I don't watch much TV and have not seen Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution program.  From what I have heard of it, it seems like it is an interesting idea to try to remake breakfast and school lunch programs.  I love the exposure of what children are eating in schools.

If you saw it, what did you think?  Do you think it will have an impact on families and school menu planners?  I would love to hear what you thought if you did see it.

Did you know that the brain accounts for 2% of your body weight and can use up approximately 20% of our daily calories?

Did you know that serious deficiencies in B-12 and iron can lead to impaired cognitive function? And that fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants play a role in brain function?

Learn more about how what you eat affects your cognitive performance as
well as your physical performance.

Take a workshop at MIT Recreation Sports, held at W59 Heinze Building in Cambridge.
See website for details.

http://mitrecsports.com/special-events/default.aspx

Day/Time: Tuesday, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Quarter 4: March 30, Barcode: 2432

Have you heard of KOGA? 
www.kogaworkout.com

A fusion of Kickboxing and Yoga.

Koga is much more than stretching and kicking. No matter what your fitness level, Koga can be a challenging exercise program that builds superior strength and endurance. Koga involves a level of mental and physical concentration that results in a much greater flexibility, increased muscle toning and shaping, refined balance, improved cardiovascular function, increased lung capacity and finally a HUGE decrease in overall body fat.

Come take a class with Jon of KOGA at the Cambridge Athletic Club.
www.cambridgefitness.com

If you and any others you know are interested, Cambridge Athletic Club is holding a KOGA Demo class for members and non-members to check out the KOGA experience.

DATE:  Saturday, April 17^th

TIME: 10.30 am

LOCATION: Cambridge Athletic Club, 215 First Street, Cambridge, MA

Cost - $15 for members of C.A.C., $20 for NON-members

To reserve your space – CONTACT AmyBeth at C.A.C.
AmyBeth Bourgault, Fitness/Group Exercise Director at 617/491-8989 x211
amybeth@cambridgeathletic.com

I hope to see you there for a great experience of body and mind.

The USDA will meet on April 13 and 14th for updating the 2005 Dietary Guidelines.  The 2005 Guidelines will remain the current guidance until the 2010 Guidelines are published.  The publish date is still to be determined. 

In the meantime, eat lots of vegetables and fruits, whole grains, low fat dairy, lean protein,healthy fats, stay hydrated, exercise and get at least 7 hours of sleep.

A great resource for finding Massachusetts grown products.
http://www.mass.gov/agr/massgrown/
BUY Local!

 Trying to get more whole grains but don't like the taste of whole wheat??
If you have always eaten white bread and white flour and are trying hard to switch to whole wheat or whole grains....and want a milder taste in wheat...Try whole WHITE wheat.  It has all the nutritional advantages of traditional whole wheat; but with lighter color and milder taste.

Think of it as an albino wheat.  WHOLE white wheat has the bran, germ and endosperm.  It does not contain the strongly flavored phenolic compounds that are in red wheat (traditional whole wheat). 

Some popular brand names now being made with whole white wheat are: Wonder, Pepperidge Farm, Sara lee, Freihofer's, Nature's Own, Wholesome harvest and Aunt Millie's (Perfection).  Other products include, Near East (Quaker) Pilaf and Tabouli, Fantatic Foods Tabouli Mix.  King Arthur Flour has many baking mixes using whole white wheat flour. 

Check the ingredient lists for WHOLE white wheat flour.  See adding whole grains is not so bad, is it?

YAHOOOO.

MORE NUTRITIOUS FOOD IN SCHOOLS (S 2314)

Senate 37-0, approved a bill that would ban junk food in schools and require the Department of Public Health to develop new and healthy nutritional standards for food sold in all school cafeterias and vending machines.

The proposal mandates that the standards include requiring that schools offer fruits or vegetables, drinking water at no cost and nutritional information about any non-prepackaged foods. It also bans the use of fryolators in the preparation of food.

