Liz On Food

Healthier Dining Experience for Coloradans Through New Program

The University of Colorado’s Anschutz Health and Wellness Center (AHWC) has teamed up with HEALTHY DINING, a program of the National Restaurant Association, to help Coloradans make healthier choices when they eat in restaurants.

The new program is called HEALTHY DINING IN COLORADO. More than 40 restaurant companies with 300 locations are already participating in Colorado. Restaurants will offer a selection of dietitian-verified menu items for kids and adults emphasizing lean protein, vegetables, fruits, whole grains and unsaturated fats. Families can find restaurants, from fast food to upscale dining, by entering a zip code in the online search tool featured on HealthyDiningFinder.com or by downloading the free iPhone app, YumPower.

Source: PR Web, May 22, 2013

Family Meals Improve Teens' Mental Health

Family meals have numerous positive impacts, including improving children's school grades, reducing risk for overweight and obesity, and increasing fruit and vegetable intake. Now, one more benefit can be added to the list: improved mental health for teens. Analysis of the 2010 Canadian Health Behaviour of School-aged Children study of 26,069 adolescents (aged 11 to 15 years), published in the April issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health, shows frequency of family dinners is inversely related to internalizing and externalizing symptoms and directly related to emotional well-being, prosocial behavior, and life satisfaction. And a key influence is teen-parental communication during meals. 

Busy, varied schedules sometimes get in the way of family meals, but try to set a goal of dining together as a family several times per week. Make meal time enjoyable and save tough issues for another time to minimize conflict. Plan ahead and keep the menu simple. Order home delivery or take-out, if necessary, to preserve meal time. It's the together time that counts.

USDA MyPlate on Pinterest

If you're looking for delicious recipes that align with dietary guidelines, you'll want to check out Pinterest MyPlate Recipes. Major magazine publishers, including Condé Nast, Hearst Magazines, Meredith, Food Network and Time, Inc., in collaboration with the Partnership for a Healthier America and USDA’s MyPlate have identified thousands of nutritious recipes that meet the guidance supporting USDA’s MyPlate. So far Pinterest MyPlate Recipes include 27 boards with 923 pins. In short, a lot of yummy, health recipes!

Colorado Growing Inequalities

Come on, Colorado, we can do better.

 

Hearty Santa Fe Pumpkin Soup

If you can't get your fill of pumpkin when Thanksgiving rolls around, try this deliciously filling Hearty Santa Fe Pumpkin Soup, which I developed recently for the Produce for Better Health Foundation's Fruits and Veggies—More Matters campaign.  

Photo Credit: Souders Studio, Golden, Colorado.

This recipe as part of a suggested meal shown in this photo helps to meet the USDA's MyPlate guideline to "Make half your plate fruits and vegetables." The recipe, meal options, shopping list, cost and nutrition analysis can be found here: Hearty Santa Fe Pumpkin Soup.

 Here are a few more veggie-focused recipes:

Lentil Barley Stew w/ Spinach

 

Baked Winter Squash w/ Honey Sour Cream

 

Split Pea Soup w/ Hearty Bread

 

Sweet Potatoes, Spinach, Mapled Pecans & Bacon

  

Sweet Sour Sesame Cabbage