Food Recalls

Martin Bucknavage, food safety extension associate at Penn State, has provided details on investigation into causes of salmonella contamination in peanut butter products from a plant in Georgia: The number of products subject to the PCA Peanut Butter / Salmonella recall continues to grow as the number of lots of peanut butter that were potentially contaminated increases. So as the manufacturers continue their traceability exercises, it is advisable to avoid peanut butter snacks (peanut butter crackers, peanut butter ice cream). Full jars of peanut butter (Jif, Skippy, Smuckers, etc) are fine. Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. More information on many food safety and sanitation violations at the plant are being revealed. Unfortunately, there was no follow-through with correcting these situations months ago. Most food-borne illness can be prevented if food processors, food service personnel, and the consumer follow recommended guidelines. Although it is scary when these events occur, the majority of food processed in our country follows strict guidelines and is safe to consume. To obtain information on the Food & Drug Administration’s website of various products, you can visit: http://www.fda.gov/ Click on “Recalls and Safety Alerts”. Currently there is a hot button for brand name products involved in the peanut butter recall.

What concerns or questions do you have about food safety?

Surviving a Recession Without Gaining Weight.

As I watched the morning news I heard that the general public has a tendency to put extra weight on during a recessionary period. The report sighted buying cheaper foods with higher calories to feel full longer, being the leading cause for weight gain. So let's look at the few possible reasons for gaining extra weight during a recession and ideas to combat the bulge.

Stress and worry are two major emotions we deal with sometimes daily during a recession or almost any time in our lives. Many people go to comfort foods which in most cases are high in fat and calories and low in nutrients, a good example is chocolate. If you feel nothing else will help but eating that favorite comfort food just set a limit to ensure you eat a smaller portion. Another option is to up your calorie burn by increasing your exercise time or workout intensity. Exercise also has the benefit of releasing endorphins, the natural way to increase feelings of well being in our bodies to help ease the effects of stress. Yes chocolate also has endorphins but then you have the guilt of extra calories to deal with later.

Today I hear people are not purchasing fresh produce to save money at the grocery store. Nutrition is still important during a recession. So is it possible to still eat healthy on a limited budget with less money to spend on food? Even in good economic times most people don't consume the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables. Since it is winter in my area most of the local farmer markets have closed for the season. Yes, fresh produce is at its highest price when out of season. So what can we do? There are other alternative to help us reach our daily recommended goals while on a budget. Let's just move further in the grocery store past the fresh produce section to find money saving options. Going down the canned goods section options abound. Check labels and choose fruits packed in natural juices and low sodium vegetables. Several great things about canned goods are they are; reasonably priced, have a long shelf life, minimal storage requirements, and are quick and easy to prepare. Another area of the grocery store to help you make healthy money saving options is the frozen food section. A wide section of assorted vegetables are always available with less fluctuation in price compared to fresh. One of the great advantages to frozen produce is the ability to cook only the amount you will consume which saves you money with less waste. The only disadvantage I can find if freezer space is limited in your situation. Do you have ideas on how to eat your fruit and veggies while staying within your budget and not packing on the pounds? Please share your ideas and comments.

