Zucchini may not be a nutritional powerhouse, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't find its way onto your plate from time to time. Lona Sandon, assistant professor of clinical nutrition at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says that while many popular summer vegetables such as summer squash, zucchini and cucumbers seem nutritionally insignificant, they're actually quite important.
"These vegetables may not be packed with a lot of the major nutrients touted on charts and labels, but they're good sources of other nutrients, including zinc, potassium and folic acid," Sandon says. "They're also high in water and fiber and are low-fat, meaning they can help you lose weight."
(8-11-09)
Salmonella doesn't respect hot-weather holidays. Picnics and parties during the summertime can provide the ideal climate for growth of this bacteria, which can lead to food poisoning, says Dr. Kurt Kleinschmidt, professor of emergency medicine and toxicologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
Dr. Kleinschmidt offers a few tips to outsmart this germ:
Refrigerate or freeze perishables immediately, and cook food to recommended temperatures in order to kill bacteria.
Wash hands in hot, soapy water for at least 20 seconds before preparing, serving or eating food.
Thoroughly wash plates, utensils, cutting boards and countertops after contact with raw meat.
Avoid leaving food standing for long periods of time.
"Just be smart about how you buy, store, prepare and serve food, and you'll reduce the risk of food-borne illnesses," says Dr. Kleinschmidt.
(7-07-09)
Moms with children under 18 are responsible for feeding 141 million individuals, and these moms are anxious about rising food prices and struggling to stay within a budget in this turbulent economy, according to a new report by The NPD Group, a leading market research company. The NPD report finds having enough money to meet their family's needs is the top concern among moms today, and the majority of those moms aren't optimistic about improvement in their situation, even in a year's time.
The moms surveyed by NPD say they're trying to save money on grocery purchases, and the top strategy moms say they are using is turning to discount stores more, buying less expensive brands, stocking up more often to take advantage of sales, searching for lower prices in store circulars and choosing store brands more often.
Here are the top 5 claimed ways moms' shopping habits have changed vs. 12 months ago:
1. Using Wal-Mart or other discount stores more often.
2. Buying less expensive brands more often.
3. Stocking up more often to take advantage of sales.
4. Searching store circulars more often for low prices.
5. Choosing store brands more often.
"Even though moms are trying to save money on groceries, they still want meals that are easy and quick to prepare, and healthy, affordable options for themselves and their families," says Dori Hickey, product development director at NPD and author of What's on the Minds of Moms and How They're Coping Today.
Here are moms' top 5 claimed influences on food and beverage purchases:
1. Trying to save money on grocery purchases.
2. Want meals that are easy to prepare.
3. Trying to eat healthy.
4. Need to stay within a food budget.
5. Want meals that are quick to prepare.
(6-30-09)
Parents magazine has revealed the exclusive findings from its first-ever 10 Best Fast-Casual Family Restaurants survey. At a time when many household budgets don't allow for meals out at sit-down restaurants and fast-food places aren't exactly known for healthy menus, "fast casual" restaurants, a hybrid of the two, are increasingly popular with families across the country. Fast-casual restaurants provide quick meals, usually made from healthier ingredients, served in a more upscale setting.
The results of the 10 Best Fast-Casual Family Restaurants survey are the culmination of a two-month study that examined 50 restaurant chains nationwide. Parents focused on honoring restaurants with a variety of healthy kids' menu offerings, family-friendly conveniences and overall value.
According to the Parents survey, these are the 10 Best Fast-Casual Restaurants:
1. Cosi
147 locations in 19 states
2. Jason's Deli
210 locations in 27 states
3. Noodles & Company
205 locations in 18 states
4. Fazoli's
260 locations in 26 states
5. Panera Bread
1,264 locations in 40 states
6. Zpizza
91 locations in 16 states
7. Atlanta Bread
103 locations in 24 states
8. Corner Bakery Cafe
115 locations in 11 states
9. Taco Del Mar
260 locations in 20 states
10. McAlister's Deli
283 locations in 22 states
"These days, tight household budgets make going out to eat as a family a real treat," says Dana Points, editor-in-chief of Parents. "The 10 restaurants on Parents' list are affordable, healthy and family-friendly."
