liGymRatt’s BodyBlog

Ostrich: Adventurous Australian CuisineJuly 21, 2008

Choices of meats have become increasingly exotic, with options — primarily at restaurants — ranging from venison and buffalo to rattlesnake. What about another exotic choice originally from Australia: ostrich?

Ostrich tastes like red meat, even though it’s poultry. From a nutritional standpoint, it’s lean: fewer than 3 grams of fat in 3 ounces, which is less than beef round steak or rump roast and chicken with skin. Ostrich is also a good source of protein and iron.

Today, domestic ostrich farms supply most American restaurants and butchers. But the next time you want to take a walk on the culinary wild side, try a taste from Down Under.

Produced by ADA’s Public Relations Team

Power Outages and Food SafetyJuly 18, 2008

What foods should I throw away? What can I keep? These are common questions during summer months when power outages from storms and brown-outs affect the function of refrigerators and freezers.
 
What can you do to ensure your food will be safe? For starters, during a power outage, keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed. A refrigerator can stay chilled for at least four to six hours if it’s unopened. In a half-full to full freestanding freezer, foods can keep for up to two days.
 
Once power is restored, follow these guidelines:

• If foods have formed ice crystals, refreeze them and use them as soon as possible.
• Discard perishable foods held at room temperature for more than two hours.
• Less-perishable foods may be kept if the power outage lasted for only a few hours.
• Throw out food that turns moldy or smells bad.

Keep shelf-stable foods like cereals, canned vegetables and bottled water in the pantry for emergencies.

Produced by ADA’s Public Relations Team

Is Your Child Drinking Enough Water?July 16, 2008

On hot summer days, kids are naturally drawn to the water — playing in sprinklers, pools or at the beach. But are you sure they are drinking enough water in the summer?

Children perspire with active play, even in the water. Like adults, active children over 8 years old need eight or more cups of fluids during the day. Younger children need four to five cups.
 
To replenish fluids, bring along water if you plan to be out for longer than an hour or are going on an extended car trip. Kids may drink more water if it’s offered to them in a “sports bottle” with their favorite team’s or school logo on it.
 
Bringing water to the beach may sound odd, but for your kids, it’s an important key to keeping your family hydrated.

Produced by ADA’s Public Relations Team

What Are the Ingredients?July 14, 2008

Many people find the ingredient list on food labels difficult to interpret: What’s in a product and how much? A simple rule makes ingredient lists easier to understand.

By regulation, any food made with more than one ingredient must carry an ingredient list on the label. Food manufacturers must list all ingredients in descending order by weight. Those ingredients in the largest amounts are listed first. For example, a can of vegetable soup that lists tomatoes first contains more tomatoes by weight than any other ingredient.

This list is especially useful for people with special food needs, such as those with a food allergy or intolerance, or those who wish to avoid other specific ingredients for religious or health reasons.

A registered dietitian can help answer your ingredients questions.

Produced by ADA’s Public Relations Team

Find Nutrition Advice at eatright.orgJuly 10, 2008

Whether you want to lose weight, change your eating habits or are thinking about using dietary supplements, help is just a mouse click away from your best source of food and nutrition information.

Registered dietitians can help design a personal eating plan that’s right for you. They can assist with eating disorders and/or weight management and work with your health-care team by helping you change your eating plan.

Just go to www.eatright.org and enter your zip code in the “Find a Nutrition Professional” link on the right side of ADA’s home page to locate a registered dietitian near you.

Produced by ADA’s Public Relations Team

Corn on the Cob: A Taste of SummerJuly 9, 2008

Most summer picnics, barbeques and other celebrations usually include at least one vegetable: corn on the cob. If it’s your turn to host a family gathering, what should you look for when selecting this sweet veggie treat?

Look for bright green husks. The corn silk should be stiff, dark and moist. Refrigerate the corn immediately when you get home to help the corn stay sweet and use it within two to three days.
You can cook the corn in a variety of ways: boiled in water; grilled, either in or out of the husk; baked, or even microwaved.

Any way you eat it, corn on the cob is a delicious vegetable and a juicy taste of summer.

Produced by ADA’s Public Relations Team

Vegetables on the GrillJuly 8, 2008

July is National Grilling Month. In addition to the usual burgers and chicken, don’t forget vegetables are delicious cooked outdoors too.

Cooking vegetables on the grill adds flavor to any meal. Baste firm vegetables like bell peppers, corn, eggplant or onions with olive or vegetable oil. Season them with herbs and place on a hot grill until they are tender and brown — usually about 10 to 15 minutes.

Place sliced zucchini, tomatoes and carrots on heavy-duty foil and sprinkle with water and seasoning. Wrap the foil and grill six to eight minutes or until vegetables are tender.

Another great reason to add vegetables to your outdoor cooking repertoire: With the abundance of produce available this time of year, it’s easy to get your recommended 2-1/2 cups of vegetables a day for optimal health.

Produced by ADA’s Public Relations Team

Dehydration alert!July 7, 2008

Dehydration during exercise can occur even in the coldest conditions. But during the hotter months, more perspiration means your body dehydrates even faster.

Be alert for conditions that increase your fluid loss through sweat:

• Air temperature. The higher the temperature, the greater your sweat losses.
• Intensity. The harder you work out, the more you perspire.
• Body size. Larger the athletes sweat more. Men generally sweat more than women.
• Duration. The longer the workout, the more fluid loss.
• Fitness. Well-trained athletes perspire more. Why? An athlete cools his or her body through sweat more efficiently than most people because their bodies are used to the extra stress.

Produced by ADA’s Public Relations Team

Fourth of July Hot DogsJuly 4, 2008

What’s more all-American than the hot dog? This summer, you’ll find hot dogs at picnics, festivals, state fairs and ball games. But can you include hot dogs in a healthy diet?

The short answer: Yes! The trick is to enjoy your dog with lower-fat sides, such as a crisp salad or fresh fruit.

You can also manage the amount of fat you eat by exploring hot dog options. Depending on the brand, regular hot dogs contain 10 to 15 grams of fat. There are low-fat and fat-free hot dog options, as well as soy and veggie hot dogs. Low-fat hot dogs often contain half the fat of regular; fat-free varieties contain less than a half-gram of fat per serving.

And beware: chicken and turkey dogs don’t necessarily contain less fat than regular hot dogs made of beef or pork, so always check the Nutrition Facts panel on the package.

Produced by ADA’s Public Relations Team

Kids Need Foods from All Food GroupsJuly 3, 2008

MyPyramid for Kids tells us that children need to eat foods from all the food groups–grains, vegetables, fruit, milk, and meat and bean — plus healthy oils, every day.

Encourage kids to eat colorful fruits and vegetables with meals or snacks. Be sure they get three servings a day of low-fat or fat-free milk, yogurt or cheese. Serve lean meats, poultry and fish.

Visit MyPyramid.gov for an individual MyPyramid Plan for yourself and your kids.

Produced by ADA’s Public Relations Team