New Year, New Name, Same Game.

As of January 1st, 2012, the "American Dietetic Association" has officially changed their name to "The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics." However, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetic's commitment towards the public's nutritional health has not changed at all. In fact, this change of name was heavily due to promoting their scientific guidelines and background in their name. They Academy designed their name to fit every aspect of their beliefs, simply yet boldly stated:

Academy - Being a society organized by advanced science.

Nutrition - Translating Nutritional health into healthier lifestyles.

Dietetics remained in their title, as it promotes their beliefs with food as science.

I am proud to be a member of the Academy and a member on the board

-Director at large.

Read the full article here: http://www.eatright.org/Media/content.aspx?id=6442467398

Soft Drinks

Soft drinks contain a great deal of sugar calories with minimal nutrients. The carbonation fills kids up so they can't eat or drink what they need. The phosphorus in soda pop robs bones of calcium. Limit the intake of caffeinated drinks as they affect attention span, sleep, and make children hyperactive.

Limit for Soft Drinks
Once a week, perhaps on the weekend.
Americans drink an average of 54 gallons of soda pop per person per year.

Flavored carbonated, milk-based drinks, although wholesome, are filling and not a true exchange for milk or water.
1/5 of all toddlers drink almost a cup of soda a day.

Limit for Juices
Ages 0-1 4oz.
Ages 1-4 4oz.
Ages 4-12 4oz.

It’s that time of year again...Back to school!

Many parents and kids would like to bring children to school. So here are our favorite lunch ideas. Please remember that cold foods must stay cold with ice packs to ensure food safety and reduce the risk of bacterial contamination. Hot foods must be in an insulated thermos or container to prevent bacteria growth. It is important to follow food safety and food handling guideline to keep our families safe.

Lunch Menus developed by Lucille Beseler, MS,RD,LD,CDE Family Nutrition Center of South Florida
954-972-2123

Turkey bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich on wheat bread
Pretzels --Fruit

Egg Salad Sandwich on wheat pita with low fat mayo
Tomato
Fruit –
Baked potato chips

Tunafish with lowfat mayo on a
Mini wheat pita -
Cucumber slices
Fruit --
Baked potato chips

Chicken Breast on wheat bread
Fruit --
Celery sticks
Rice cakes

Roast beef on
Wheat roll
Grape tomatoes
Popcorn
Fruit
Low fat Peanut butter & apple butter on wheat tortilla
Teddy grahams
Veggie roll up
Fruit --
Baked potato chips

Veggie Burger on wheat sandwich thins
Garnish of avocado
Fruit --Pretzels
Fruit 1 cup mixed
Yogurt Salad
Teddy Grahams
Carrots Low fat cheese sticks
8 wheat crackers
Fruit --Cucumbers

Ham Sandwich on
Wheat roll
Carrots
Fruit --Gogurt

Pizza Pita with 2 tablespoon tomato -Sauce and grated
Low fat mozzarella Cheese
Pretzels
Fruit
Low fat cream cheese and all fruit spread on wheat bread
Cheese sticks
Teddy grahams--Fruit Veggie Roll up
With shredded turkey
Popcorn --Fruit

Smoked Turkey & Cheese Pita --Chopped tomato
Fruit --Rice Cakes
Ham and Cheese Roll-up
1 teaspoon low fat cream cheese spread on a wheat tortilla add two slices ham
add baby spinach leaves
baked chips
fruit

Turkey with cranberry sauce
In a pita
½ wheat pita with 2 slices turkey + 1 tablespoon cranberry sauce
Carrots
100 calorie pack
Avocado and chicken roll up:
Wheat tortilla add 2 ounces of chicken strips + ¼ cup cut up avocado, tomato, and cucumber with 1 teaspoon low fat salad dressing

Lettuce wraps:
Spread 2 large romaine or boston lettuce leaves with ¼ cup chopped chicken salad made with low fat French dressing and celery
Popcorn

