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nutrition month: smart snacking

3/29/2017

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Which is the healthier snack- Popcorn or Potato Chips?
Ok, I know this one is a no-brainer, but I love talking about snacks: I like mine salty, and potato chips and popcorn are at the top of that list. Ounce for ounce, most brands of popcorn have fewer calories, carbohydrates, fat, and sodium than classic potato chips, with the added benefit of about 3-4 grams of fiber per ounce. Sprinkle on your favorite spices and go dancing! In the end, it’s all about enjoying your food and making the most of every bite. Happy Nutrition month!
Nutrition Month Tip: Super Tracker is a 100% FREE diet  and fitness tracker from the USDA. Look up nutrition information, set fitness and weight-loss goals, and participate in group challenges. Unlike it’s commercial competitors, there are no ads and no paying for upgrades. Check it out: https://www.supertracker.usda.gov/

Learn more about healthy eating at our CATCH Healthy Habits classes, sponsored by OASIS. Register here 
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references

National Library of Medicine. Snacks for Adults. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000338.htm
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nutrition month: fruit juices

3/22/2017

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Which has more sugar, a bag of purple grapes or a bottle of no-sugar added juice?

Hidden sugar is certainly a trending topic among nutritionists and diet enthusiasts, and fruit juices are a common enemy. Juicing extracts the liquids from fruit, concentrating the vitamins and nutrients and removing solid components such as fiber. That means you’ll get more nutrients per serving, but you’ll also consume more sugar and won’t feel full as fast. In this case you could eat two servings of grapes and still consume less sugar than you would in one serving of the "no sugar added" juice!

via GIPHY
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Nutrition Month Tip: Confused about food labels? Try this interactive Nutrition Label Tool from the FDA. There’s even a fun portal for kids!
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references

USDA Food and Nutrition Information Center. Juicing 101: Nutrition Tips for Consumers. https://www.nutrition.gov/shopping-cooking-meal-planning/juicing-101-nutrition-tips-consumers

recommended reading
click an image to browse in the library catalog

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nutrition month: persimmon

3/15/2017

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What is this mysterious fruit?

My friend, Trish Farano, Registered (D.T.R.) from Dierbergs School of Cooking tells me this is not a sad looking tomato; it’s a Japanese Persimmon. Like tomatoes, persimmons are high in vitamin A, but they have considerably more sugar (about 21 grams per serving) and taste much sweeter. Trish recommends using them in salads or making jams and jellies. The best season for buying persimmons is October-February. You can hasten ripening in the off-season by placing this little beauty in a paper bag with an apple.

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Nutrition month tip: Learn more about the origins and growing profiles of your favorite plants at https://plants.usda.gov/

recommended reading
click on an image to browse in the library catalog

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nutrition month: vitamin c

3/8/2017

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March is nutrition month and to celebrate, my friend, Trish Farano, Dietetic Technician, Registered
(D.T.R.) from Dierberg's School of Cooking helped me out with some Nutrition Month challenges. 
Check the Library's Facebook’s page for new video challenges each week throughout March!

Vitamin C is a water-soluble nutrient, which acts as an antioxidant in our bodies. That means it fights
free-radicals and helps convert all that healthy food into lasting energy. It is also boosts the immune system and helps make collagen, the protein that helps heal wounds and keep our skin looking great!

Oranges usually get all the C glory, but there are other delicious plants that have even more Vitamin C, including kiwi and broccoli.

So, Which has more Vitamin C: an orange or a bell pepper? ​
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Nutrition Month Tip: Whole foods like plants often don’t have nutrition labels, but you can always check for yourself! Google any whole food and you will see USDA Nutrition Facts on the right side (or on the top of the results if on a mobile device). 

​What are your favorite ways to get your daily C?

references

National Institutes of Health: Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin C Fact Sheet for Consumers. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitaminc-consumer/

recommended reading
click the image below to browse this library resource

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    Alison is the Consumer Health Librarian for the
    ​St. Charles City-County Library. She works with community experts to answer your health and wellness questions.

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Visit the St. Charles City-County Library District website for more information on resources, materials, and programs the Library has to offer.
Materials and reference assistance at the St. Charles City-County Library District are provided for informational purposes only. None of the information provided is intended as
​medical advice nor is it meant to establish a doctor/patient relationship or prescribe or replace the advice or opinion of health care professionals. You should always consult a physician before beginning or making changes in your diet, supplements or exercise program; for diagnosis and treatment of illness and injuries; and for advice regarding medications.