School Gardens for Good Habits

Outside of Chicago there’s a school with a revolutionary idea: active gardening for students.

During both hot and cold seasons students learn how to grow a variety of crops including spinach, kale, radishes, eggplant, tomatoes and more. Even more importantly, the students harvest and eat the fruits and veggies after every season. Teachers are already noticing the students’ change in attitude towards fresh foods. They are eating more salads and opting for real foods rather than processed.

Rather than just targeting school lunches, they’re teaching students about taste so those kids will learn smart choices in the future.

Rx: HAITI BENEFIT THURSDAY, MAY 6TH

Dr. David Colbert’s humanitarian trip to Haiti after the earthquake inspired him to ask his contacts in New York to help host a benefit for the 5,000 earthquake victims who lost limbs. In association with Hanger, Inc., the largest maker of prosthetics in the world, the benefit will feature live and silent auctions with covetable items like guitars signed by The Rolling Stones, Bono, Bob Dylan and The Boss; art and photography; designer dresses and bags… even an exclusive Mediterranean cruise. For a complete list of auction items, or to donate $ for the people of Haiti who still await replacement limbs, please visit www.nydgfoundation.org. And watch here for a preview of the loot available both live and on line at the auction! Guaranteed: you’re gonna get it for a song!!!

Bono's green guitar--auction starts May 6th

Quick Brussels Sprouts (and Cranberry!) Recipe

The Food Network featured a great recipe for Brussels Sprouts a while back and here at the HSR Diet we love our Brussels Sprouts! Just a few benefits of the cabbage-related veggies include ample amounts of Vitamin A, K, C, B6, dietary fiber, potassium and iron. Surprisingly Brussels Sprouts even have some Omega 3 fatty acids thrown in, those same health-boosting fats found in fish.

The best part of the recipe below is it only takes about 15 minutes to cook, a little less if you’re a pro in the kitchen. Plus, the pecans add a dash of nutty flavor and the cranberries are packed with powerful antioxidants. Try mixing it up with different types of nuts for variety.

What you need:

1 pound fresh Brussels sprouts, rinsed and trimmed
3 ounces coarsely chopped pecans
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
4 ounces coarsely chopped dried cranberries

Directions:

Slice the Brussels sprouts using the thinnest slicing disk of a food processor. If you do not have a food processor, you may slice thinly with a knife or a mandoline.

Set a 10-inch straight-sided saute pan over medium-high heat and add the pecans. Cook, stirring continually, until the pecans darken in color and begin to give off a toasted aroma, approximately 2 minutes. Add the butter to the pan and stir to combine. Once the butter has melted, add the Brussels sprouts, salt and pepper and cook, stirring continually, until the color brightens and the sprouts are just tender, approximately 6 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat, add the cranberries, toss and serve.

Genes may affect body shape, but nutrition is always the same!

Another study was recently done on genetics vs. nutrition. Like all the studies before, this one pointed to genes’ contribution to your health and body. It stated that those wide hips are probably not just the fault of greasy french fries. Dry skin is probably not solely from those forty cups of coffee you drink every day. Sure, your DNA probably helps a little.

However, when the article about the study draws to a close there is a laundry list of nutrition advice for all shapes and sizes. Things that will counteract that nasty DNA no matter what the problem.

Surprise, surprise. According to the article, everyone benefits from whole grains and whole fruit. No matter what your genes, those hips will never disappear if you continue drinking mass amounts of soda and milkshakes. The only way to get the body and the skin you desire is to pay attention to your food.

Which is exactly what we’ve been saying all along.

Look at the ingredients on your favorite items and toss out the ultra-processed products. Convert the grams of sugar to tablespoons and think about how much you’re really consuming. Opt for brown, hearty breads instead of gummy, white slices with no nutritional value.

Stick to the lessons we’ve mentioned over and over again and it won’t matter much if your genes tend towards a puffy mid section or not.

Michelle Obama out to change School Lunch

Michelle Obama is at it again. This time her target is the school lunches served in cafeterias across the country. I’m sure you all remember your school’s lunch (I know ours often had greasy pizza and processed mozzarella sticks on the menu) but instead of getting better, many schools are getting worse as time goes on.