Each restaurant answered a 25-question survey and submitted nutritional information for all of the items on their kids' menus. Parents then examined the calories, fat and sodium in each dish on the menu. Healthfulness and range of choices on the kids' menu made up 70 percent of each restaurant's score. The survey, which made up the remaining 30 percent of each restaurant's overall ranking, included questions about family conveniences, value promotions and kid-friendly features.
(6-23-09)
Giving birth to a
low birth weight baby may be reduced by taking multivitamins vs. supplements of iron and folic acid, as it's recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Researchers analyzed data from more than 36,000 women and their infants. They found that taking a multivitamin, which already contains iron and folic acid, reduced the risk of having a low birth weight baby by 17 percent. The research was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
(6-23-09)
If it's been a challenge to get the entire family involved in the mealtime process,
Barilla has solutions for parents and children to help contribute. Barilla has
enlisted actress Lori Loughlin, star of the CW series 90210, to help provide tips for getting children involved in mealtime and creating
easy, delicious and nutritious recipes the entire family will enjoy.
Barilla Piccolini has launched the "Piccolini Smiles" contest to give Americans the chance to
show off their kitchen creativity. Between May 1 and June 28, 2009, people can
visit www.PiccoliniSmiles.com and enter the contest by uploading photographs of their children enjoying or
preparing Barilla Piccolini as part of a meal. 
Entries will be judged by Barilla based on creativity and originality. One grand
prize winner will receive $25,000 in tuition money. Additionally, 10 first place
winners will receive $1,000 in tuition money and 100 second place winners will
receive a digital picture frame.
"As a working mother, I cherish every moment I get to spend with my family, whether
we're playing sports, watching movies or preparing meals together," says actress
Lori Loughlin, mother of three. "Barilla Piccolini mini pasta shapes make it easy
and fun to create a delicious and nutritious meal that satisfies the entire family."
Barilla Piccolini bite-size classic pasta shapes – with a quick cook time of
just seven minutes – adds more excitement to all family favorite pasta dishes.
Below are Loughlin's tips for making meals with mini chefs:
Before heading to the grocery store, ask each child to write down one ingredient,
such as cheese, vegetables, fruits, mini pasta or lean meats, to be included in
a meal.
Assign tasks to each child, such as measuring ingredients, pouring sauce, stirring,
mixing and tasting. Remember, making a little mess is part of the fun!
Let young children help set the table and decorate with placemats or centerpieces
inspired by their favorite color.
Read more about Lori Loughlin here!
(5-26-09)
Over the last 30 to 40 years, beef has been given a bad name for causing everything from heart disease and obesity to autoimmune disorders and cancer. The basis for some of this is seated in questionable science dating back over 50 years.
"I will be the first to admit that books such as Fast Food Nation, In Defense of Food and the documentary, Super Size Me, definitely changed the way I choose my beef, but it certainly hasn't deterred my love for a big, juicy steak on a fairly regular basis," says ChicagoHealers.com practitioner Dr. Kristina Sargent. "The reduction of cholesterol does not necessitate the elimination of beef. However, as a physician, there are some patients that have conditions where elimination is necessary."
Dr. Sargent gives these suggestions with regard to your health and the consumption of beef:
Choose Wisely: Grass-fed beef contains more omega-3 fatty acids and CLA (congugated linoleic acid). Omega-3s and CLA are associated with decreasing inflammation. A lower amount of inflammation is associated with decreased risk of heart and vascular disease, diabetes, autoimmune disorders and cancer. This grass-fed beef can be eaten by most people. Those people who have auto-immune disorders may want to curtail their consumption to 2 to 3 servings per week.
Lean Is Best: Choose lean cuts of beef such as eye of round, sirloin and 95 percent lean ground beef. There are actually 29 cuts of lean beef according to The Beef Checkoff, at www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com. The government says a serving qualifies as "extra lean" if it has less than 5g total fat, 2g or less saturated fat and less than 95mg cholesterol per 3.5-ounce serving. A serving qualifies as "lean" if it has less than 10g total fat, 4.5g or less saturated fat and less than 95mg cholesterol per 3.5-ounce serving.
