Go to the link below to find out what shape your pyramid is, print off your new pyramid and turn it into your cashier during lunch and you will be entered to win an iTunes gift card!
Don't forget to include your name and grade.
Contest ends March 30th.
http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/23722/20988/232308.html
posted on: March 16, 2007
March is National Nutrition Month! The Mabry Cafe' will be having several contests during the month of March to promote teen Nutrition. We will have prizes for all of our contests, from school store bucks to iTunes gift cards! Check the blog often to find out how you can win!
posted on: February 14, 2007
Guzzling soft drinks and ditching milk may have serious health implications for our nation’s teens, according to a new study published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood .
By analyzing four food consumption surveys administered between 1965 and 1996 by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the researchers looked at how food intake trends have changed for teens ages 11 to 18. Over the 30-year period, milk consumption has decreased by 36 percent while soft drink and non-citrus juice consumption has steadily increased. The researchers also note that this decline in milk consumption has not been made up for by an increase in other calcium-rich dairy products, which could put teens at serious risk for developing the bone crippling disease, osteoporosis, later in life.
"During your teens, nearly half of all bone is formed and about 15 percent of adult height is added, making these years the once in a lifetime opportunity to reach full bone mass and height potential," said Jean Ragalie, R.D., National Dairy Council. "Milk is one of the best natural sources of calcium, not to mention one of the best tasting ways for teens to get it."
According to current dietary recommendations, teenagers need 1,300 mg of calcium a day, or the equivalent of about four 8-ounce glasses of milk. Milk also contains vitamin D, which helps the body absorb calcium, and seven other essential nutrients important for growth and development.
In addition to the decrease in calcium-rich milk consumption, the study found that teen consumption of fruits and non-potato sources of vegetables has decreased over the 30-year time period as well.
Teen Tips for Crammin’ in the Calcium
• The Milky Way – On your way to school, can the can of diet soda and grab a single-serving carton of milk. Any flavor will do…it’s nutrient-packed!
• Shake It, Don’t Break It – A milkshake makes the cut any day – use fat free milk and lowfat ice cream to cut the calories.
• Instant Bliss – Whip up some instant pudding with milk, it’s ready in seconds!
• Fruit for Thought – Try one of the new milk or yogurt drinks – they come in fun flavors like banana, strawberry or even peanut butter!
• Java Junkie – If you’re a java junkie, make sure to lap up a latté instead of a regular old black coffee.
posted on: December 8, 2006
Clean up your act!
Get the dirt on why hand washing is so important during National
Hand washing Awareness Week, December 4 - 10 2006.
Do your hands feel dirty and gritty? You probably aren't washing them
the proper way, if at all. According to the Center for Disease control,
the best prevention against sickness is hand washing. By frequently
washing your hands you wash away germs that you have picked up
from other people, dirty surfaces, or animals. Sickness doesn't just
mean getting to miss school or work and drink chicken soup all day,
you can catch serious diseases such as Hepatitis A, Meningitis, and
diarrhea. That's a lot worse than just a runny nose!
To best prevent illness, wash your hands before you eat, after
handling animals, or whenever they feel dirty. When you do wash your
hands, lather them in soap and vigorously scrub them under warm
water for about 20 seconds. Rinse well and dry compIetely.
It is estimated that one out of three people do not wash their hands
after using the bathroom, one of those people may be the next that
shakes your hand! Don't forget to clean up your act and ditch the dirt.
Start washing your hands today!
posted on: November 28, 2006
Dietitians and doctors agree - milk, cheese and yogurt can help build stronger bones and healthy bodies. The 2006 American Academy of Pediatrics bone health report also recommends 3 servings of dairy a day for children's bone health. However, research shows that most Americans are eating only half the recommended 3 servings of dairy each day. This means many are falling short on getting calcium and other essential nutrients dairy naturally provides.
Encouraging your family to eat 3-A-Day of Dairy — 3 servings of milk, cheese or yogurt each day — is a deliciously easy way to help them build and maintain strong, healthy bones, muscles and teeth. With 9 essential nutrients including calcium, protein, potassium, phosphorus, vitamins A, B12 and D, riboflavin and niacin, dairy foods pack a powerful nutrient punch!
Getting 3-A-Day of Dairy — Easy as 1-2-3:
1. Look for the 3-A-Day logo on packages of milk, cheese and yogurt showing they are an excellent source of calcium.
2. Enjoy your favorite flavors of great-tasting milk, snackable cheeses or portable yogurt. Milk, cheese and yogurt are available in a variety of low-fat, fat-free and reduced-fat options to meet taste and nutritional needs.
3. Take a "3 p.m. Break" every day. Use this time as a reminder to tally daily dairy servings. If falling short, it's a good time to work in another one.
What's a serving of dairy?
Milk: 8 ounces (1 cup)
Natural Cheese: 1.5 ounces or about 3-4 cheese cubes
Yogurt: one 8-ounce container
posted on: October 23, 2006
Fruits and Vegetables Can Protect Your Health
Fruits and vegetables contain essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber that may help protect you from chronic diseases. Compared with people who consume a diet with only small amounts of fruits and vegetables, those who eat more generous amounts as part of a healthful diet are likely to have reduced risk of chronic diseases, including stroke and perhaps other cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers.
Fruits and Vegetables on the Go!
Busy lives can benefit from food that's nutritious, yet easy to eat on-the-go, like fresh fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are a natural source of energy and give the body many nutrients you need to keep going.
The Colors of Health
Fruits and veggies come in terrific colors and flavors, but their real beauty lies in what’s inside. Fruits and vegetables are great sources of many vitamins, minerals and other natural substances that may help protect you from chronic diseases.
To get a healthy variety, think color. Eating fruits and vegetables of different colors gives your body a wide range of valuable nutrients, like fiber, folate, potassium, and vitamins A and C. Some examples include green spinach, orange sweet potatoes, black beans, yellow corn, purple plums, red watermelon, or white onions. For more variety, try new fruits and vegetables regularly.
posted on: October 2, 2006
"Don't Compromise - Clean and Sanitize"
Four Steps to Keeping Food Safe:
1. Clean - Wash hands before preparing food and as needed during preparation. Keep food preparation surfaces clean, wash with hot, soapy water.
2. Separate - Prevent cross-contamination. Do not allow raw food (such as raw meat, poultry, fish or eggs) to touch or drip fluids onto cooked or ready-to-eat foods. Begin this process at the grocery store, keep raw meat products in separate bags from ready-to-eat foods. Thoroughly clean and sanitize food-contact surfaces that touched raw foods before they come in contact with ready-to-eat foods.
3. Cook - Be sure all foods are thoroughly cooked. A food preparation thermometer is a good way to check that foods are thoroughly heated to the recommended temperature.
4. Chill - Avoid time-temperature abuse. Do not allow foods to remain in the temperature danger zone (40°F to 140°F). Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold.
posted on: September 15, 2006
