Exploring Nutrition News Summer 2009
Still Available! FREE 2009-10 Fuel Up to Play 60 Wellness Activation Kit
It's not too late to enroll your school for the NEW, Free 2009-10 Fuel Up to Play 60 (FUTP60) Wellness Activation Kit. The program inspires and empowers kids to "fuel up" with nutritious foods and "get up and play" for 60 minutes a day. Designed by National Dairy Council® in cooperation with the National Football League, the program includes colorful display materials and wellness-based activities, ideas and tips for engaging the entire school community.
Each school receives one Fuel Up to Play 60 kit, but everyone who enrolls receives free eNewsletters. So encourage your colleagues to enroll, too. Enroll now!
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Milk Provides Low-Income Moms with the Most Bang for Their Nutritional Bite
A study published in the May issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that low-income mothers of children in the Head Start program who drank the most milk and the lowest amount of sugar-sweetened beverages tended to eat more nutritious foods, such as other dairy foods, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. They also had significantly higher intakes of vitamins A, D and B6; riboflavin; thiamin; folate; phosphorus; calcium; iron; magnesium and potassium when compared to mothers who consumed less milk and/or more sugar-sweetened beverages. Even the moms with the highest milk intakes were often drinking only about one cup of milk a day on average.
Source: O'Neil, CE, et al. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 2009; 109(5): 874-882.
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Nutritious Breakfast Linked to Good Health
A recent research review by the International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation found that people who ate breakfast were more likely to meet nutrition recommendations and consume more low-fat or fat-free milk, fruits, vegetables and whole grains - food groups that are encouraged by the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Breakfast is also associated with a healthier body weight and greater academic and cognitive performance, although more research is needed. Studies suggest a benefit for cardiovascular, digestive and bone health with breakfast consumption.
Despite these benefits breakfast consumption has continued to decline in recent years. Read more about parent- and child-tested breakfast messages that you can use to encourage breakfast consumption in your school community.
Related Link: Breakfast at School
Source: International Food Information Council. IFIC Review: Breakfast and Health, December 2008.
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Recommendation: Embrace the Nutrient-Rich Approach
A recent article in the of Journal of Nutrition proposes that the concept of "nutrient density" become a nutrition platform in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and a tool for consumers to use to plan healthful diets. Choosing nutrient-rich* foods first, such as low-fat and fat-free dairy foods, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats and beans, is a positive way to help people meet daily nutrient recommendations without consuming excess calories.
Teach your students to live nutrient-rich with Little D's Nutrition Expedition® and Arianna's Nutrition Expedition™ 2nd and 4th grade classroom programs.
*Editor's Note: Consumer research performed by the Nutrient Rich Foods Coalition found that consumers prefer the term "nutrient-rich" to "nutrient-dense" because they consider "dense" to mean slow or stupid. They preferred the connotation that "rich" be offered instead when referring to nutritious foods.
Source : Miller GD, et al. Journal of Nutrition ; 2009, 139: 1-5.
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No Child Left Inside
This new Connecticut program started to revive interest in state parks and other natural attractions urges families to get out and get active in nature. The June issue of the President's Challenge news update notes, "Although this initiative is unique to Connecticut, the ideas behind it can easily be adopted to any part of the country."
Source: http://presidentschallenge.com/misc/news_research.aspx
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 Leading Health and Nutrition Organizations Support Nutrient-Rich Foods as Cornerstone in Planning Nutritious Meals for Children
A new, joint editorial supported by seven leading national organizations urges school nutrition organizations, child nutrition advocates and health organizations to support "nutrient density" as the cornerstone of meal planning and dietary recommendations. It highlights the need for Americans of all ages to build more healthful diets with nutrient-rich foods, including low-fat and fat-free milk, cheese and yogurt, and help to reduce the risk of obesity and chronic disease beginning in childhood.
In the editorial, the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Dietetic Association, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Medical Association, School Nutrition Association and Action for Healthy Kids lend support to using the nutrient-rich foods approach to meal planning and teaching. The approach emphasizes the total nutrient package of a food or beverage, as a way to build and enjoy a healthier diet by getting the most nutrition for their calories.
Read the editorial.
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