Important Nutrients: Red meat provides essential nutrients such as B-12, zinc and iron. According to the NIH, 35 to 45 percent of Americans over 60 years old may not be getting even the RDA of zinc, which is a gross underestimation of what most people need anyway. For B-12, other sources include wild rainbow trout and sock-eye salmon. Lean beef provides all essential amino acids, which are the building blocks of muscles, enzymes, cell wall structure and communication molecules in the body. And with 7 grams of protein per ounce of beef, you will stay fuller longer when you eat about 3.5 ounces per serving. Vegetarians usually need to supplement zinc, iron, B-12 and must be very careful to get a full complement of amino acids with proper food combining.
Grill It Up: If you are concerned about beefing it up too much, try some wild caught seafood or free range chicken breasts. To make the leaner cuts juicier, marinate using a little olive oil, vinegar and your favorite spices, and do NOT overcook. If you are a true vegetarian try some BarBQ Tempeh using your favorite BarBQ sauce laced with a little curry.
(5-26-09)
A new study shows that older people who are thinner or are losing weight quickly are at a higher risk of developing dementia, especially if they started out overweight or obese. The research is published in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
For the study, researchers followed for eight years 1,836 Japanese Americans in Washington state with an average age of 72. During that time, 129 people developed dementia. The research found that people with lower body mass index (BMI) scores at the beginning of the study were 79 percent more likely to develop dementia than those with higher BMI scores.
In addition, those who lost weight over the study period at a faster rate were nearly three times more likely to develop dementia than those who lost weight more slowly over time. This result was more pronounced in those who were overweight or obese to start; those with a BMI of 23 or higher had an 82-percent reduced risk of developing the disease compared to those who were normal or underweight. The results were the same after testing for other health risk factors such as smoking, exercise and gender.
"Our finding suggests that losing weight quickly in older age may be an early sign of dementia," says study author Dr. Tiffany Hughes, who is with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine but conducted the research while she was a doctoral student at the University of South Florida. "This doesn't mean that being obese or overweight is healthy for the mind or body, but losing weight may be a sign of emerging brain disease."
Dr. Hughes says other current research shows that, in contrast, a larger belly in midlife may be a risk factor for dementia. "Dementia has been shown to develop in the brain decades before any symptoms develop," she says. "These findings likely reflect that process. In middle age, obesity may be a risk factor for dementia, while declining weight in late life may be considered one of the first changes from the disease that occurs before it actually affects a person's memory."
For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit www.aan.com or www.TheBrainMatters.org.
(5-26-09)
Keeping stress levels in check is an important tool for overall health and wellness. Numerous studies have shown that people who are constantly stressed are also more vulnerable to everything from colds to heart disease.
Bernadette Latson, assistant professor of clinical nutrition at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says the best way to address stress, particularly for office workers, is to get away from the computer monitor and take a brief walk or stretch break. Incorporating stress-fighting foods into your daily diet can also help.
"A bowl of warm oatmeal will boost a calming brain chemical known as serotonin, while foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids will help keep the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline in check," says Latson, a registered dietitian.
Other stress-fighting foods suggestions from Latson include the following:
A glass of skim or low-fat milk before bed can help reduce tension and anxiety.
Oranges, rich in vitamin C, strengthen the immune system and reduce stress hormone levels.
(5-19-09)
Over one-third of moms and over half of newborns are vitamin D deficient at birth, according to a study presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies meeting. The researchers also found that prenatal vitamin supplements do not completely protect the mom and baby from the deficiency.
Researchers at the Breastfeeding Center in Boston Medical Center evaluated vitamin D levels in 433 women and 376 newborns. Thirty-six percent of the moms were vitamin D deficient and so were 58 percent of the newborns. Of the women who took a supplement five or more times per week during the last trimester, 30 percent were still vitamin D deficient when they delivered their baby. These women were more than five times likely to have a baby that was also vitamin D deficient.
Learn more about vitamin D by reading Vital Vitamin D: From Pregnancy, Infancy and Beyond and Studying Vitamin D: The Connection Between Vitamin D and Preeclampsia.
(5-19-09)
See parents helping parents in action! 
