Attention! Military Meals Get a Makeover

First, it was the launch of the Let's Move Campaign to encourage change toward healthier eating and fitness habits. Then there were updated school lunch guidelines to match-up what is served in public schools with the MyPlate healthy eating guidelines. Now for the first time in nearly twenty years the military will get a nutrition overhaul aimed to help more Americans beat obesity.
 
Last week the First Lady joined the Assistant U.S. Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs at the Little Rock Air Force Base to announce the new Health Services focus. The Military Health System obesity and nutrition awareness campaign will provide a large revamp to nutrition standards and meal service to our military men and women, retirees and their families. Each year the military discharges about 1,200 entry-level candidates because of their inability to meet fitness and weight standards. At the same time, the Defense Department spends nearly $1.4 billion on obesity related health problems including diabetes, heart disease, and osteoarthritis. The Department of Defense believes the new changes will help reduce costs and increase military readiness by improving the overall health of the military population. At the same time, our military will be setting a powerful example for the rest of the nation. Here are some of the changes expected in the coming months.

Is The Nutritional State of Our Nation Improving?

By now, most of us are well aware that many things have changed over the last two years since the First Lady launched the Let's Move campaign. We have seen improved restaurant labeling as well as diet friendly sections on menus to help people make informed decisions when eating away from home. The new national food icon MyPlate has become a tool referenced in school health curriculums, by nutrition educators, and in marketing campaigns. Add the recent release of the updated school lunch recommendations and you can see the breadth and width of change aimed at helping Americans achieve a healthy weight.
 
We know that as our weight increases, so does our risk of developing medical conditions such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and strokes to name a few. Beginning in 1997, standardizing classifications for overweight and obesity were adopted. Someone is defined as overweight when his or her body mass index (BMI) is 25 or higher. Obesity is defined by a BMI exceeding 30. Obesity is further clarified as Class I Obesity with a BMI of 30.0-34.9, Class II between 35.0-34.9, and Class III is a BMI greater than 40.
 
The first Dietary Goals for The United States were introduced in February of 1977 in a report prepared for the Select Committee of the Senate on Nutrition and Human Needs. The primary reason for the guidelines was to provide a practical guide to good eating since the research indicated the public was confused about what to eat to maximize health. So have we gotten healthier over the last three decades with healthy eating guidelines?

Is One of the Most Nutritious Kid's Meals Coming to Your Neighborhood?

Many things have changed since the First Lady first launched the Let's Move campaign to help raise healthier generations of kids. Next year school lunches will see a makeover to ensure students are receiving nutrient rich lunches. Many restaurants have also made positive menu changes in an attempt to help families make healthier choices when eating away from home.
 
Eating away from home can fit into a healthy lifestyle as long as the visits are in moderation. When eating away from home, it helps that there are more health conscious options especially for kids. Last year 19 restaurant brands with over 15,000 total restaurant locations collaborated to introduce the Kids Live Well program that focused specifically on kid's meals. Last month a leading fast food restaurant unveiled a kid's meal they believe could be one of the most nutritious in the nation.

The Not-So-Extreme School Lunch Makeover

Last week, First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack joined celebrity chef Rachael Ray to announce changes to the school lunch program. This desired national update is the first in more than fifteen years. After the announcement, the First Lady and the others joined schoolchildren at Parklawn Elementary School for lunch. The lunch consisted of recipes created for the occasion by Rachael Ray to demonstrate how tasty the new regulations can be.  
 
While there was legislative debate regarding how some foods fit into a healthier student meal, in the end the final goals seem to have been achieved to provide healthier guidelines for the national program. Starting next school year, students will find lunch offerings designed to match the Dietary Guidelines for Americans using the newly updated national food icon as a guide. While this is exciting, it will bring financial concerns for many school districts as well. The updated meal requirement will be more costly to provide when districts are already facing tight budgets. Although six cents per lunch will be provided through Federal reimbursement, this amount isn't expected to match the increased cost per meal to produce meals that meet these guidelines.
 
The new guidelines require schools to offer more nutrient dense menus by increasing fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free fluid milk and low-fat dairy while lowering meal sodium, saturated and trans fat levels. While many schools have already made changes in the milk they offer, here are the additional changes students and parents will find next fall.

Is Everyone Being Too Hard on Paula Deen?

Paula Deen's recent announcement that she has type 2 diabetes set the media ablaze with speculation and discussion regarding the role of her diet and the potentially deadly disease. Some critics claim that her high-fat, high-calorie, high-sodium Southern-style cooking increases the risks of hypertension, strokes, and heart attacks, in addition to type 2 diabetes. Others take note that she was diagnosed three years ago but is only coming forward now that she and her sons have a business deal with a diabetes company to share new recipes and healthier living ideas.
 
