in her abdominal section.

She must intake a lot of fibers. Plenty of water should be consumed. A lot of fruits and vegetables should be consumed also. You need to have lots of proteins as lot of bleeding is involved. During this cycle, try to avoid taking medicines and do not try to disturb the natural flow.

Patients suffering from fever should make healthy food choices for themselves. The first thing to start with the diet is with an orange juice and lots of water. The orange juice should be given to the patient with warm water after every two hours. This juice is a healthy choice of food during health problems as it increases the outflow of urinary and gives a boost of energy to fight with germs inside the body.

Warm water keeps the bowel system clean and clear. Giving a balanced diet is a healthy choice of food. Fruits and their juices, vegetables, milk and proteins are good. Soups and sprouted seeds are healthy food choice.

Cancer patients should stick with doctor prescribed diet and eat whole grains, flax seeds, dairy and calcium, meat and protein with a balanced diet is very necessary. Hope you follow the steps of healthy food choices during health problems. Just take care! Get well soon!

Healthy Food Choices during Health Problems

Eating healthy is something we all would like to do, although it can be hard. In order to eat healthy, you must first make the right food choices. Eating healthy
is all about what you eat, which makes the choices very crucial to your results.

Grains
You should consume 6 ounces of grains per day. To do this, you can eat 3 ounces of whole grain cereals, breads, rice, crackers, or pasta. You can get an ounce of grains in a single slice of bread, or 1 cut of cereal.

Vegetables
These should be varied, as you should eat 2 1/2 cups of them each day. You should start eating more of the dark vegetables, such as broccoli and spinach. Carrots and
sweet potatoes are good as well. You should also eat more dry beans such as peas, pinto beans, and even kidney
beans.

Fruits
Fruits are very important. You should try to eat 2 cups of them each day. Focus on eating a variety, such as fresh, frozen, canned, or even dried fruit. You can
drink fruit juices as well, although you should use moderation when doing so.

Milk
Milk is your calcium rich friend. For adults, 3 cups is the ideal goal. For kids 2 – 8, 2 cups is where you want to be. When choosing milk products or yogurt, you
should go for fat-free or low-fat. Those of you who don’t like milk or can’t have it, should go for lactose free products or other sources of calcium such as fortified
foods and beverages.

Meat and beans
Eating 5 ounces a day is the ideal goal, as you should go lean with your protein. When eating meat, always bake it, grill it, or broil it, as this will prevent grease from
adding to the equation. You should vary your protein as well, with more fish, beans, peas, and nuts.

When cooking your food, you should also limit solid fats such as butter, margarine, shortening, and lard. These foods may add flavor to your dishes, although they can
also help raise your cholesterol as well. Therefore, you should try to add these foods and any foods that happen to contain them.

To help keep your saturated fat, trans fat, and sodium low, you can check the nutrition facts label. This label can be found on the food package and will tell you all the
information you need to know about the food item.

By picking your foods wisely and watching what you eat, you’ll help control your lifestyle. Exercise is great as well, as it goes along perfect with a healthy eating
lifestyle. No matter what your age may be, eating healthy will help you keep your active lifestyle for years and years – even help you and your health in the long run
as well.

Healthy Food Choices

Vegetables, fruits, and grains are normally low in fat and have no cholesterol. Most are great sources of dietary fiber, complex carbs, and vitamins. The American Heart Association recommends that you eat foods that are high in complex carbs and fiber.

Below are some tips for making healthy food choices:

- Coconut is high in saturated fat, while olives are high in monounsaturated fats and calories. You should use these items sparingly to avoid getting too many calories from fat.

- When vegetable grains are cooked, saturated fat or cholesterol is often added. For example, egg yolks may be added to bread or even pasta.

- Processed, canned, or preserved vegetables may also contain added sodium. With some people, too much sodium (salt) may lead to high blood pressure. There are some food companies that are actually canning vegetables with less salt. You can look for these in the market area or choose fresh and even frozen vegetables.

 

- Nuts and seeds tend to be high in calories and fat, although a majority of the fat is polyunsaturated or monounsaturated. There are some varieties, macadamie nuts for example, that are also high in saturated fat.

Foods that are high in soluble fiber are a great choice as well. Examples include oat bran, oatmeal, beans, peas, rice bran, barley, and even apple pulp.

Whenever you are looking for healthy food choices, always make sure you read the nutrition label or information about the food. You can then determine what the food contains and how healthy it truly is for your body. By taking your time and making your healthy food choices wisely, you’ll have a lifetime to enjoy the foods that
will take care of you.

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Making Healthy Food Choices