While introducing the new healthy foods display in the gym, the question and answer session veered towards different ways food manufacturers may entice people to buy their foods. Students were very surprised to hear that bright colors, celebrity endorsements, and cartoon characters are used to sell the food. As one student asked, “why don’t they just sell food that is good for us?” This naiveté emphasizes that it is never too early to teach kids how to identify and not be taken in by marketing traps, particularly in regards to food. Point out to your child, while grocery shopping or while watching TV commercials, the marketing techniques being used, such as the use of fun shapes or cartoon characters. Encourage them to look beyond these gimmicks to decide whether or not the food is a healthy and desirable choice.
October, 2010
...now browsing by month
You Can Bet Your Butternut
Tuesday, October 19th, 2010
With a sweet, nutty taste similar to pumpkin, butternut squash can add color and nutritional value to your plate. One cup of butternut squash provides 160% of the recommended dietary allowance for vitamin A. It is also packed with vitamin C, manganese, calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Roast it, toast it, mash it, add it to breads, muffins, soups, and casseroles. Ah, if only my spouse could be quite so versatile.
Butternut Squash and Apple Puree
6 tbsp butter
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 large butternut squash (about 2 ½ pounds), peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch cubes
4 Gala or sweet apples (about 2 pounds total), peeled, cored, and cut into 1-inch cubes
Heat 2 tbsp butter in large skillet over medium heat; add onion, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 3 to 5 minutes.
Add squash, apples, and 1 cup water. Cover and simmer until squash is tender and most of the liquid is evaporated, 15 to 20 minutes.
Transfer squash mixture to a food processor. Add remaining 4 tbsp butter; process until smooth.
I heart walnuts
Tuesday, October 5th, 2010
Look for walnuts featured on the lunch menu and snack cart this month. Walnuts are chock full of protein, fiber, antioxidants, magnesium and phosphorus. If you are thinking superfood, you are thinking right! And, out of all nuts, walnuts contain the highest amount of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 essential amino acid. A diet rich in ALA has been found to reduce the risk of heart disease. While heart disease is normally associated with adults, more and more children are being diagnosed with high cholesterol and the early stages of heart disease. Everyone can benefit from one ounce of walnuts a day. Have you had your handful?
Breakfast Cereals
Sunday, October 3rd, 2010
General Mills, the maker of Coco Puff, Lucky Charms, and Trix, just announced that they will be decreasing the sugar content in 10 of their breakfast cereals. They gave no specifics on how much the sugar will be cut or when the changes will occur but it will likely be sometime over the next two years.
Even though dropping the sugar content is a step in the right direction, there are still plenty of unhealthy sugary cereals vying for children’s attention. Consider the sugar content in two of General Mill’s cereals, two which will not be changed – “Boo Berry” and “Franken Berry” cereals. They each contain 14 grams sugar per serving or, 7 sugar cubes in one cup!
According to a recent study conducted by the Rudd Center, the cereals most aggressively marketed to children are the often the least healthy cereals. Make this your breakfast meal topic tomorrow morning and start your child on the path to becoming an educated consumer.