Archive for Something you may not know

How Can Athletes Cope with New School Lunch?

October 9, 2012 / Kristie / 4 comments


Kristi Spence MS, RD, CSSD


Kristi enjoys the outdoors and is an avid runner.

Recently revised school meal standards have raised eyebrows, spawned debate, and launched criticism. Should we have calorie limits? How do we balance a childhood obesity epidemic with kids who need extra fuel for sport? The new USDA guidelines are designed to align federally subsidized school meals with the latest installment of the dietary guidelines (released 2010). This makes sense. If the government provides nutritional standards for all Americans, then the breakfast and lunch programs they offer to students should mirror those standards. Here is quick run-down of the major changes:

 

  • The new school meal regulations aim to boost fruit, vegetable, and whole grain consumption
  • New meal offerings must reduce the total amount saturated fat and sodium
  • Flavored milk must be fat-free and white milk must be low fat.
  • While minimum calorie amounts were always part of school meals, the latest rule imposes acceptable maximum calorie levels as well. For high school students, the acceptable calorie range for a reimbursable school lunch is 750-850.


It is on this latter point that some student-athletes have raised concerns, suggesting that even the upper limit isn’t enough to get them through an afternoon practice or competition. It is absolutely true that athletes have greater calorie needs than their non-athletic counterparts. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines estimate that active 18-year old males require an average of 3,200 calories per day, while active 18-year old females require 2,400 calories per day compared respectively to 2,400 and 1,800 for non-active males and females. These are averages. Given the intensity of some high school sports, the elite level at which some students participate, and variations in personal size and metabolic needs, these estimates may be low. However, even the most active teen can properly fuel for intense training on an 850-calorie lunch. Part of the solution involves eating everything that is offered. Research has shown that since the new guidelines have been adopted, plate waste is up, indicating that more kids are choosing to forego what is on their tray.

In working with elite high school and adult athletes, I often recommend 3 meals plus 3 snacks during the day in order to properly fuel for intense training and competition. An afternoon meal that is too large may not sit well for an athlete trying to workout in the afternoon. For this reason, eating a larger breakfast and incorporating a substantial mid-morning snack is a must. Even under the previous school meal guidelines, I would always recommend that high school athletes come to school prepared with snacks. Popping a box of granola bars, a bag of pretzels, or a sports bar in your locker or gym bag is just good practice and offers a source of additional, quickly absorbed and easily digested fuel prior to training or competition. The new meal guidelines allow for unlimited fruits and vegetables, even at levels beyond the 850-calorie limit, so if an athlete has finished his lunch, he can always head back up to the lunch line for an extra serving of fruit or vegetables. Many schools also have a la carte lines where students can purchase additional food.

The new school meal guidelines are just that – new. It always takes time to adjust to change, work out the kinks, and adapt to new meal patterns. The conversation this has sparked is a good one. Improving school lunch, coming up with suggestions and encouraging kids to adopt a healthier palate is an important step in creating a healthier generation and it takes collaboration. As a sport dietitian, I am thrilled that high school athletes now have access to more nutrient-dense foods – fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lowfat dairy.

The secret to athletic success has not changed: performing well and maximizing athletic potential takes training on and off the field, and nutrition is a key component in that equation. Even an athlete with calorie needs nearing 5,000 per day can fuel adequately with an 850-calorie lunch. Learning to plan, prepare, adapt, and fuel is part of becoming a successful athlete – it starts in high school.

Below are tips for meeting calorie needs and maximizing performance for high school athletes:

  • Eat Breakfast – breakfast gets your metabolism going and sets the stage for a successful day (both in training and in the classroom). Athletes who don’t eat breakfast have a difficult time meeting their energy needs.
  • Bring a mid-morning snack – to meet their needs, athletes often need to incorporate snacks throughout the day. Here are some easy things to bring from home:
    • Yogurt or cheese stick & fruit
    • PB&J sandwich
    • Granola bar & fruit
  • Grab an extra piece / cup of fruit from the lunch line – the addition of these nutrient dense calories can help provide extra carbohydrate (muscle fuel) for an afternoon training session
  • Stash some snacks in your gym bag or locker for before or after practice/competition.
  • Refuel after training
How are you coping with the new requirements?

