Boardash: School lunches get nutritional makeover

Friday, October 23, 2009

School lunches get nutritional makeover

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Friday October 23, 2009

School lunches get nutritional makeover
Doctors: How to avoid Halloween horrors
Carve the Perfect Jack-O-Lantern
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School lunches get nutritional makeover

WASHINGTON (UPI) -- Recommendations by the Institute of Medicine are expected to makeover U.S. school lunches and breakfast, nutrition advocates said.

Margo G. Wootan, nutrition policy director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest in Washington, said schools shouldn't wait for U.S. Department of Agriculture's final regulations to implement Institute of Medicine's sensible new school meal standards.

"The USDA should help schools work toward the new standards, so by the time they are required schools are already most of the way there," Wootan said in a statement. "When Congress reauthorizes child nutrition legislation, it also should give USDA and school districts the resources and support they need to make these healthier meals appeal even to the most finicky of young eaters."

The recommendations, which the Agriculture Department will write into regulations, will increase the amounts of fruits, vegetables and whole grains in school meals; reduce the content of sodium and trans fat; and ensure that the milk is low or no fat, Wootan said.

The changes will help address the biggest problems in children's diets and foster healthier eating habits, advocates said. However, the Institute of Medicine unfortunately didn't recommend limits on added sugars, Wootan said.

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Doctors: How to avoid Halloween horrors

DALLAS (UPI) -- A U.S. emergency doctor advises parents to check and see if their children's Halloween costume's swords, knives and wands are flexible with dulled edges.

Dr. Angela Gardner, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians, says Halloween horrors ending in the hospital emergency room might be prevented if adults take some precautions.

"Halloween should be about good times and fun with friends and family, yet sadly, each year we see kids who are injured while trick-or-treating," Gardner says in a statement.

Gardner advises parents to avoid other costume hazards, such as baggy pants, long hems, high heels or over sized shoes that cause tripping, vision-obstructing headgear and fabrics, wigs, or beards made of flammable materials.

Candle-lit Jack-O-Lanterns should be kept away from children so the kids -- or their costumes -- aren't burned.

Other ways to avoid Halloween horrors include:

-- Adding reflective tape to costumes to increase visibility and carrying flashlights while trick-or-treating.

-- Having children stay off streets and on the sidewalks as much as possible.

-- Making sure candy not in its original wrapper and all fruit are thrown away.

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Carve the Perfect Jack-O-Lantern

Decorate your doorstep with a traditional Halloween Jack-O-Lantern -- get tips on making it look perfect!

More decorating tips, as well as delicious fall recipes, trick-or-treating safety information, and last-minute costume ideas, are all available from the ArcaMax Halloween feature. Visit now and be ready for next week!

-- From the ArcaMax editors

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