Shrimp salad on a wheat roll – spinach garnish
Tomato
Pretzels
Fruit

Spinach and lettuce/tomato salad with low fat mozzarella cheese Italian dressing
Wheat crackers- 100 calorie

Lucille’s Sushi roll up**
Fruit
Baked chips

Turkey pastrami sandwich on wheat roll
Fruit
popcorn Sliced steak salad***
Fruit
Wheat crackers Peanut Butter and banana sandwich on whole wheat bread
1 cup yogurt
Protein ideas
(Protein portions should be 2 ounces):
Turkey slices
Chicken slices
Ham Slices
Roast Beef
Turkey bologna
Chicken strips (grilled not fried)
Boiled egg
Boiled shrimp
Tuna fish
Shredded low fat cheese
All natural peanut butter (no trans fats)
Veggie burger

Garnish:
Tomato
Spinach instead of lettuce
Cucumbers
Shredded carrots
Avocado
Chopped apples
Chopped celery

Complex Carbohydrates:
Wheat bread (more than 3 grams fiber – must be whole wheat)
Wheat tortilla
Wheat rolls
½ wheat pita
Wheat crackers
Snacks portion should total 100 calories

Condiments:
Mustard
Low fat salad dressing
All types of vinegar
Lemon
Catsup
Low fat mayonnaise
Beverages:
WATER! WATER! WATER! Or Unflavored Milk

Recipe for Veggie Roll-ups:
Tortilla
Chopped veggie salad: lettuce, greens, tomato, shredded carrots, cucumbers, sprouts, or prepared carrot salad
Add shredded cheese or meat Optional
1 tablespoon fat free salad dressing
Place veggie salad in center of tortilla wrap sprinkle with shredded meat or cheese .Tuck ends and roll up.
**Lucille’s Sushi Roll-up:
Wheat or veggie tortilla spread with 1 teaspoon low fat cream cheese
Place match stick carrots and celery in the same direction in the center of the tortilla
Take 2 ounces of imitation crab shredded and add onto of carrots and celery
Add 1/8 cup avocado in the center
Roll up tight and slice into pinwheels. Use a toothpick to secure if necessary –but warn your child to remove before eating
***Sliced Steak Salad
Great for leftover steak or even meatloaf
Slice steak into strips (must be lean meat) 4-6 thin strips or 1 thin slice of meat loaf
Place over 1 cup salad with assorted vegetables including carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce
Ideas for chicken salad, egg salad, shrimp* or tuna salad
A portion size should be ¼ cup. To chopped chicken, tuna or egg you may use a small amount (1 teaspoon) of low fat mayonnaise or plain yogurt.
Also try to add mustard or tangy salad dressing such as low fat French dressing
Add chopped celery, apples, and or onions for crunch
* use boiled shrimp from supermarket approximately 4-5 chopped

Why should babies be weaned off bottle at 12 months and not later?

It has come to my attention that many infants and toddlers are left on the bottle till early childhood.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends this for the following reasons.

1.Dependency: When kids are allowed to keep their bottles past their first birthdays, they quickly develop a strong dependency on them and it becomes harder and harder to wean them off.

2.Dental Health: Tooth decay occurs when continuous flow of formula pools and bathes the teeth. Ensure your baby's dental health-wean at age one.

3.Better solid food intake: Weaning reduces Baby's dependence on the bottle, and ensures better nutrition for age with food variety.

4.Developmental skill: Weaning advances Baby to the next developmental step in feeding and teaches new muscle movements.

5.Anemia: A child who drinks more than 24 ounces of milk each day may be too full to eat important iron-rich foods.

6.Weight problems: Too many bottles may mean either too many total calories or not enough calories or not enough calories from food.

Lucille Beseler elected to ADA Board of Directors 2011-2012

I am so happy to share this news!
Press Release:

AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION NAMES 2011-12 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CHICAGO – Seventeen national leaders in nutrition, medicine, industry and public health will serve as the 2011-12 Board of Directors of the American Dietetic Association, the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. The Board is responsible for strategic planning, policy development and fiscal management for the Association.
Members of ADA’s 2011-12 Board of Directors will serve from June 1 to May 31, 2012.


