Friday, May 19, 2017

Food Revolution Day

Food Revolution Day is fighting to put compulsory practical food education on the school curriculum.

With diet-related diseases rising at an alarming rate, it has never been more important to educate children about food, where it comes from and how it affects their bodies.


It’s about celebrating the importance of cooking good food from scratch and raising awareness of how it impacts our health and happiness – we believe that everyone should know about food and it starts with getting kids food smart, making cooking fun and inspiring a love of food that will last a lifetime. Food Revolution Day is a campaign by the Jamie Oliver Food Foundation in the UK and USA, and The Good Foundation in Australia. 


Jamie Olive's Big Bet on Food Education




Who is taking part?
Food Revolution Day is open to anybody, whether you’re a school, organisation or individual.

Many activities are organised by supporters in their local area or voluntary Food Revolution ambassadors who champion food knowledge and cooking skills in their communities.

Why have a day of action?
Learning about food and how to cook from scratch is one of the most valuable skills a child can ever learn.

This knowledge used to be passed down from generation to generation, but now, with an over reliance on unhealthy convenience foods, millions of people lack the confidence and even the most basic skills to cook for themselves and their families. By educating children about food in a fun and engaging way, we’re equipping them and future generations with the skills they need to live healthier lives.

National Bike to Work Day and National Bicycle Month


May, National Bicycle Month, sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists.

MissionTo promote bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation and work through advocacy and education for a bicycle-friendly America.

History. The League was founded as the League of American Wheelmen in 1880. Bicyclists, known then as "wheelmen", were challenged by rutted roads of gravel and dirt and faced antagonism from horsemen, wagon drivers, and pedestrians.

In an effort to improve riding conditions, more than 100,000 cyclists from across the United States joined the League to advocate for paved roads. The success of the League in its first advocacy efforts ultimately led to our national highway system.

Benefits of Bike Riding
People ride bicycles for all sorts of reasons, from better health, to saving money on fuel, and helping the environment. In addition, bike riding is a lot of fun.


Bike Safety - Introduction to Bike Safety 
and Sharing the Road


Danger Rangers Bike Safety PSA


Food Art: Bicycle Built for Two
The song "Bicycle Built for Two" was written in 1892.
The American bicycle history spans over 100 years.


Resource
The League provides education for cyclists, including bicycle safety.To learn more about the League of American Bicyclists, visit their website at http://www.bikeleague.org. 

Friday, April 7, 2017

April 7, World Health Day 2017: Depression Let's Talk



World Health Day is celebrated on 7 April. The 2017 theme of the World Health Organization (WHO) is focused on Depression: Let's Talk.  Depression is the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide. According to the latest estimates from WHO, more than 300 million people are now living with depression, an increase of more than 18% between 2005 and 2015. Lack of support for people with mental disorders, coupled with a fear of stigma, prevent many from accessing the treatment they need to live healthy, productive lives.

 World Health Day 2017 - WHO: Depression - Let's Talk




One of the first steps is to address issues around prejudice and discrimination. “The continuing stigma associated with mental illness was the reason why we decided to name our campaign Depression: let’s talk,” said Dr Shekhar Saxena, Director of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse at WHO. “For someone living with depression, talking to a person they trust is often the first step towards treatment and recovery.”

Associated Health Risks

WHO has identified strong links between depression and other noncommunicable disorders and diseases. Depression increases the risk of substance use disorders and diseases such as diabetes and heart disease; the opposite is also true, meaning that people with these other conditions have a higher risk of depression.

Depression is also an important risk factor for suicide, which claims hundreds of thousands of lives each year. Said Dr Saxena: “A better understanding of depression and how it can be treated, while essential, is just the beginning. What needs to follow is sustained scale-up of mental health services accessible to everyone, even the most remote populations in the world.”

Depression is a common mental illness characterized by persistent sadness and a loss of interest in activities that people normally enjoy, accompanied by an inability to carry out daily activities, for 14 days or longer.


