Fast Food Appears to Cause Asthma in ChildrenJanuary 16th, 2013 - Jill Ettinger
While many people are accused of “inhaling” their food—particularly the junky-fast kind, new research says that may become more difficult, especially for children who appear to be developing asthma as a result of eating fast food. Read More:Fast Food Appears to Cause Asthma in ChildrenUSDA Assigns “Limitless” Amount of Meat and Grains to School LunchesDecember 10th, 2012 - Jill Ettinger
In a confusing move that will affect the health of the nation’s children, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced last week that the department is lifting the limits on the amounts of grain and meat products allowed in school lunches. Read More:USDA Assigns “Limitless” Amount of Meat and Grains to School LunchesKids Benefit from Eating Organic Food, Cites New ReportOctober 23rd, 2012 - Jill Ettinger
In a report released yesterday by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the organization cites benefits for children who eat organic food and a diet rich in fruits and vegetables—organic or not. Read More:Kids Benefit from Eating Organic Food, Cites New ReportIowa School Children Meet a FarmerDecember 3rd, 2010 - Gerald "Gerry" Pugliese
Where does your food come from? If you say “the supermarket,” then stop reading and go sit in the corner. But the truth is a lot of people don’t know where their food is grown, raised, cooked, whatever. That’s why the Iowa City School District is taking time to introduce kids to farmers. “We’re looking to introduce the kids to their local farmers,” a spokesperson from the Johnson County Local Food Alliance told the Iowa City Press-Citizen. “We want to make it fun because eating local is delicious and healthy.” Read More:Iowa School Children Meet a FarmerHigh-Calorie Beverages Still Widely Available in U.S. Elementary SchoolsNovember 1st, 2010 - Barbara Feiner
Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago conducted a nationally representative survey to examine the availability of high-calorie and sugar-sweetened beverages for sale in elementary schools during lunchtime, in vending machines and snack bars, and in school stores. They also examined the types of milk available in school cafeterias: low-fat, whole-fat and flavored milks (right). While 16.1% of students could purchase only those beverages recommended by Institute of Medicine guidelines during the 2008–2009 school year, 44.7% could purchase beverages that the guidelines frown upon. This pattern applied to both public and private school. Read More:High-Calorie Beverages Still Widely Available in U.S. Elementary SchoolsWhole Foods Market Shoppers Donate More Than $1.4 Million for Salad Bars in U.S. SchoolsOctober 24th, 2010 - Barbara Feiner
In August, I told you about the Salad Bar Project—a program that allows Whole Foods Market customers to donate money for school salad bars. I’m happy to report that 7 weeks of fundraising have brought in $1.4 million, which will fund 570 salad bars in U.S. schools. “The overwhelming support our shoppers have shown for the Salad Bar Project is heartwarming—just plain amazing,” says Whole Foods co-CEO Walter Robb. “We nearly doubled the original fundraising goal, so it’s clear our customers share our passion for supporting more nutritious offerings in school lunchrooms across the country.” Read More:Whole Foods Market Shoppers Donate More Than $1.4 Million for Salad Bars in U.S. SchoolsCanned Tuna Fails Mercury TestOctober 1st, 2010 - Barbara Feiner
When researchers at the University of Las Vegas tested mercury levels in canned tuna, they were in for a rude awakening. Of the 300 samples tested, representing three top national brands (unnamed):
Can Salad Bar Project Save School Lunch Programs?August 17th, 2010 - Barbara Feiner
Whole Foods Market has teamed with “Renegade Lunch Lady” Chef Ann Cooper for the Salad Bar Project, designed to bring fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and healthy proteins to school cafeterias. “We see partnering with our shoppers to raise funds for salad bars in local schools as an immediate way for us to come together and make an impact on our children’s health in the communities we serve,” says Whole Foods Co-CEO Walter Robb. “Our goal is to provide a salad bar in a local school in each of the communities we serve with our 300 stores.” Now through Sept. 29, you can donate to the project at a Whole Foods checkout line or make an online donation. Each salad bar will cost approximately $2,500. Any public elementary, middle or high school within 50 miles of a Whole Foods Market is eligible to apply through a grant process, which will be administered by Chef Cooper’s Food, Family, Farming Foundation. Grant applications will be accepted between Sept. 1 and Nov. 1. “I know we can make thousands of salad bars a reality for schools everywhere,” Cooper says. “Since adding a healthy salad bar to school lunch options is the No. 1 thing parents and advocates can do to help improve school food, this is a win-win for schools and their students.” “Making small changes—like replacing French fries with fresh fruits, steamed or raw vegetables and whole grains—can make a big difference,” Robb adds. “A fresh, healthy salad bar with an array of colorful choices empowers children to make smart food choices.” More than 31 million children eat a federally funded school lunch each day through the National School Lunch Program. On average, each lunch is budgeted at 90 cents, which means schools rely on mostly frozen, highly processed, packaged foods. And with no national standardized limits on sugar, artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, it’s common to find hamburgers, chicken nuggets, French fries, chocolate milk and corn dogs on typical school lunch menus. And we wonder why America’s kids are struggling with their weight… Photo: Ted Major Read More:Can Salad Bar Project Save School Lunch Programs?Keep Pet Food Away from Curious Infants, ToddlersAugust 11th, 2010 - Barbara Feiner
There’s always a chance that dry pet food and treats may be contaminated with salmonella, so it’s particularly important to keep infants and toddlers away from them. In fact, Procter & Gamble has expanded its recent recall of Iams veterinary and Eukanuba specialized dry pet foods because they may be contaminated. More than 23,000 tons of dry dog and cat food were recalled during several salmonella outbreaks between 2006 and 2008, with one manufacturer closing its plant permanently. During this time, 79 human contamination cases in 21 states were identified—48% of which involved children 2 and younger. More individuals may have become ill but failed to report it, according to a study released Monday in the journal Pediatrics. Illness was primarily associated with feeding pets in the kitchen (as opposed to kids putting pet food in their mouths). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration offers the following suggestions: Buying
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Kid Food: Make an Organic Cauliflower CaterpillarAugust 5th, 2010 - Barbara Feiner
Convincing children to eat their veggies can be challenging, so Chicago-based registered dietitian Jodie Shield encourages parents to get creative. Tell your kids to play with their food, urges Shield, coauthor of The American Dietetic Association Guide to Healthy Eating for Kids. You can combine snack time with playtime by creating veggie critters as afterschool treats. Here’s what you’ll need to make an organic Cauliflower Caterpillar: 1 packet ranch dressing mix
Photo courtesy of Hidden Valley Read More:Kid Food: Make an Organic Cauliflower Caterpillar |
High-calorie beverages that have been disallowed by 