From Paula's perspective, she reports telling those close to her when she was first diagnosed but chose not to tell the world because she needed time to figure out what this new diagnosis would mean. She is also quick to point out that every food is OK in moderation, including her tasty Southern-style cooking. Paula cautions viewers and fans alike to remember that she is a cook: She is simply teaching you how to make a great-tasting meal or specialty dish. She's not your doctor, telling you what you should eat. She reminds people that they need to take personal responsibility when it comes to what they eat and how it influences their health. Paula is excited to help people see diabetes in a new light by encouraging them to establish healthy habits including lighter cooking, getting more exercise, and working with their health-care team to manage diabetes so they can live a full and active life.
 
Well, we agree with both the critics and Paula. Consuming a diet that is consistently high in fat, calories, and sodium does increase a person's risk of developing hypertension and type 2 diabetes that could lead to a heart attack or stroke. This is especially true if you also have someone in your immediate family who has hypertension or diabetes and you are overweight or inactive. We also agree that everyone has to be responsible for his or her own health. Just about any food can be included in a healthy diet but the key is to include moderation and portion control in your healthy eating plan as well.
 
We totally understand why Paula initially kept her new diagnosis to herself. It most certainly takes time to accept any new medical condition and to understand what it will mean for your life and career while also learning to live and thrive with it. Anyone that gets a new diabetes diagnosis deserves the right to work with their medical team to find a treatment plan that works to manage their condition while allowing them to live a full and vibrant life. You can't accurately answer questions about something that you don't fully understand yourself. Paula seems to have developed a great plan with her family and medical team and is now ready to help other people take control of their health as well.
 
Perhaps you are newly diagnosed with diabetes or maybe you just haven't taken your diabetes diagnoses as seriously as you should. Regardless of which of these fit your situation, here are three tips to help Paula and you, spark your way to a healthier life with diabetes.

6 Healthy Habits to Start Today

One reason "diets" are so tempting is that they provide a guided plan to help people reach weight loss goals. Sadly, many times the latest fad diet or gimmick includes changes that are drastic and restrictive from normal life. Sometimes this means the "diet" can't be maintained on a long-term basis and weight loss goals if reached can't be maintained either.
 
Dieting without a change in lifestyle is like a screen door on a submarine: pointless when it comes to long-term success. If you are tired of diets, you are not alone. There are millions of frustrated dieters out there still struggling too. If you want to change your lifestyle to reach your weight goals for the last time, here are six healthy habits to get you started.

Control Portions

Eat the Right Stuff

Exercise Consistently

Drink Water

Eat on Purpose

Find Unexpected Opportunities

10 Low Sodium Restaurant Options For the New Year

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends individuals between the ages of 2-50 should reduce daily sodium intake to 2,300 mg or less. For those older than 51 or younger individuals with hypertension, diabetes, or other chronic diseases, the recommendation lowers to 1,500 mg per day.  Since sodium is essential element necessary for the body to function properly, it is important to consume between 1,500-2,300 mg per day on average unless otherwise directed by your medical provider.
 
 In our ongoing Food on the Run and Diet Friendly Dining series, one of the most common comments I find relates to why the sodium content is so high in the foods we suggest as being "healthier" options.  
 
More and more restaurants are moving in the direction of fresh, whole foods for entrée and side options. Since these tend to be naturally low in sodium, they are a great way to increase nutrition while decreasing the sodium and fat content at the same time. Options such as fresh fruit and steamed or raw vegetables without added sodium, lean meats, poultry and fish as well as whole grains, dried beans, and lentils that do not have added salt are usually better choices with lower sodium content.
 
The Healthy Dining finder's team of Registered Dietitians believes that Sodium Savvy menu items are those that provide 750 mg or sodium or less for an entrée, and 250 mg of sodium or less for an appetizer, side dish, or dessert. Here are 10 of the best low sodium casual dining and fast food entrée options you might want to select next time you are eating away from home.

Top Restaurant Trends to Watch in 2012

Here are some interesting statistics regarding restaurants –

• Sixty-two percent of consumers have been cutting back on visits to casual-dining restaurants.


• Forty seven percent of consumers want healthy restaurant options while just twenty-three percent select healthy food when dining away from home.


• Fifty-two percent of consumers suggest that different and unique flavors influence their restaurant visits.

4 Motivational Tips to Help You Set New Year's Goals

A new year brings new opportunities to set new goals and try new things. Trying new things brings new opportunities to face difficulty that might cause you to fail. Failing brings new opportunities to decide if you will continue and try again or if you will simply quit.
 
It seems a little strange talking about yearly goal setting and failing doesn't it? Well, this year I think it may be helpful to start with the end of the year in mind. Ask yourself this question. How do you want to finish this statement this time next year?
"In January I set three goals and throughout the year I ________________________."

1. Was committed to them and worked hard to make healthy choices a part of my day-to-day life. Although there were difficulties and times when I did not do as well as I thought I might, I stuck to my commitment toward my goals and I reached them.


