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StumbleUponPosts Tagged: nutrition
UCCE research inspires thousands of grant dollars
A 2006 study by the California Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program and UCCE in Butte County inspired Hidden Valley Salad Dressings to launch the "Love Your Veggies(TM) Nationwide School Lunch Campaign," according to a news release posted today on PR Newswire.
The UCCE study found that children consumed 23 percent more vegetables when paired with a moderate amount of ranch dressing. A second study, conducted at Iowa State University, found that certain vitamins and cancer-fighting compounds found in fruits and vegetables are fat-soluble.
"This study suggests that a moderate amount of fat may help the body adequately absorb nutrients," according to the release.
The Love Your Veggies Campaign this year awarded 51 elementary schools each with a $10,000 nutrition grant. Two of the recipient schools are in California: Horace Mann Elementary School in Oakland and Starr King Elementary School in San Francisco. The funding can be spent on fresh produce, vegetable stations, kitchen equipment, program staffing, nutrition education supplies and training, the news release said.
"Love Your Veggies" grants were inspired by UCCE.
Media spins another story on chia
An article in yesterday's Sacramento Bee proves the jokes on chia haven't yet been exhausted. Sam McManis wrote about health claims for chia seeds, the Aztec food made popular by the "as seen on TV" chia pot. The San Jose Mercury News ran a similar story on the health fad last February, as noted in this blog entry.
In both cases, the reporters sought UC Davis Cooperative Extension specialist Sheri Zidenberg-Cherr's measured commentary.
"The redeeming qualities of (chia) is omega-3s, specifically the lenlinic (acid) that's in there," Zidenberg-Cherr was quoted. "Because of that tie-in with heart disease and diabetes, I see potential for it as something that could be added to someone's diet if they're already following a healthy eating plan with the proper recommendations."
She said chia seeds have a nice nutrition profile, but they are not a dietary cure-all.
"The (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) considers it safe, as for now," Zidenberg-Cherr says. "So it doesn't look like there's any danger. You're just now starting to see a lot more research going on with it."
