The places added sugar hides...and how to find it. Great 4 min @TED_ED video: http://tom.cr/1oZWpRm
via @paulballenThursday, June 19, 2014
YouTube
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Declare War on Sugar
SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE DIRECTOR’S WAR ON SUGAR: MIGUEL VILLARREAL
by Dana Woldow
Miguel Villarreal, head of school food service for Novato Unified School District, about 30 miles north of San Francisco in 2002 learning that 35% of their students were deemed overweight based on the California Healthy Kids Survey, decided to take immediate action to address this problem.
He decided to get rid of processed food and beverages that were high in sugar; telling the NUSD that we would be removing them, knowing this would end a $70,000 revenue stream.
His plan was to increase breakfast participation to help make up for the lost soda revenue. By making breakfast part of the school day, he was able to get over 1,400 NUSD students a day to eat breakfast, where previously only 200 had done so. The extra revenue more than made up for the loss of soda money.
Next, Villarreal phased out high sugar foods like pastries, cookies and cereals, and in 2006 he eliminated flavored milk in all elementary schools, and eventually from all NUSD schools. After hearing Dr. Robert Lustig of UCSF speak on the toxicities of refined sugars, he eliminated all juice products served with meals (a limited number of 100% juices are available a la-carte at the middle and high schools.)
To date, he estimates that he has eliminated a total of 400 pounds of sugar per day from the NUSD school meal program, the equivalent of 36 tons of sugar, every year since 2006.
Interview:
...what makes a school meal program successful,
- how to get high school students to eat in the cafeteria,
- why he does not support lobbying Congress to roll back new healthy school food regulations, and
- his belief that the job of Director of School Food Service should be changed to Director of Wellness.
A. – In the end, a successful school food service program is one that meets the financial and wellness goals of the school district.
Success is not necessarily measured by the number of students eating, nor by the healthiness of the food, if the kids are not eating it.
Schools with lots of students eating may still be serving highly processed “kid” friendly meals. Is this more “successful” than a school district that is attempting to promote healthier, less processed food?
I do not subscribe to the theory that having students eat highly processed food is better than not having anything to eat. School food service programs must figure out how to overcome this way of thinking if they are going be part of the wellness solution.
Q. – What one piece of advice do you have for school districts about how they could better serve their students?
A. – We need to redefine the role of the traditional Director of Food Services to that of the Director of Wellness. The current food service director positions are primarily responsible for operations; extremely important, but it is difficult to change the overall culture of wellness of a school district or community just by improving school food. Students, parents, school staff and the community at large must embrace wellness as a comprehensive approach.
The Director of Wellness would be responsible for overseeing and helping coordinate all food, nutrition and wellness programs in the schools and community. Helping to connect the 3 C’s – Cafeteria, Classroom and Community – through coalition building with all vested individuals and organizations, as discussed in the book Food Justice by Robert Gottlieb and Anapuma Joshi.
The Director of Wellness would collaborate with numerous allied organizations in their communities, county, city and around the state, and serve as committee, advisory or board member for many of those same organizations, ensuring that the school food service program served as a hub for wellness both in schools and in the community. The Director of Wellness should also sit on the school district’s Cabinet and work closely with all internal educational departments.
If we want to see real, sustainable improvements in our children’s health, wellness and academic achievement, then it’s time for a major shift in how we view school food service programs. Sustainable change works when inside and outside forces come together for a common good.
Dana Woldow has been a school food advocate since 2002 and shares what she has learned at PEACHSF.org. Follow her on Twitter @nestwife, or read more than 140 characters of her writing in her complete archive.
CONTRIBUTOR
Dana Woldow
A. – We need to redefine the role of the traditional Director of Food Services to that of the Director of Wellness. The current food service director positions are primarily responsible for operations; extremely important, but it is difficult to change the overall culture of wellness of a school district or community just by improving school food. Students, parents, school staff and the community at large must embrace wellness as a comprehensive approach.
The Director of Wellness would be responsible for overseeing and helping coordinate all food, nutrition and wellness programs in the schools and community. Helping to connect the 3 C’s – Cafeteria, Classroom and Community – through coalition building with all vested individuals and organizations, as discussed in the book Food Justice by Robert Gottlieb and Anapuma Joshi.
The Director of Wellness would collaborate with numerous allied organizations in their communities, county, city and around the state, and serve as committee, advisory or board member for many of those same organizations, ensuring that the school food service program served as a hub for wellness both in schools and in the community. The Director of Wellness should also sit on the school district’s Cabinet and work closely with all internal educational departments.
If we want to see real, sustainable improvements in our children’s health, wellness and academic achievement, then it’s time for a major shift in how we view school food service programs. Sustainable change works when inside and outside forces come together for a common good.
Dana Woldow has been a school food advocate since 2002 and shares what she has learned at PEACHSF.org. Follow her on Twitter @nestwife, or read more than 140 characters of her writing in her complete archive.
CONTRIBUTOR
Dana Woldow
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver
QUOTATION OF THE DAY
"The equivalent of this is foie gras. You have to force feed ducks to get fatty liver, but people seem to be able to develop it on their own."
DR. JOEL E. LAVINE, of NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, on the rapid rise of nonalcoholic fatty liver among American children and adults.
Monday, June 2, 2014
Healthy Diet Choices are foundational to Fitness
My favorite source for nutrition and diet information is Dr. Dean Ornish.
Spectrum of Choices
Based on the latest science, while recognizing the limitations of research, I have categorized foods into a spectrum ranging from the most healthful (Group 1) to the least healthful (Group 5).
I started to say “most indulgent” to describe Group 5, but that’s part of the problem. Whether or not a food is healthful is not the primary determinant of how good it tastes. How fresh are the ingredients? Where was it grown? Local? Organic? How processed is it? How skillfully was it prepared?