In addition, people with depression normally have several of the following: a loss of energy; a change in appetite; sleeping more or less; anxiety; reduced concentration; indecisiveness; restlessness; feelings of worthlessness, guilt, or hopelessness; and thoughts of self-harm or suicide.

Resources 

Friday, March 31, 2017

National Nutrition Month and Beyond
Put Your Best Fork Forward

Throughout the month of March we celebrated National Nutrition Month® (NNM), a nutrition education and information campaign created annually by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (Academy). The campaign focused  attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. The March 2017 theme for National Nutrition Month® is “Put Your Best Fork Forward.” 






The theme serves as a reminder - "Each one of us holds the tool to make healthier food choices." Making small changes over time helps improve health now and into the future. As nutrition experts, Academy members can help guide the public on gradually shifting toward healthier eating styles.





Resources
Visit the Academy’s website to view a library of recipes designed to help you “Put Your Best Fork Forward.”

As part of this public education campaign, the Academy’s National Nutrition Month website includes a variety of helpful tips, games, promotional tools and nutrition education resources, all designed to spread the message of good nutrition based on the “Put Your Best Fork Forward.”

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The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. The Academy is committed to improving the nation’s health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education and advocacy. Visit the Academy at www.eatright.org.

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

National Nutrition Month:
Put Your Best Fork Forward for Food Safety


* Rinse and wash fruits before preparing or eating them. Under clean, running water, rub fruits briskly with your hands to remove dirt and surface microorganisms. Dry with a clean cloth towel or paper towel after rinsing.
* Keep fruits separate from raw meat, poultry and seafood while shopping, preparing and storing.






Friday, March 10, 2017

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Turns 100 Years Old


Creating a Profession and Improving Health: Academy of Nutrition
and Dietetics Celebrates its
Centennial in 2017


January 5, 2017
Press Release
CHICAGO – The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals, will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2017 by honoring the dietetics profession and forging a new vision for the Academy's Second Century.
For the past 100 years, the Academy has been dedicated to building a profession that optimizes health through food and nutrition. The Academy was founded as the American Dietetic Association in 1917 by a visionary group of women committed to taking on the greatest food and nutrition challenge of the day: conserving food, feeding the troops and nourishing Americans while combating malnutrition in the face of severe food shortages during World War I.
"Our founders created an organization and a profession that changed the course of food, nutrition and health," said registered dietitian nutritionist and the Academy's 2016-2017 President Lucille Beseler.




Today, the Academy represents more than 100,000 registered dietitian nutritionists and dietetic technicians, registered, working across the food and health spectrum in hospitals, foodservice, academia, business, wellness, agriculture, public health and private practice. The Academy continues to provide unequalled, evidence-based nutrition practice resources for its members and health professionals.
"The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has built on the legacy of our brave and inspirational founders as we address food and health systems that have changed significantly, becoming more global and complex," Beseler said.
"The ability to feed people and feed them well is a challenge we face in our homes, our schools, our communities, our nation and around the world. Yet these challenges also present unique opportunities for innovation and collaboration between nutrition professionals and other leaders," Beseler said.
A significant part of the Academy's Second Century includes expanded international collaborative relationships. In September 2016, the Academy convened the Nutrition Impact Summit, which brought together nearly 200 Academy members and thought leaders in food, wellness and health care systems to identify potential projects and strategic partners in the U.S. and worldwide.
"Honoring our legacy means unflinchingly addressing the health challenges of the present day, our present century and the next. The Academy's vision for the Second Century is grounded in an extraordinary commitment to collaboration, a focus on service and an emphasis on creating a world where people and communities flourish because of the transformational power of food and nutrition," Beseler said.
The Academy will commemorate its centennial throughout 2017, at the Academy's Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo™.
All registered dietitians are nutritionists – but not all nutritionists are registered dietitians. The Academy's Board of Directors and Commission on Dietetic Registration have determined that those who hold the credential registered dietitian (RD) may optionally use "registered dietitian nutritionist" (RDN) instead. The two credentials have identical meanings.
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. The Academy is committed to improving the nation’s health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education and advocacy. Visit the Academy at eatright.org.

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