Federal Resources for Food and Nutrition Planning

News concerning the debate over changes to the School Lunch Program has brought the topic of child nutrition and health to the forefront, in recent weeks. As government and school officials debate this important topic, Government Book Talk takes a look at the Food and Nutrition Information Center Resources CD-ROM currently available from the GPO Online Bookstore.
The Food and Nutrition Information Center Resources CD-ROM from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Information Center (FNIC) contains a plethora of useful information related to various food and nutrition programs, such as the National School Lunch Program. It particularly offers guidance to help nutrition professionals and consumers locate information and materials on specific food and nutrition topics, such as Child Nutrition and Health, Food and Nutrition Education, School Food Service, and much more. Compiled by Nutrition Information Specialists, these Resource Lists provide resources in a variety of formats including articles, pamphlets, books, audio-visuals, and Web links.

This resource list excerpt from 2008 for educators provides resource information on cultural and ethnic food nutrition.

The vast information contained on this CD-ROM from the National Agriculture Library collection will prove to be a great resource for parents, educators, school food service professionals and child care providers. Child Nutrition Programs including before/after school and children’s summer municipal camp programs will also benefit from these resource lists for nutritional guidance and food planning for their summer and new school year child nutrition initiatives.

The FNIC website contains over 2500 links to current and reliable nutrition information.

About the FNIC
According to its website, the FNIC is a leader in food and human nutrition information. Located at the National Agricultural Library (NAL) of USDA, the FNIC provides credible, accurate, and practical resources for nutrition and health professionals, educators, government personnel and consumers. To learn more about the FNIC and its various resource lists topics visit the FNIC website.
In addition to the Food and Nutrition Information Center Resources CD-ROM, the USDA has published the following print publication focusing on nutrition and diet, which is also available from the U.S. Government Bookstore.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010 offers advice regarding nutrition to promote health and to reduce risk for major chronic diseases through diet and physical activity. The publication is oriented toward policymakers, nutrition educators, nutritionists, and healthcare providers. It summarizes and synthesizes knowledge regarding individual nutrients and food components into recommendations for a pattern of eating that can be adopted by the public. Key Recommendations listed by chapter include: Balancing Calories to Manage Weight; Foods and Food Components to Reduce; Foods and Nutrients to Increase; Building Healthy Eating Patterns; and Helping Americans Make Healthy Choices. It also explains the new food plate which replaced the food pyramid.

How can I get these federal resources on Food and Nutrition Planning?
Shop Online Anytime: You can buy these and other publications (with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide) from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore website at http://bookstore.gpo.gov:

• Click here to purchase Food and Nutrition Information Center Resources CD-ROM
• Click here to purchase Dietary Guidelines For Americans, 2010
• Click here to shop our Diet and Nutrition collection

Shop our retail bookstore at 710 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC 20401, open Monday-Friday, 9am to 4pm, except Federal holidays, (202) 512-0132.

Order by Phone: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.

Visit a Federal Depository Library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library, such as Hackley Public Library!  You can find the records for most titles in the Catalog of U.S. Government Publications or CGP.

About the author: Trudy Hawkins is a writer and marketing specialist in GPO’s Publication & Information Sales Division supporting the U.S. Government Online Bookstore (http://bookstore.gpo.gov).

How to get Food Help

From the USA.gov Blog.

If you or someone you know struggles to feed their family, you may qualify for food assistance.
There are many different food assistance programs, and this publication explains each program and who is eligible.

If you’re planning to cook a...

From the USA.gov Blog:




Image description: If you’re planning to cook a traditional Thanksgiving meal, you can order this magnet and other free publications to help keep your food and guests safe.
Order your free food safety publications now.

Keep Your Food Safe This Holiday Season

From the USA.gov Blog:

Keep Your Food Safe This Holiday Season:
While the holiday season keeps you busy, food safety at family meals or holiday parties is more important than ever. As you get ready to prepare big meals for guests, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is ready to answer your questions about food safety.
According to the USDA, turkey is the food you ask about most often. Common questions about turkey are whether drugs are used in turkeys, and if the turkeys are inspected before they hit your grocery store aisle.
You can rest assured that any turkey you buy at the store has been inspected by either the USDA or your state to ensure they meet certain standards.
No matter what dishes you plan to serve at your holiday dinners or parties, it’s important to remember that any food can easily be contaminated. The USDA recommends that you follow the “two hour rule” and put away food that has been setting out for more than two hours to prevent germs from spreading.
You can also prevent the spread of food borne illnesses by washing your hands before and after preparing your food and keeping your kitchen utensils clean.
Find more food safety tips and order a free packet of publications that will help you get a great holiday meal on the table.