Kristi Spence is a registered dietitian and certified as a specialist in sports dietetics. Kristi is the VP of Communications for the Dairy Council of Utah/Nevada. She loves spending time with her family, cooking, running, hiking, and connecting people with farmers. Check out www.thecowlocale.com and follow Kristi on Twitter @Kristiruns & @DairyUTNV. 

 

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Will labeling GMO’s affect farmers?

August 28, 2012 / Mike Haley / 4 comments

Earlier this summer Jennifer Mo wrote an excellent guest post for Just Farmers sharing her thoughts on GMO labeling. I am excited that she has also invited me to offer my perspective on her blog thus got me thinking more about the topic of labeling foods that are derived from genetically engineered (GE) crops and the effects that proposition 37 in California will have on farmers like myself.

Please take a few minutes to read my thoughts in the excerpt below and click through to read through how I believe the initiative would effect farmers like me from across the country.

 

As a farmer who grows both GE corn and GE free corn, I often am asked how I feel about this labeling question.  I must admit while I lean towards no labeling, I also have mixed feelings as to whether or not this is the correct stance to take on the issue.  Rather than give my opinions, I want to share how this proposition would affect my farm.
 
There are several reasons why we plant genetically engineered crops on our farm.  In corn, we choose to plant a variety that was developed to resist insects naturally rather than having to use insecticides that are not as effective and can be very harmful to the handler (me) if a mistake is made when applying it.  Depending on the type of soil, history and current weather trends, we often decide that insects will not be a major issue in a field and plant a non GE variety allowing us to save money, if the trend holds true and we don’t have any issues with insects in that field.
 
A field of non GMO corn on our farm
A field of non GMO corn on our farm
 
Currently, when it is time to harvest, no measures are taken to completely segregate corn varieties that are GE as there is no premium to do so; we get paid the same price for both GE corn and non GE corn.  It’s hard to tell what would happen if Proposition 37 passed, but I am assuming that my mill would want me to find a way to separate my corn into batches of non GE as well as that that contains GE corn. In other words I would be expected to follow procedures of identity preservation (IP) of all the seed on my farm.
 
Sounds simple right?

Click here to finish reading

 

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What do we feed our baby?

June 19, 2012 / MattBrowne / 4 comments

I never used to think about food other than wanting to put it in my mouth to stop my stomach from growling. I never thought about where it came from; whether it was fresh or not, local or not, frozen, fast food, drown in pesticides, or so on…I simply didn’t care. If I was going to be completely honest about it I would also tell you that didn’t change until I was 30 years old and met my wife.

You see, my wife was the first person that came into my life and showed me that food matters. She showed me how food was crucial to being healthy as well as the lifestyle that food is and that it can create. Now, fast forward five years later and I’m 35 years old and have taken a more active role in the food that I eat due to my wife and the other education I have received via reading and listening to others…especially some online folks like Trent Bown (@bowndairyman), Ray Prock (@RayProck), Janice Person (@JPlovesCotton), and Jeff Fowle (@JeffFowle). These people are great to follow, if only simply to learn from the tweets they send out as well as the fact that they’re available for questions any time.

I am amazed at all the things that come through in the media. An example would be that they say something like apples are the healthiest things for us one week but the following week they’re telling us they could lead to cancer or something crazy like they could cause shrinkage of the family jewels. What gives? » Read more..

Nature’s Recyclers

June 11, 2012 / CowNutritionist / 4 comments

Cows are amazing creatures. They have the ability to convert foods that we, as humans, would not be able to utilize, into a food that we can consume.

Cows can utilize material that contains cellulose. Cellulose is present in plants, and gives plants strength, allowing them to stand and grow upwards (instead of flopping over). While humans can consume cellulose, we don’t have the enzymes to break the material down to be able to utilize the nutrients contained within it. In contrast, cows can convert cellulose to energy. They have protozoa and bacteria in their digestive systems that can break the cellulose down into shorter carbohydrate chains, and eventually glucose. » Read more..