2. Quit on all of them because when things got tough I gave up and went back to the old habits I started the year with because it was easier than following through on my commitment to myself.


3. Found the process to be more difficult than I thought it would be. I was surprised by how tough it was some days to follow through on things but I stuck with it through the difficulties and I am 50 percent closer to my goals than I was a year ago.

Nutrition Year in Review – 2011

The American Dietetic Association conducted a survey this year to evaluate people's attitudes about nutrition and physical activity and found a variety of interesting statistics. One interesting finding was that today 46 percent of those interviewed actively seek information about nutrition and healthy eating compared to only 19 percent in 2000. TV and magazines are the top two sources people use to gather their nutrition information. The internet has increased 18 percent since 2008 to become the number three source especially for those between the ages of 25-44.
 
While there are plenty of poor nutritional options available, this year has also provided information and options to help you make healthier choices and changes. Here are some of the highlights from this year that you might have missed.

Donate Healthier Items to Food Pantries This Holiday Season

During the holiday season many schools, religious groups, and businesses conduct food drives for local food pantries. In the rush to grab something to contribute, nutrition or food safety isn't always high on the list of considerations. While the generous efforts of donating are appreciated, sometimes the food from pantry shelves is past the expiration date, which causes them to have to be tossed out instead of being able to benefit those that need it. Many of the typical non-perishable choices picked up at grocery stores tend to be high in sodium, sugar, or calories, which do not provide maximum nutrition for those that really need to make every bite count.
 
This winter, more people than ever are expected to visit a local food bank or seek out a pantry or assistance for utilities, housing and medical care than ever before. Use this list of suggestions to makeover your food pantry donations this holiday season and all winter long. Your healthier donations will go a long way to help those who receive them be as healthy as possible.

Jewish Music to Inspire Your Hanukkah Workouts

Hanukkah or the Festival of Lights is a Jewish holiday celebrated for eight days and nights. In Hebrew, the word "Hanukkah" means "dedication," and unlike other date-specific holidays, it begins at sunset on a day between late November and late December depending on the Hewbrew calendar.

Hanukkah is a time of joy and family celebration, fun and tradition including many delicious foods. While the festivities can draw you away from your healthy lifestyle, it can also be a time to stay dedicated to them.

We create workout lists to help you keep your workouts fresh and to help you stay motivated as you work toward your goals. Members of our SparkJews SparkTeam offered some suggestions for inspirational songs to keep you moving throughout the holiday.

The 10 Healthiest Menu Items of 2011

We have seen many restaurants update their menus this year to provide patrons with healthier options. The new Kids Live Well campaign provides families with healthier choices when eating away from home to help kids maintain a healthy weight. While some reports suggest the new healthy options aren't popular, many restaurant chains aren't giving up and are striving to be on board with the First Lady's anti-obesity campaign.
 
Throughout 2011, we have highlighted some of the healthier fast food and casual dining options in our Food on the Run and Diet Friendly Dining reviews. Here are 10 of the healthiest menu options we've seen this year:

Game of Your Life - Choose your moves carefully

After taking our oldest to college this summer, we began having conversations with our youngest about his career interests to be sure he was on the right track with his high school course selections. As we talked, he told us of his interest in video game development and design. We were not surprised due to his long-standing love of video games. In addition to his core subjects, he was signed up for an intro to computer programming class so we were relieved to find he was on the right track. This fall, he has jumped in with web design on his school's First Robotics team, which also provides a great opportunity to explore other areas of interest. After talking with him, my husband and I began to wonder about college programs around us that provided this type of degree program. We did an online search for undergraduate college programs and found this Princeton Review Top Undergraduate Schools for Video Game Design list and found a couple of top programs nearby.
 
We were very pleased to learn that the ninth movie in the Family Movie Night series will focus on four college freshman in a video game design program who need to stick together to develop the game of their lives or risk being sent packing. "Game of Your Life" stars Nathan Kress (iCarly), Titus Makin Jr. (Glee), and Lea Thompson (Back To The Future) and airs on NBC at 8/7c on Friday, December 2^nd. This movie highlights the difficult choices that young adults have to make whether they are in college or working a job. Important life lessons like determining where to place loyalties, accepting personal responsibility, and learning that the choices we make ultimately affect the people around us. Look at this conversation with one of the stars.

Will You Have A Gold Star Shopping Plan?

Last month I shared information about the new voluntary Facts Up Front package labeling system proposed by the GMA (Grocery Manufacturers Association) and the FMI (Food Marketing Institute). I also mentioned that the IOM (Institute of Medicine) would be providing their consensus report and recommendations as well. Well, the IOM has released their final report and recommendations for front-of-package nutrition rating systems and symbols to help promote healthier food choices. It looks like instead of playing the game of red light, green light, they would rather give us gold stars.