How To Eat Healthy on a Tight Budget

From the USA.gov Blog:

How To Eat Healthy on a Tight Budget:
Food is expensive, but you can find tips to help you eat well on a tight budget. For example:

• Prepare stews and casseroles to help stretch expensive food items and provide meals for multiple days.
• Choose fresh fruits and vegetables that are in season. Healthy foods that tend to be reasonably priced and available year-round include apples, bananas, potatoes, carrots, and greens.
• Buy groceries when you are not hungry or rushed.
• Avoid convenience foods, such as frozen dinners, pre-cut vegetables, and instant oatmeal—you pay more for convenience.

If you are struggling to put food on the table, consider programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and school meal programs for children.

Food Safety – What You Can Do

From the USA.gov Blog:

Food Safety – What You Can Do:
Each year, about one in six Americans gets sick from food poisoning. Although most will recover without any lasting problems, some types of food poisoning can lead to kidney failure, chronic arthritis, brain and nerve damage, and even death.
When you prepare food at home, be sure to follow 4 basic steps to help prevent food poisoning: clean, separate, cook, and chill.
If you’d like to receive emails about food recalls, sign up for automated alerts.
Learn more about how to keep your food safe at FoodSafety.gov.

MyPlate Super Tracker Helps You Make Good Food Choices

From the USA.gov Blog:

MyPlate Super Tracker Helps You Make Good Food Choices:
March is recognized as National Nutrition Month; a time to remind yourself about the importance of good nutrition for you and your family. Keeping up with good nutrition is key to healthy living, disease prevention, overall fitness and growth in children and adolescents.
Good nutrition can also mean maintaining a healthy weight through good eating habits and exercise.
With an array of nutrition information all over the Internet, news stands and books and magazines, it can be overwhelming to sort through it all and find what can really help you make the right decisions for you and your family.
Educating yourself on the food groups, healthy fats and what vitamins and minerals your body needs are just a few steps in the right direction.
With the MyPlate Super Tracker you can track your food habits, fitness and overall health on a daily basis. Learn which foods are best for you with the latest dietary guidelines, learn new and exciting recipes and keep track of all your health habits in one place.
Learn more nutrition basics and find resources to help you make good food choices.

Find the Latest Food Recalls For Your State Through Twitter

From the USA.gov Blog:

Find the Latest Food Recalls For Your State Through Twitter:
You can now find the latest recalls and food safety information for your state through Twitter. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently created state-specific Twitter feeds that will announce food safety alerts and recalls by state.
The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) launched the program to make it even easier for you to find your state-specific recalls. You can find food recalls for products such as meat and eggs and learn how to protect food supplies during severe weather events in your area.
Each state has its own handle on Twitter, and can be found using the state’s abbreviation, underscore, followed by “FSISalert.” For example, Alaska’s Twitter handle is AK_FSISAlert.
Twitter feeds for all U.S. states and territories officially launched the first week of March. Learn more about the USDA’s new safety alerts.

Interested in starting a garden this summer?

From the USA.gov Blog:

Interested in starting a garden this summer?: :
Use this guide from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to find out what plants will grow best where you live.
If you live in zones 1-10, take a look at the U.S. National Arboretum’s examples of plants that should succeed in those zones.
The newly revised map reflects several changes:

• A new ZIP code finder allows you to identify your area’s Plant Hardiness Zone.
• Two new zones, 12 and 13, have been added for regions with average annual extreme minimum temperatures above 50 degrees and 60 degrees F. These zones appear on the maps for Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
• The 2012 map reflects 30 years of weather data (1976-2005). The previous edition—published in 1990—reflected 13 years of data (1974-1986).

Learn more about what’s new in the 2012 edition of the Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

Holiday Tip of the Day: Keep Food Safe

From the USA.gov Blog:

Holiday Tip of the Day: Keep Food Safe:
Holiday buffets are convenient ways to entertain a crowd, but leaving food out for long periods of time can invite bacteria that cause foodborne illness. To keep your holiday foods safe, cook them thoroughly, use shallow containers, never leave them sitting out for more than two hours, and keep them at the appropriate temperature. Keep your guests healthy with these food safety tips.

Did you miss yesterday’s tip? Get more holiday tips.

Beekman 1802 Heirloom Recipe Contest

Hackley Public Library is a participating library in the Beekman 1802 Heirloom Recipe Contest!