Farmers Paying it Forward with Pizza

May 10, 2012 / ChrisChinn / 21 comments

 Editors note: a Facebook event has been created, please join if you are participating! 

Download a thank you note to give to Domino’s when you order a pizza whether if you are a farmer or an ag supporter.

When my car doesn’t run right, I don’t call the salesman who sold it to me. Instead I call the expert, my mechanic, to guide me in the care and maintenance of my car.  My car salesman may know a lot about my car, but it doesn’t mean he knows how my car was built or why it might be sputtering along like a lost turtle.  On the other hand, I trust my mechanic to fix my car because that is what he does each day; he is the expert in repairing cars.   Each of these individuals is great at their job but it doesn’t mean they can automatically do the other’s job.

Chris and Kevin Chinn caring for newborn pigs

Chris and Kevin Chinn caring for newborn pigs

Our family has been raising livestock for five generations.  It’s a tradition we are proud of, and we hope our children will have the opportunity to follow in our path one day.  Our animals rely on us seven days a week to care for them. We do this no matter what hour of the day it is or what day of the week it may be.  Animal care is a top priority for our family, that’s why we rely on the expert advice of our veterinarian, nutritionist and other animal experts when it comes to the daily care we give our hogs and cattle.  We use gestation stalls on our farm to protect our sows during their pregnancy from bully sows.  The stalls also allow us to monitor feed intake of each individual sow and we can tailor their nutrition needs individually.  If a sow isn’t eating, we know it right away and we can prevent problems from occurring.  We also are able to give each sow individual hands on care daily by using the stalls.   I can tell you for a fact that our animals are well cared for, content and comfortable. Until the animal experts we work with tell us there is a better way, we will continue to protect and care for our sows in this way.

I was so encouraged to hear that the stockholders of Domino’s Pizza share my stand on animal care. The company announced that it  would rely on animal experts to determine what is the best way to raise an animal that’s being used for food.  As a farmer, I respect Domino’s for its common sense decision and for trusting the experts in animal care.

I appreciate Domino’s  respect for our veterinarians, nutritionists and animal scientists.  These are the same experts our family relies on for animal care.  Our veterinarian and nutritionist are not just experts on animal care, they are a part of our family farm management team and they are like family to us.  That’s how closely we work with them; they know the nuts and bolts of our farm and family and they help us customize the care we give our livestock.  Every farm is different, just as every person and breed of animal are different.

Domino’s decision speaks volumes to me as a farmer.  It shows they trust the experts I trust.  It shows they trust me. I appreciate that.

Domino’s trust also shows me that the pizza company does not want to force regulations on farmers that may not achieve their desired outcome.  There is already a lot of consolidation in the number of hog farmers in America, and perhaps the sector declining the most is the  number of independent hog farmers. We own our facilities and our animals. We have a big stake in the success of our business and in the happiness of those who buy pork from us.  Mandating unrealistic time lines on family farmers regarding the animal care methods they choose could force more hog farmers out of business.  I know that is not the goal of any company but the unintended consequences of these decisions can have a big impact to family farms like mine.

Members of my family, especially my kids, love pizza just about as much as they love farming.  I think the next time we decide to have pizza, I’m going to show a little love back. I am going to buy a Domino’s pizza. For me, this means driving 45 minutes out of my way but I think it’s worth it to support a company that supports me. And it gives a vote of support to a company that leaves important decisions like animal care up to the experts!

While I’m at it, I think I will write a note to the local manager thanking his company for their decision.  You can show your support for Domino’s too. During the weekend of May 18-20 many farmers and ranchers I know will be voting with their checkbooks by buying Domino’s pizza for their families as a sign of our appreciation.

Thank you Dominoes, for supporting our farm and ranch families.

Chris Chinn and her husband, Kevin are 5th generation farmers. They live on their family hog farm in Missouri with their two children. Their dream is for their children to have the opportunity be the 6th generation of farmers in our family.

Web site: http://chrischinn.wordpress.com Twitter: chrischinn

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