Health Front
News that's good for you
March 2009
Reprinted with permission from Taste For Life

Veggies in a Glass
4 Ways to $hop $mart
Young Adults Caught Speed Eating
Slim Down Tastefully

Veggies in a Glass

New research indicates that there’s a simple and effective way for adults to get their recommended daily amount of vegetables: They can drink them. A recent study shows that individuals who drink vegetable juice every day are more likely to meet their recommended daily veggie intake as outlined by the U.S. Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH). According to research, roughly 90 percent of American adults fall short of the daily fruit and vegetable intake of 400 g suggested by the World Health Organization. In the study group, all of the participants who drank 16 ounces of vegetable juice on a daily basis met this recommendation.

selected source

• Drink Your Way to Five-a-Day By Gavin Kermack, www.foodnavigator.com, 10/27/08

4 Way to $hop $mart

Who isn’t trying to save money these days? The following tips make it easy – and cost effective – to eat more meals at home.

1. Plan meals a week ahead, using grocery flyers and coupons to snag sales and savings. When you know what’s for dinner every night, and you have the ingredients already, it’s easier to avoid the temptation to order a pizza or hit the drive-through.
2. Cut down on meat. Make stew or chili with half the amount of chicken, beef, or other meat you usually use. Increase beans, rice, and veggies to not only fill your family but also to dish up a healthier meal without sacrificing taste. Go meatless a few times a week – on the weekend, make hearty, filling lasagne with fresh veggies, and then enjoy leftovers or have omelets or pasta on busy weeknights.
3. When you cook, double recipes and freeze half. Knowing that a nutritious dinner is all prepared except for the heating makes for a relaxing end to the day.
4. Don’t overbuy. A U.S. Department of Agriculture study found that Americans toss over a pound of food daily. Three limes for a dollar is a bargain only if all are used before any go bad.

selected sources

• "3 Ways to Save $100 on Groceries " by Dayana Yochim, The Motley Fool, www.fool.com, 1/21/09
• "10 Ways to Save Money on Food Shoping" by Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, www.webmd.com, 6/6/08

Young Adults Caught Speed Eating

“Grab and go.” – that’s how many 18-to-25-year-olds describe their eating habits. Most of those recently surveyed said they didn’t have time for sit-down meals, but for those who made the effort, the benefits included greater intake of vegetables and other healthy foods, plus more dietary calcium and fiber. Those who ate on the run reported consuming more soft drinks, more high-fat, high-calorie foods, and more “fast foods.” By contrast, young adults who reported that they made time to prepare and share meals with others not only ate fewer fast foods but also were more likely to meet recommended intakes for fat, calcium, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

selected sources

• "Food Preparation by Young Adults is Associated with Better Diet Quality" by N.I. Larson et al, 12/06
• "Making Time for Meals: Meal Structure and Associations with Dietary Intake in Young Adults " by N.I. Larson et al, 1/09, J Am

Slim Down Tastefully

selected sources

• "High Intake of Fruits and Vegetables Predicts Weight Loss in Brazilian Overweight Adults "by D.S. Sartorelli et al, Nutr Res, 4/08