Enter for a chance to win an all expense-paid trip to meet Discovery Planet-Green reality TV stars the Fabulous Beekman Boys in Sharon Springs, NY, take a tour of the Beekman 1802 Farm, and have dinner with Josh and Brent!

Here’s how it works:  Fill out the entry form with your favorite family heirloom recipe and tell us what makes the recipe so special to you, then bring it, along with the prepared dish to a taste testing party!  The party will be on October 29 at 2:00pm in the Julia Hackley Room.  Attendees will taste the entries and vote for their favorite.  The winning recipe will be entered for a chance to win a signed copy of The Beekman 1802 Heirloom Cookbook and the grand prize trip, farm tour, and dinner.

You can pick up an entry form and the contest terms and conditions at Hackley Public Library, or download them from the official site: beekman1802.com/contest-terms-condition.

Find Healthy Recipes from the USDA

Find Healthy Recipes from the USDA: Find Healthy Recipes from the USDA:From the USA.gov blog:
Learn about and try new recipes or find healthier versions of some of your favorites in the recipe databases from the USDA’s National Agriculture Library.

The recipe finder database lets you explore new and traditional recipes. You can give feedback, rate the recipes on a 1-5 scale, and submit your own recipes to be included in the database.

If you’re looking for vegetarian options, the fruits and veggies database has over 1000 recipes.

The USDA offers other databases based around certain food groups such as dry bean recipes or specific spices. You can also find guides to fit good nutrition into a busy life and tips for modifying your favorite dishes to make them more healthy.

Keep Food Safe in Summer Power Outages

Keep Food Safe in Summer Power Outages: From the USA.gov Blog:
"The summer months are fraught with risk for power outages, with air conditioning gorging on electricity and hurricanes brewing in the Atlantic. So how do you keep it from spoiling when the power dies, know what foods you can safely eat, and which you must throw out?

Hard cheeses, such as Cheddar and Swiss, can be eaten well after the refrigerator loses its cold; but low-fat and shredded cheeses, as well as eggs, meat, poultry and fish, should be thrown out if the interior rises above 40°F for more than two hours.

To get ready for when the power go out, stock up on some non-perishables that can be eaten straight from the can or box, and print out this detailed reference of which refrigerated foods are safe.
"

Canning Tips for Beginners

Canning Tips for Beginners: From the USA.gov Blog:
"Home canning lets you preserve the summer fruits and vegetables you grew in your garden or bought at the farmers market. The National Center for Home Food Preservation offers these tips for beginners:

1. Choose proper ingredients including unblemished produce that’s not overly ripe. When recipes call for salt, use only canning and pickling salts.
2. Use jars and lids specifically designed for canning. Always use new lids; you may re-use jar rings.
3. Check all jars for chips and cracks before processing.
4. Use modern, research-tested recipes created anytime after the year 2000 and follow them exactly. Your local Extension office is a great source for reliable recipes.
5. Select the proper method - use boiling water canners only for fruits, tomatoes and pickles since the temperature of boiling water is sufficient to kill bacteria in these high acid foods. Pressure canning safely preserves low-acid vegetables and meats.

Find more tips on how to preserve your fruits and vegetables."

How to Kill E. Coli and Other Bacteria when Cooking Meat

How to Kill E. Coli and Other Bacteria when Cooking Meat: From the USA.gov Blog:


"Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released new recommended cooking temperatures for meats. Here’s what you need to know to make sure your meat is free of harmful bacteria such as E. coli:

• Cooking Whole Cuts of Pork: USDA has lowered the recommended safe cooking temperature for whole cuts of pork from 160 ºF to 145 ºF with the addition of a three-minute rest time. Cook pork, roasts, and chops to 145 ºF as measured with a food thermometer before removing meat from the heat source, with a three-minute rest time before carving or consuming. This will result in a product that is both safe and at its best quality—juicy and tender.
• Cooking Whole Cuts of Other Meats: For beef, veal, and lamb cuts, the safe temperature remains unchanged at 145 ºF, but the department has added a three-minute rest time as part of its cooking recommendations.

Learn more about the recommendations and find tips on how to use a meat thermometer on FoodSafety.gov’s blog.
"

Small Steps to Improve Your Nutrition

Small Steps to Improve Your Nutrition: From USA.gov
"A healthy diet isn’t about looking good in your skinny jeans. Obesity rates are much higher than they were in the 1970s and if you’re obese, you have an increased risk of health problems like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and some types of cancer. March is National Nutrition Month, here to remind us to make informed, healthy food choices every day.