Editors: Please note local interest.

Lucille Beseler, MS, RD, LDN, CDE, Margate, Fla. Director-at-Large
Beseler is the president and owner of Family Nutrition Center, Family Nutrition Communications and the nonprofit Family Nutrition Center Foundation all located in South Florida. She serves as a nutrition consultant to the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital and was recently the recipient of the Florida International University Paths of Excellence Award for her work with Childhood Obesity. Her past appointments include the Fl. Board of Medicine Dietetic/Nutrition Practice Council and President of the Florida Dietetic Association. Ms. Beseler is a member of Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s health care reform work group.


The American Dietetic Association is the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. ADA is committed to improving the nation’s health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education and advocacy. Visit the American Dietetic Association at www.eatright.org.

Week of the Young Child

This week has been designated the Week of the Young Child. It was designed to bring attention to the health of young children. I believe that good health in children starts with proper nutrition. Recently I was interviewing a 6 year old child (with his parent) that already was 25 lbs. overweight. It struck me that he never eats a home cooked meal. All his meals were taken out of a box and heated in a stryoform plate in the microwave. I love to eat and can not think of anything more unappetizing. Remembering back to my own childhood I enjoyed the smells of my working Mother's kitchen. She always made time to cook something for us. Nowadays, we have so much to do that it seems 20 minutes is too long a period of time to dedicate to making a meal, but it's not really! We have become a nation addicted to box food that heats in 10-30 seconds. These boxed foods are not supplying our children with the nourishment they need. Plus, the melted styrofoam is adding chemicals that we do not want. So during this week of the Young Child, can we make a young child a home cooked meal using the basics: 1. A lean protein:meat, fish, poultry, or beans 2. a vegetable: make it taste good 3. a high fiber carbohydrate: brown rice, wheat pasta, wheat bread, or sweet potato. Milk or a high calcium beverage would round out the meal. Let's make the effort! Our children are worth it!

Fuel Up to Play 60

The fight to address the problem of Childhood Obesity has lost a battle in South Florida. Two major insurance companies that care for children have decided to no longer cover nutrition counseling for obesity and obesity related disease for children. This is of significant concern for me as I am well aware that families may not seek help if they are required to pay for services out of pocket. It seems that we are all talking about Childhood Obesity and how to treat and reverse this problem but I do not see funding for it. Our practice has achieved good outcomes for the families referred to us. Check out the February edition of Boca Magazine http://www.bocamag.com/ page 132-139, The Weight of a Generation by Emily Moorhouse. Emily highlighted two families that have been counseled in our office. Bobby is a great success story. His insurance company did pay for his visits. The reward was that he was able to get off expensive high blood pressure medication. Bobby’s insurance company is one of the ones that will no longer pay for him to receive further nutritional counseling, which I may add, is pretty cheap compared to high blood pressure medication. The improvement in Bobby’s mental and physical health is immeasurable. If only we can convince insurance companies to pay for this life saving service we can help more children and families.
The Family Nutrition Center has found another way to reach children. I am very excited to announce that our Foundation has been awarded three grants from the Fuel Up to Play 60 Program. This is a wonderful program developed by the NFL and the National Dairy Council to help combat childhood obesity through an education program centered on physical and nutrition education. The best part of this program is that it is directed by the children/teens from the selected schools. I am so proud that we have been selected to work with three schools in Broward County: Monarch High School, Coconut Creek High School, and Margate Elementary School. The Florida Dairy Council hosted a meeting of all the selected schools and the Education and Health professionals that will be working with this program. After meeting my teams, I can see they are as committed as I to working to combat child obesity. I would like to thank the Dairy Council for their support. I will keep you posted on the work that we are doing. Until then let’s be good role models for children by eating healthy and engaging in regular exercise.

Regards, Lucille