- Author: Chris M. Webb
The USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion has a great collection of integrated tools for people to asses their diet quality and physical activity status. The tools are designed to increase understanding of “energy balance status and enhancing the link between good nutrition and regular physical activity.”
Individual dietary assessments are provided online. Participants enter a day’s work of dietary information, click a button and an evaluation is provided within seconds. Nutritional messages, guidance and links to additional information is provided with the evaluation. To track eating and improvements users can view their data for up to one year. Charts and graphs make for easy viewing. Physical activity assessments work similarly.
It is easy to get started and the benefits received provided by a few minutes of data entry are well worth the time spent. To find out more and to begin receiving your individual assessments please visit the MyPyramid tracker website.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Today’s post is written by former Ventura County Cooperative Extension Advisor, Nick Sakovich. This inspiring and informative article originally appeared in the Hawaii Tribune Herald on June 16 of this year.
What activity is good for your heart and blood flow, can provide strength for the body, increase flexibility, relieve stress and, as a byproduct, produce good, nutritious food? Why, it's gardening, of course.
Gardening uses all of the major muscle groups. It provides all those physical exercises that are listed for the prevention of heart disease, obesity, adult-onset diabetes and high blood pressure. It also provides the strength training important in the prevention of osteoporosis.
And just looking at your gardening can be beneficial if you are recovering from illness. In a study in Uppsala, Sweden, 160 post-operative heart patients were asked to look at a landscape, an abstract artwork, or no picture. Those who looked at the landscape had lower anxiety, required less pain medicine and spent a day less in the hospital than the control group patients.
A University of Arkansas study on the risk for osteoporosis found only one other activity besides gardening that maintained a healthy bone mass: lifting weights. Gardeners themselves mention other benefits such as the satisfaction of producing their own produce and flowers, being outdoors, learning about horticulture and using gardening as an outlet for artistic expression. Many gardeners also found a sense of common purpose with their friends when working in community gardens.
/h5>
- Author: Chris M. Webb
The US Forest Service has a wealth of information, including a section titled Just for Kids. It is a great place for students, parents and teachers to find youth-orientated information about natural resources and the environment. Many of these fun and educational materials can be downloaded or ordered for free. Some examples include:
- Discover the Forest, designed to share what is available in our parks, including a great place to learn and be physically active.
- Backyard conservation for learning how to do our part to improve natural resources.
- Kids’ Science Page introduces and encourages the joy of learning. Also a great place to explore careers in science.
- Natural Inquirer is a science education journal written to share research conducted by USDA Forest Service scientists.
- Nature Watch is a collection of photos, live video cams, educational programs and resources.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
The USDA has a collection of materials designed to improve nutrition and increase physical activity. Each curriculum focuses on a different target audience, but all share the goal of reducing our country’s obesity problem. Some of the materials are available in English and Spanish. A summary of each is shown below. Follow the links to learn more!
- Secrets of Feeding a Healthy Family: How to Eat, How to Raise Good Eaters, How to Cook is a book written to bring back the joy of eating and cooking. This book has thirteen chapters which address topics of cooking, attitudes about food, and eating behaviors.
- Fruit, Vegetable, and Physical Activity Toolbox for Community Educators is a tool kit complete with nutrition and physical activity lessons, handouts, poster, produce guide, playing cards, media disc, discussion guide, small pamphlets, and learning tools. The lessons are well organized and include a variety of topics such as grocery shopping, recipe preparation, and healthy eating on the go
- Instant Recess DVD and Users' Guide is a 15 minute DVD which includes exercises that can be done anywhere. The exercises do not require any equipment and are done at a slow pace so anyone can participate. Along with the DVD, a small booklet for educators is included that provides information and tips on exercise, hydration, and how to use the DVD effectively.
- Nutrition Detectives is a DVD geared towards elementary-aged school children. This curriculum teaches children the importance of food labels and how to read them. The DVD is rich with animation and entertaining games, and features a question/answer section toward the end which explains how the DVD can be used effectively with children.
- Pyramid Plus: Real life nutrition for teens is a curriculum to help motivate teens to make healthy nutrition choices. This resource includes 9 lessons and a CD with supporting materials. The lessons are very diverse and cover topics such as nutrient rich foods to body acceptance.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
The Ventura County Cooperative Extension/County of Ventura Farm Advisor office currently has a display at the Hall of Administration in the County Government Center.
Gardening offers many opportunities to improve one’s life by providing outdoor exercise, and superior nutrition with home-grown fruits and vegetables. Working outside at home makes it easier to meet and greet neighbors – or make new friends at a community garden. But perhaps most importantly, during these uncertain economic times, gardening can help people be self-sufficient.
A wealth of information is available to the public in an effort to encourage people to begin or expand their gardens. Topics covered at our display include: water conservation, fruit trees, vegetable gardening, food safety, pests, and composting.
If you have business that brings you to the government center between February 1 and February 26, please plan to stop by and visit our display. If you are interested in the information, but will not be in the area, please contact us so we may provide it for you in a different format. Much of it can be found on our website or at the CA MG garden website.