We can all do a thing or two to improve our diets, and you can start making a few small changes to your diet now. Balancing your calories to manage your weight is important, but remember that your body needs nutrition from food. By eating less of some foods, like things high in sodium, sugar, and refined grains we have more room in our diets for the things we should eat more of, like vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.

There are many small steps you can take to improve your diet, so put veggies on your pizza instead of pepperoni, snack on dried fruit, and color your plate with salad.
"

ShelfLifeAdvice Dishes the Dirt on Food Shelf Life [Food]

ShelfLifeAdvice Dishes the Dirt on Food Shelf Life [Food]: From Lifehacker: "If you're a little fuzzy on how long you should keep different kinds of food, ShelfLifeAdvice catalogs safe handling, storage, and shelf life guidelines for everything from avocados to zucchini and everything in between.

ShelfLifeAdvice doesn't just give you information about how long you can store food, how it should be stored, and safe tips for handling and preparing it, the site also aggregates food-related news and recalls. You can look up how long and how to store broccoli and also see if there are health warnings or recalls on broccoli while you're at it.

ShelfLifeAdvice is a free service that requires no registration. You can browse the index of food and news, search it by keyword, or subscribe to their RSS feed to stay on top of food-related news. Have a food-related site to share? Let's hear about it in the comments.

ShelfLifeAdvice [via MakeUseOf]

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National Farmers Market Week 2010

National Farmers Market Week 2010: From GovGab: "I watched the movie Food, Inc last weekend and one of its messages was that if you want the healthiest food, you should strive to buy your produce locally. There's no better way to do that than shopping at your local farmers market. The Department of Agriculture is promoting farmers markets this week by deeming it National Farmers Market Week.
Farmers markets are a place where farmers can sell their products and develop a personal relationship with their buyers and the community. The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service supports the development of the farmers markets and counts them through the National Farmers Market Directory. This year's count will be released this week and if it is anything like last year's, it will demonstrate the rapid growth of farmers markets in the U.S.
Between 1994, the first year of the count, and 2009 the number of farmers markets tripled and there was a 13 percent increase between 2008 and 2009. As of last year, there were 5,274 markets. A survey USDA conducted in 2005 found that farmers markets take in over one billion dollars annually, and 25 percent of the vendors surveyed said the market is their sole source of income. The USDA provides resources on starting and funding farmers markets and most importantly where to find your local ones.
How often do you visit your local farmers market?"

Eat the Seasons Tells You What's in Season Now [Food]

Eat the Seasons Tells You What's in Season Now [Food]: From LifeHacker: "

If you're trying to increase the amount of fresh and local food you're eating it helps to know what's in season. Eat the Seasons tells you what fruits, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and meats are in season now.

Visit the site and you're immediately show what is in season for the US/Canada—for those across the Atlantic you can switch to the UK/Ireland view for more accurate results. You can click on individual items in the list of seasonal foods to read more about the nutritional content, buying and storing tips, and interesting facts about the food in question.

While you're checking out seasonal foods don't forget to take a peek at the Epicurious Seasonal Ingredient Map and how to lower your food bill by shopping for food in season.

Eat The Seasons

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Cooking Safely on the Grill

Cooking Safely on the Grill: From GovGab: "I’ve really been into grilling this year. I like it because of how food cooked on the grill tastes, because I can make a meal without heating up the house or producing a mountain of dirty dishes, and most of all I like to sit down and relax in the cool evening air while I patiently wait for my food to be done. For the record, I’m an old-fashioned charcoal grill girl, and sometimes I get really old fashioned and cook over an open fire.
The thing that always bugs me when I’m cooking meat on the grill is that it’s hard to tell when it’s done. I love that smoky goodness, but I’d rather not serve it with a side of food borne illness. Luckily you can take a little care and safely prepare food on an outdoor grill even if you, or someone you cook for is especially at risk, like pregnant women or people with compromised immune systems. Last week I bought one of those instant read thermometer forks to help me tell when my food is cooked to a safe temperature. I’m still getting the hang of it, but it’s going to be a better method than going by the color of the meat.
Remember too that red meat and poultry aren’t the only things you can cook on a grill. I’ve been experimenting with vegetables on the grill, and you know what? It turns out that I love asparagus! I just toss it with a little olive oil, the juice of a fresh lemon and a little salt and pepper, then give it indirect heat for about 5 minutes on each side. I’m happy to eat the whole bunch!
Next I want to try fruit on the grill and I’m looking at recipes. Anybody have a good one?"