You can make Group 1 and Group 2 foods that are good for you and also taste great and feel indulgent. Conversely, you can make Group 5 foods unappealing if they’re not well-prepared.
What matters most is your overall way of eating. I am not saying that you should never consume foods from Group 5 (unless you have a serious health condition). If you indulge yourself one day by eating foods from Group 4 or 5, spend a little more time in Groups 1 and 2 the next day.
http://www.ornishspectrum.com/proven-program/nutrition/ Dean Ornish book and Website
These changes will make you live longer, Tweets Dean Ornish
Dr. Dean Ornish, founder and president of Preventive Medicine Research Institute and a clinical professor of medicine and the University of California in San Francisco, designed a program to reverse heart disease. Rather than pills or surgery, he supports using lifestyle and diet modifications to undo damage related to cardiovascular health.
In a 45-minute chat hosted by CNNHealth, he answered a series of questions about diet, lifestyle and heart health from @cnnhealth's Twitter audience, using#LastHeartAttack. Here are some of the questions he answered.
satya33: Is it important to have Omega 3 + 6 everyday? How much & which food sources would you suggest?
DeanOrnishMD: Omega-3 fatty acids are remarkable– they can reduce sudden cardiac death by up to 80%, reduce risk of cancer... even raise your baby's IQ! Take 3-4 grams/day of fish oil or plankton-based omega-3's, ones that take out bad stuff.
Ornish: Asking the right questions about health care
debsmith211: Does beef really put a strain on your heart?
DeanOrnishMD: Beef increases your risk of heart disease as well as colon, breast, & prostate cancers. And increases global warming.
The 'heart attack proof' diet?
ChanchalSHayr: Is there a vegetarian option for omega-3, instead of fish oil?
DeanOrnishMD: Yes, several brands of vegan omega-3's including Martek. Fish get omega'3's from eating plankton.
NWAngel: Heart disease is #1
NWAngel: Heart disease is #1 killer of women. Are the risks & or treatments different than for men?
DeanOrnishMD: Even more women die from heart disease than men. Lifestyle choices to prevent & reverse heart disease are about the same.
Learn more from the American Heart Association
reidiculous1: Will flax-based omega-3 supplements do the trick?
DeanOrnishMD: Flax provides DHA but not ALA, so it's good but not as beneficial as fish oil which provides both.
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega-3 fatty acid found in fish oil supplements. Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is a type of omega-3 fatty acid found in plants.
kenleebow: What are your thoughts on being heart attack proof by having a total cholesterol of 150 or less?
DeanOrnishMD: It's a good start but not enough to be heart attack proof. Also need moderate exercise, meditation, and love/support.
What causes a heart attack?
spinningvitamin: What do you think about soy protein supplement powder?
DeanOrnishMD: Soy is good in diet but you can get too much using the soy supplement powders, so I don't recommend them.
RPG80 asked: Eating like a vegan takes planning. Where can i get good tasting recipes to eat like this every day?
DeanOrnishMD: “Everyday Cooking with Dr. Dean Ornish" has hundreds of easy-and-quick-to-make delicious vegan & vegetarian recipes.
DrFinke: Are there risks of too much soy for women?
DeanOrnishMD: You can get too much soy from powders/supplements but not in a normal whole foods diet. Soy reduces breast cancer risk.
RecoveringFoody: Dr. O's view on olive oil contradicts what we hear. Is olive oil really terrible for you?
DeanOrnishMD: The Lyon study showed that a Mediterranean diet high in canola oil (not olive oil) & low in meat reduced heart attacks.
What your cholesterol number really says
SuzZenCrow asked: Can I keep my iron up & go vegan? I have chronic anemia, high cholesterol, ulcer.
DeanOrnishMD: An ulcer will cause you to lose microscopic blood & iron, so most important is to treat that (more). You can take iron supplements if needed, but most people have no problems getting enough iron in their diet.
Viartist_23 asked: Is it true that cholesterol can cause blind spots in eye?
DeanOrnishMD: Amaurosis fugax is temporary blindness in 1 caused by reduced blood flow, which too much cholesterol can promote.
goodskinla asked: Are avocados really OUT?
DeanOrnishMD: Avocados are high in fat so they're high in calories; if you don't have heart disease, they're fine in moderation. If you don't have heart disease, you have a spectrum of choices– check out www.ornish.com for more info.
DrFinke asked: Vegan assumes no fish. Is it better to supplement DHA/ALA or eat fish? Is there a difference?
DeanOrnishMD” Fish oil supplements are better if they remove the bad stuff (mercury, dioxin, PCB) that are found in almost all fish.
Will you have a heart attack? These tests might tell
spinningvitamin asked: Are there some non-soy protein powders that u feel are beneficial & safe? Feel protein deficient.
DeanOrnishMD: Most people aren't protein deficient; eat more high-protein foods (soy, rice & beans, etc.) Whey powder not soy.
Neal56 asked: In a vegan diet, where do you get your protein and fat? Both are necessary for rebuilding your body.
DeanOrnishMD: If you eat a variety of vegetables, whole grains, and soy, you'll get enough protein on a vegan diet. And legumes (beans, etc.). If you're not ready to be a vegan, eat a few vegan or vegetarian meals each week.
DeanOrnishMD: Thank you so much– these lifestyle changes make you feel better as well as live longer, which makes them sustainable.
From omnivore to vegan: The dietary education of Bill Clinton
Follow CNNHealth on Twitter
Link: http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/19/these-changes-will-make-you-live-longer-tweets-dean-ornish/
Post by: Madison Park - CNNhealth.com Writer/Producer
Filed under: Healthy Eating • Heart
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