Day 151- Nutrition Bite

"Reduced Sugar" and "Sugar Free" labeling is a myth. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows the "reduced sugar" term on products with 25% or less sugar than leading brands. For example, reduced sugar Coco-Cola must have 25% less sugar than regular Coca-Cola, but reduced sugar Coca-Cola can still contain 75% sugar. Sugar-free foods can legally contain trace amounts of sugar (less than .5grams per serving), according to the FDA. The FDA sets food labeling guidelines.
-by Connie Clement from the Sugar Shock

Sugar Preacher's Experience
The best method is to cook from scratch. However, time is limited in our fast-paced world. I suggest reading labels religiously. I often prepare foods from home and eat 5-7 servings of vegetables and fruits a day. By eating these vegetable and fruit servings, I don't have room for garbage food. Try more vegetables and fruits in your diet to eliminate the labeling misconceptions.

Day 125- Nutrition Bite

Dr. Weil states that he received no education in nutrition during his studies at Harvard Medical School. He further mentions that nutritional training in medical schools is almost nonexistent and physicians are nutritionally illiterate.

-Spontaneous Healing and 8 Weeks to Optimum Health by Dr. Weils

Sugar Preacher's Experience

I have heard from several physicians that they received minimal nutritional education in medical school. Many diseases can be prevented with proper diet and exercise. Therefore, I reccomend the curriculum for a physician's program should include nutritional training. If you are receiving nutritionally advice from a physician, you may wish to ask for credentials.

Day 94- Nutrition Bite

Low-income neighborhoods in New York City will see more fresh fruit and vegetables this summer with the "Green Carts" program. The Mayor's "Green Carts" program will be restricted to the city's low-income areas. The program will give people who lack access to healthier foods an alternative to hot dogs, soft pretzels and breakfast rolls normally available on the street. Currently, only 10 percent of the NYC's 4,100 street vendors - concentrated in Midtown - offer fresh produce. The Midtown vendors are saccessible to lunch crowds and more affluent New Yorkers. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-080624-greencart-swanson,0,6693063.story

Sugar Preacher's Experience

Availability is a key to eating healthy. If unhealthy food is available while visiting the homes of family members, I will usually eat it. The green carts are a great idea! While returning from the gym in NYC, I enjoyed purchasing fruits from the street vendors. The access and availability of the green carts makes it easy to eat fruits and veggies.

Day 93- Nutrition Bite

A Columbia professor is proposing vertical farming such as building crops upward. The vertical skyscraper farms surrounded with glass walls are topped with a huge solar panel which can help reduce global warming. This professor also states that crops of all kinds can be grown and controlled in an urban setting. The locally grown food can eliminate shipping costs and pollution caused by transportation. For more information click here

http://nymag.com/news/features/30020/

Sugar Preacher's Experience

I am not sure if vertical faming is cost effective. As a real estate agent in NYC, I was able to observe the outrageous prices for buildings and land. However, lobbyists might be able to persuade the government to fund such a project. Locally grown food does eliminate shipping costs, and I think the quality is better.

Day 78- Nutrition Bite

Maryland's Howard County Health Department has banned the use of certain plastics in food containers going to WIC participants. Health warnings have recently sounded against plastics containing the chemical bisphenol-A (BPA), which can leach out of containers when heated or washed. Howard County may be the first in Maryland to enact a BPH-free WIC policy.

-Baltimore Sun, May 2008

Sugar Preacher's Experience

I read that frozen water bottles can also leach out chemicals. These leached chemicals are probably more dangerous than white sugar. Unprocessed foods are your safest bet, because you don't have to worry about the leaching of BPA.

Day 68- Nutrition Bite

Rising food costs are forcing some public schools to change lunch menus and raise meal prices. Prices for school menu staples increased 12 to 17 percent in 2007 according to USDA. Some of these foods, such as milk, are required by the government so schools can receive meal subsidies. Here are some examples of changes in Virginia schools:

Norfolk: rice bowls or lasagna will be served much less frequently
South Hampton Roads: increasing breakfast and lunch meal prices
Suffolk: offering limited corn and potatoes in the upcoming school year

Schools across the country are examining each small component of school meals in an effort to save money--combining fresh and frozen vegetables, replacing baby carrots with cut-up full-size carrots, and purchasing less expensive varieties of tomatoes vs. the popular grape tomoatoes. In April of this year, 100 school districts raised lunch rates in contrast to 40 districts in April 2007. Average increases have been 15 to 20 cents per meal with the highest increase at 50 cents.
(HamptonRoads.com, May 20, 2008)

Sugar Preacher's Experience
The current astronmical food and gas prices are causing a change in the school lunch structure. I also read that some rural schools are moving to a 4-day school week due to the high gas prices. I think it would be wise to keep a 3-month supply of food storage and as much savings as possible.

Day 38-Nutritional Bite

Research shows that energy-dense foods remain the most affordable option. Energy density foods consist of fats, sweets, snacks, pastries, and other baked goods. The lowest energy-dense foods consist of fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, and meats. Low-energy density foods have better health outcomes but are more costly and purchased by the more affluent consumer. The American diet has increased in energy-dense foods. Energy-dense foods are not only the least expensive but most resistant to inflation. These foods may explain the highest rates of obesity are among groups of limited economic means.

Sugar Preacher's Experience
My current studies in Community Nutrition emphasized the food system in relation to the economic disadvantaged. During a volunteer project at City Harvest, I observed many recipients were obese and some were in wheelchairs with oxygen tanks. After both the volunteer and classroom experience, I concluded that environmental and community based programs should be implemented to ensure a healthier system to all socio-economic groups.

Day 3-Nutritional Bite

According to National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), the obesity rate among U.S. adults more than doubled over the past three decades from 14.5% in 1971-1974 to 32.2% in 2003-2004. In New York City, more than half of adults are overweight and one out of six are obese. New York City residents receive one third of their daily calories from food establishments. Therefore, NYC Health Department ruled that food establishments will be required to post caloric information. However, it has been postponed due to litigation. The Today Show further discussed NYC efforts in this issue. Click on link if interested.
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/23893224#23893224

Sugar Preacher's Experience
As a volunteer at City Harvest today, I was offered cookies and candies. These sweets were tempting but I chose an orange. I decided to compare the risks v. benefits and needs v. wants when tempted with non-refined sugars. A hot tip is Newman’s and Amy’s Spaghetti Sauce has minimal or no sugar. If you have any suggestions of some healthy food brands, please let me know.