Other provisions create a special commission on nutrition and childhood obesity; establish guidelines to assist school nurses in screening and referring children suffering from childhood obesity, diabetes and eating disorders; require that all schools include nutrition and exercise in their curricular and encourage public schools, colleges and universities to purchase locally grown foods from Massachusetts farms.   

Supporters said that schools should not promote the sale of junk food and drinks that are unhealthy and have contributed to an increase in child obesity and diabetes. They noted that one in three Massachusetts middle school students and one in four high school students is overweight or obese.

The House has approved a different version of the proposal and the Senate version now goes to the House for consideration.

Nice news, it is a start with so much more to do!  Let's get healthy.

"I don't have time to eat breakfast" or "I don't have time to cook healthy foods".  Eating healthy should not be put aside because of today's fast pace.  Come learn how to stock your pantry, school bag, car and office with healthy staples and snacks so you and your family do not go hungry during the day.  Take a class through Belmont Adult education with Kim Raubenheimer.
When?  March 25th, Thursday
What time?  7 - 8.30pm
Where?  Belmont High School, Belmont, MA
Room 103

REGISTRATION INFO
http://www.belmont.k12.ma.us/education/
Click on community education.
Registration begins January 25th.

Please contact us using one of the following methods:
phone: 617-993-5427
email: Ms. Martha Reagan, MReagan@belmont.k12.ma.us, Director of Community Education
USPS: 644 Pleasant St., Belmont, MA 02478

Note: People may not use the website or email for registering for courses.

Registration Sequence. Registration continues until the class is filled: WALK-IN: MONDAY, January 25, 2010, 6:00 - 8:00 PM Belmont High School Cafeteria (The first evening of registration is reserved for Belmont residents only. Enrollment must be completed in person, at Belmont High School (Cafeteria), and some form of identification must be shown.) TUESDAY, January 26, 2010, 4:00 - 6:00 PM Belmont High School Cafeteria (Non-residents as well as residents may register in person at Belmont High School Cafeteria.) BY MAIL or WALK-IN at BCE OFFICE: beginning WEDNESDAY, January 27, 2010 (SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY, residents and nonresidents may register by mail) Walk-in daily from 8:00 am - 4:00 pm in the Community Education Office, 644 Pleasant St. For further information call 617-993-5427.

MAILING ADDRESS: Belmont Community Education 644 Pleasant Street Belmont, MA 02478

Do you know what multi-grain, non-fat, calorie-free all mean?  Did you know that PAM cooking spray is only calorie free and fat free for 1/3 of a second?  Come learn how to decipher food labels so you know what you are really putting in your body.

Take a class at Mass Bay Community College starting April 15th at 6pm at the Framingham campus.
This class will run for 5 weeks. 
Check out Mass Bay community education courses, course number 4297 WK385:

http://www.massbay.edu/uploadedFiles/Corporate_and_Community_Ed/Community_courses_SPRING_10(1).pdf

Trying to get more healthy protein in your diet; but tired of lean choices from two or four legged sources?
What about seafood?

Seafood is a great source of Omega-3 and protein. 
But it has had been associated with various food safety and ecological problems.  Just choose wisely, select those with the least amounts mercury and PCBs.  (Children, and women of child bearing age should be concerned with mercury and PCBs).  Environmental Defense Fund has a very helpful list to help choose seafood that is good for your body and the environment.  You can even print out a pocket size list to have handy while shopping.
http://www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=1521

The omega-3s found in fish (EPA and DHA) appear to provide the greatest health benefits. Fish that are high in omega-3s, low in environmental contaminants and eco-friendly include:

• wild salmon from Alaska (fresh, frozen and canned),
• Arctic char,
• Atlantic mackerel,
• sardines,
• sablefish,
• anchovies
• farmed oysters
• farmed rainbow trout and
• albacore tuna from the U.S. and Canada.

Where do you get your protein from if you don't eat two or four legged ones?