Okay folks, I recently did a segment on Fox 10 about healthy after school snacks and I owe a lot of special thanks to Cathy Schmelter, RD for her amazing book "Cutting Thru the Nutritional Jungle." I was first introduced to Cathy's work by her sister Paula, who was an amazing student in several of my classes. She told me that Cathy's book would marry well with all the things I used in my approach to food. That was several years ago and I have seriously loved reading her book as well as having my boys read her work. The good news is that Cathy has agreed to do a giveaway her on Chef Tess Bakeresse. She will be sending me a couple copies of her book to share with two of my readers.
In an article about her book (She's helping kids eat healthy - The Denver Post) There was a lot of quick grab information. For instance:
"Do the ingredients in foods make a big difference?
Isn't 100 calories just 100 calories? No. High-fructose corn syrup, for example - that's a refined sugar. Normally, your body can regulate sugars with insulin, but fructose bypasses that. So you never feel full when you eat or drink something with a highly refined sugar, like high-fructose corn syrup. It's everywhere too, not only in sodas, but also in lots of different products. You have to read the labels.
What should we look for?
I have five grab-and-go rules. It has to be high fiber, with no hydrogenated oils, no high-fructose corn syrup, and low or zero additives, preservatives and artificial coloring. Look for label listings that show products that are high in fiber, with 3 grams or more. Five grams of fiber is excellent.
What are some examples of snacks you approve?
I recommend those Kashi bars. Or dried fruit. Water- based foods, like fruits and vegetables and soups, are naturally lower in calories and higher in fiber.
As a nutritionist working with schoolchildren, do you think kids will really eat soup instead of chips?
I know it's challenging, especially for the lower socioeconomic group. For those kids, their groceries come from a convenience store because they may not have a car to go to the supermarket. Teachers tell me they see a lot of kids eating spicy Chee-tos and Coke in the morning for breakfast.
Why?
Parents allow them to select those foods for a number of reasons - cost, convenience, or a cultural thing. Some cultures feel feeding kids is showing love. But if we keep going the way we're going, 80 percent of the population will be obese in the next 20 or 30 years.
How can you help change that?
In the schools where I work, we're putting up posters and banners with popular characters, like members of the "Shrek" cast, giving good nutritional advice. Some schools have a lunchtime game - select a protein, and get a sticker. Collect more along the way, and get a prize at the end. Some have a student challenge: Avoid junk food for one semester, and students will notice that they're feeling and looking better. "
Isn't 100 calories just 100 calories? No. High-fructose corn syrup, for example - that's a refined sugar. Normally, your body can regulate sugars with insulin, but fructose bypasses that. So you never feel full when you eat or drink something with a highly refined sugar, like high-fructose corn syrup. It's everywhere too, not only in sodas, but also in lots of different products. You have to read the labels.
What should we look for?
I have five grab-and-go rules. It has to be high fiber, with no hydrogenated oils, no high-fructose corn syrup, and low or zero additives, preservatives and artificial coloring. Look for label listings that show products that are high in fiber, with 3 grams or more. Five grams of fiber is excellent.
What are some examples of snacks you approve?
I recommend those Kashi bars. Or dried fruit. Water- based foods, like fruits and vegetables and soups, are naturally lower in calories and higher in fiber.
As a nutritionist working with schoolchildren, do you think kids will really eat soup instead of chips?
I know it's challenging, especially for the lower socioeconomic group. For those kids, their groceries come from a convenience store because they may not have a car to go to the supermarket. Teachers tell me they see a lot of kids eating spicy Chee-tos and Coke in the morning for breakfast.
Why?
Parents allow them to select those foods for a number of reasons - cost, convenience, or a cultural thing. Some cultures feel feeding kids is showing love. But if we keep going the way we're going, 80 percent of the population will be obese in the next 20 or 30 years.
How can you help change that?
In the schools where I work, we're putting up posters and banners with popular characters, like members of the "Shrek" cast, giving good nutritional advice. Some schools have a lunchtime game - select a protein, and get a sticker. Collect more along the way, and get a prize at the end. Some have a student challenge: Avoid junk food for one semester, and students will notice that they're feeling and looking better. "
Don't you just love her already?! All the guess work is gone! To look inside the book Click here. I love that it's packed with valuable information that's easy to read, easy to understand and fun too! This book takes the guessing out of children's nutrition.
To enter the giveaway, leave a comment here on the blog and share it with your friends! Winners will be announced September 1st! OH...and last I talked with Cathy, she has an updated version of the current book on it's way out soon! So, a second edition with even more amazing information! I'm so excited to see it!
13 comments:
Great information. Great blog. I have volunteered to work a local school this year and this book would be a great help and resource.
Ooh! I so want that book! Put me in the drawing please! I have already forwarded this link to my sister in AZ.
Ok - I could SERIOUSLY use this book! here's hoping I win!
I want it!!! The book sounds wonderful because educating children about food is so important!
Count me in. I love eating this way. My kids are grown, but I have grand-kids that could benefit from this book.
wow! Did we not recently have the discussion about how I finally figured out that most of the information out there about food (posing as nutritional guides) were really about marketing, and that I was really feeling confused about what's true about food?
Looks like an AWESOME book.
Yay! Now that I have Nathan I am very interested. Sign me up!
I'm in, this looks great.
Me too! Me too!
Looks very interesting...thank you for sharing...and giving away a couple of copies!
I am so thankful to be in a small school setting where we pack lunches everyday. Although, I hear a local elementary in my town has hired a catering service that focuses on healthy school lunches - hooray!
I'd love to own the book- enter me!
Looks like a great book. I'll post about it on my blog.
Nicole has left a new comment on your post "Cutting Through the Nutritional Jungle...rambling ...":
Did the giveaway end yet? I don't see any announcements- so, I'm in!!!!!!!!!!!!
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