In Search of the Clean Bedroom

A group of parenting educators was having a discussion the other day on the topic of kids cleaning their bedrooms. All five professionals agreed that this parenting struggle is probably the most common issue raised by parents. What is the big deal about children cleaning their personal corner of the world that irks parents? What are some strategies for getting kids to maintain a presentable living space without creating a battleground in the home? For many parents, the issue of cleaning bedrooms is a matter of their expectations around cleanliness and order. What parents don’t always realize is that kids don’t have the same definition of what makes a room “clean”. “Go clean your room” is a command that has a wide range of interpretations. A suggestion might be to demonstrate or show the child with a picture of a clean room what it is you expect their room to look like when they are done. Sometimes parental expectations are too high for a child depending on the child’s age or stage of development. For example, a four year-old does not have the motor skills to make a bed as well as an adult, so parents need to adjust their expectations accordingly. In some families, cleaning bedrooms is a power and control issue. Kids are good at knowing what pushes parents’ buttons, so children who are strong-willed will often drag out the process or fail to complete the task at all. This can lead to nagging, yelling, and all kinds of chaos. This kind of interaction only serves to exacerbate the problem. Rather than nagging, say it once, making sure your instructions are clear, and let the rest to the child. Children generally do well when they are given some control over a situation. Parents can work with their child on deciding on a good time to clean bedrooms. Perhaps right after school is not a good time since many children like some downtime after a full day of classes. Find a time that you can both agree on, then stick to it. Consider a “family chore time” where everyone is engaged in the upkeep of the household. It is much easier to get started on something that everyone else is doing. A great strategy that puts kids in the driver’s seat is the “when/then” approach. You can tell your child, “When you are finished cleaning your room, then you can watch the football game (or go on the computer, etc.)”. This puts the child in control; however, the parent needs to be consistent and follow through. If the room is not clean, then the child should not be granted the privilege. Many children become overwhelmed by the thought of cleaning their bedrooms. A week’s worth of disarray can be daunting. Breaking the overall task into small, achievable steps can help. Instead of telling the child to “clean your room” parents might say. “Please go put all your dirty laundry in the hamper.” After that, a parent might instruct. “Now put all your clean clothes in your drawers.” One way to keep the clutter from piling up is to build in a daily straightening up routine. Regular maintenance means less work on cleaning day. Some parents simply have had to lower their expectations of children when it comes to the condition of their bedrooms. For some, it is acceptable that the room be in livable condition, free of dishes, trash, and strange odors. Finding the right balance between what you can live with and what you must have your child do without hassle is the key. There is no right or wrong to this one expect for constant battling and nagging which does not build a strong parent-child relationship. As one educator said, “When all else fails, close the bedroom door!”

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! I had a wonderful holiday season of special meals, toasts to friends and family, traditional goodies around the house, late hours and a general vacation lifestyle. I hope that you had a good holiday too! But here it is, January 2009 and back to work. Are you feeling a little bloated with the holiday foods and the celebratory lifestyle like I am? Where do we start to get back on the track? First of all, take inventory. Have you cleaned up the holiday decorations and put them away for next year? Do the same for your food inventory. Are there still lots of high fat and sugar temptations calling your name? Fancy cheeses and dips, cookies, boxes of candies, nut breads? All of these don’t need to be thrown away – I know that some of you have thrifty genes! Look at what you can freeze. Inspect leftovers carefully for signs of spoilage. If you see mold on cheeses, breads or cookies that have been kept for over two weeks at room temperature, toss these into the trash. Cheeses and breads can be frozen by wrapping tightly in freezer bags, plastic wrap or aluminum foil if they are still fresh. Avoid air pockets that will collect frost which will affect the taste and quality of the product. If leftover goodies are not worthy of freezing but still lingering, sort them into portions so they can be included into meals or snacks in reasonable amounts and not tempting you to eat just one more. Combine cheeses with fresh vegetables, whole grain bread and or low fat soups. All foods can fit into a healthy diet if eaten in proportion with other healthy foods. Refresh your pantry with lots of fruits and vegetables. Cut these into portions that can be packed into small bags so they can be available for snacks, car trips and lunches. Plan your dinner menus to include larger portions of colorful vegetables instead of large portions of meat and starchy foods. Studies have shown that this Mediterranean style of eating also assists in weight loss and healthier hearts. Get out of the house! Plan some form of exercise for each day that gets you away from the kitchen. If the weather keeps you inside but you can get to the mall, take several laps around the inside. With some of the larger grocery stores, you could even work off some calories making an extra trip up and down the aisles! Keeping busy away from food removes the temptation to snack. As we pack up the holiday, give yourself one more gift. Think about what you need to do to be healthy. Join an exercise class, start planning your menus, try some new recipes that are lower in calories, fat and salt or start a journal of healthy habits. Then share your plans with a friend who might join you in your efforts. I wish you a wonderful 2009 – and may this month include a step towards good health. I’m putting on my walking shoes. Those snickerdoodles will have to wait until lunch time. Good luck!