The federal school lunch program feeds 31 million underprivileged children in the United States every year. Of those 31 millions, many are exposed to mozzarella sticks with 21 grams of fat or pizza made of 25 artificial ingredients.

Michelle is fighting to change that. Of course, healthy food doesn’t come cheap. If a new budget it passed, an extra $1 per meal will be allotted to healthy changes. However, some people are afraid an extra dollar isn’t enough.

So what can you do to prevent your kid from eating unhealthy foods in the cafeteria?

1. Pack lunches. This is a cost effective way to make sure your little one gets all the right nutrition. Carrot sticks, sandwiches on whole grain bread and yogurt cups are great alternatives to chicken nuggets and french fries.

2. Teach your son or daughter about smart choices. Many schools have an a la carte option that allows students to choose the foods they like. Make sure your child picks the right items like fruits and veggies when available.

3. Ask for a copy of the school lunch schedule. It can be inconvenient to pack lunches every day so just pack them on the days there are no good alternatives on the menu. When healthier options come around, skip the packing and let your kid buy.

National Humor Month

We’re a little late on the reporting but April is National Humor Month. It may seem a little unrelated to diet, but in reality laughing is one of the easiest things you can do to benefit your body.

Did you know laughing can relax muscles for up to 45 minutes after a good, hearty chuckle? Or that endorphins are released during a giggle-fest and can actually increase your tolerance for pain?

But more than anything else, a regular dose of laughter can launch you into a much better mood and put stress in perspective. After all, stress is a common cause for overeating.

We’ve mentioned portioning before in High School Reunion Diet but it’s important to keep coming back to the subject. Larger portions than necessary are one of the largest problems with diet in America. By simply cutting back on the amount we eat, we can cut back on the amount of weight our bodies hold on to (for some quick references as to portion sizes check out WebMD).

So giggle a little bit more this month and let the stress slip away. Then, you won’t be so tempted to pile on the extra servings!

On a side note, does anyone have a good joke in honor of April?

More News on Glycemic Indexes!

As we’ve said a hundred times in the past- it’s not ‘carbs’ that kill your diet, it’s the dumb ones that do the deed. But then again, I’m sure you remember that from our past lessons. .

So you’re far ahead of the learning curve, as the idea is just now seeping into mainstream media. Hopefully everyone memorized the lesson the first time around: carbs with low GIs are good, carbs with high GIs are not.

So when you check out some of the new press on the matter, try to keep all of our food suggestions in mind as well. Sure, darker bread is better for you but don’t just go by the color. Take a look at the actual label and pick up something 100% Whole Grain. Or do a little research on the actual Glycemic Index rating, the extra time could make all the difference in your health.

Follow up: What Was Lost in Haiti

If y’all remember Wilifred from Dr. Colbert’s story in the The New York Post a few months ago, he is a young Haitian whose right leg was crushed in the earthquake. He had screamed in protest not to amputate, and Dr. Colbert, who assisted in the surgery, promised he’d get him a state-of-the-art prosthesis. Here is Wilif

Wilifred in Port-au-Prince on April 8th

red in Port-au-Prince last Thursday. He loves his new leg, designed and fitted by Hanger, Inc., who now has a major philanthropic presence in Haiti, and is helping thousands of people, mostly young and athletic, walk again. Hanger is a partner with Dr. C’s foundation in the benefit Rx: Haiti scheduled May 6th. Please come if you can, or donate $$ if you can. More info at www.nydgfoundation.com/haiti

“40 may be the new 30; but if you’re obese, 40 is the new 60.”

Michelle Obama continued the fight against obesity, this time in an executive setting. Near 100 activists, professors and government officials gathered to listen to the fact-filled speech. Some of the information, contributed by experts in the field, will contribute to her final report on the matter. Also, the suggestions brought up during the talk may be advised later in Michelle’s campaign.

Some suggestions that came up (and can be included in your life!) included:

1. Clean environments in corporate offices for women to breastfeed. Babies who are breastfed for the first six months have a much smaller risk of obesity.

2. More parks. People within closer vicinity to a park or track are statistically less obese. Even a few blocks makes a difference!

3. Recess. Short bursts of physical activity during the work day may help slim you down and keep you alert. Even if it’s just jogging down the staircase during lunch, get your body moving!