It's Keen to Glean . . . and Help Those in Need

We all know that citrus (grapefruit, oranges, lemons, etc.) is a great source of vitamins. For a long time, volunteers have helped the Food Bank by gleaning citrus; last year we collected almost 2 millions pounds.

However, we always seem to have more trees then volunteers to gleam them. So, for the third year, we are asking people to glean their trees and bring the fruit to us. On Feb 4, from 9a-2p, we will be at three locations (Arcadia, the Central Corridor, and Peoria) collecting citrus. Visit http://www.firstfoodbank.org/ for more info, including the exact locations.

This is a great opportunity for neighbors to get together, glean citrus, and help those in need.

New Rules on School Meals Mean Healthier Fare for Kids
On January 25, the Obama Administration instituted new rules covering government-subsidized school meals. Some of the changes: doubling the amount of fruits and veggies, using low fat milk, serving only whole grains, and setting minimum and maximum caloric intake per day, based on a child's age. These regulations replace a much broader set of regulations that were blocked by Congress after various industry groups objected. The new regulations will add an estimated $3.2 billion to the cost of the program.

Will Cost Determine Which Kids Get Nutritional Meals at School?
A government program, spearheaded by Michelle Obama, seeks to promote healthy eating by those students who get free or reduced-rate meals at school. It's manditory for elementary schools in Arizona to take part in the federal lunch program. But now Sen. Rich Crandall (R) has proposed a bill in the Arizona Legislature that would allow schools to opt out of the program. Even though the vast majority of the food program is covered by federal funds, Crandall feels that the new program will impose extra costs on the schools. But if schools drop-out of the program, where will students get nutritious meals - often the school provides the major meal(s) of the day.

Obesity Rates Hold Constant Over 12 Year Span
The rates of obesity in the US have held steady over the past 12 years, suggesting that attempts to promote healthful eating and excercise have largely proved unsuccessful. Dr. David Ludwig of Children's Hospital in Boston feels that because "Children will be entering adulthood heavier than they've ever been, the epidemic will continue to mount for years to come. Unless we actually see declines in the body mass index, we can't confidently say prevention efforts have succeeded."

Health Sector Takes on Challenge of Childhood Obesity
Various sectors of the healthcare industry are searching for ways to retard the growth of childhood obesity. They are looking to education rather than dieting to achive their goals. Educating children (and their parents) to make better choices in the foods they eat, rather than talking about dieting, has become part of their "curriculum". Children, particularly teenagers, often rebel against the strict guidelines that dieting entails. Often these educational sessions are held in community centers, Boys & Girls Clubs, or the Y, rather than in hospitals. For the full story, visit http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/17/health/learning-to-be-lean.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha25.

Why Trimming the Fat is Difficult, Especially for Kids
According to a study released in 2010, 16.4% of American kids 10-17 are considered obese; in Arizona the figure is over 18%. A number of factors contribute to this problem:
a)a lack of physical activity in schools - budget reductions have led some districts to reduce or eliminate PE classes
b)lack of physical activity after school - video games and television have replaced basketball and baseball (especially in summer) for many kids
c)family income - working poor families often do not have the time or money to provide nutritious meals to their children; fast foods provide a quick but insufficient substitute.
For help or for more information, visit http://www.active.com/, http://www.eatwellbewell.org/, http://www.actionforhealthykids.org/, and http://www.letsmove.gov/.