Vegetables...

Hello everyone!
My friend, Dr. Elson Haas sent me a very interesting, and not surprising article on vegetables. Here it is...


NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People who eat plenty of salads, or raw
> vegetables in general, typically have higher blood levels of several
> important nutrients, according to a large study of U.S. adults.
>
> Researchers found that even one serving of raw vegetables a day moved
> people closer to getting the recommended amounts of vitamins A, E, B6
> and folic acid. And as salad and raw vegetable intake increased, so
> did blood levels of vitamins C and E, folic acid and several
> carotenoids -- antioxidants that give yellow, orange and red hues to
> many vegetables and fruits.
>
> Unfortunately, few Americans regularly eat raw vegetables, according
> to the researchers, led by Dr. L. Joseph Su of the Louisiana State
> University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans.
>
> Of the nearly 18,000 U.S. adults surveyed, only 18 percent to 38
> percent said they ate salads. White women younger than 45 had the
> highest rate; older African Americans had the lowest.
>
> In general, black adults of all ages were less likely to eat salads
> and other raw vegetables than their white counterparts, Su and
> colleague Dr. Lenore Arab report in the Journal of the American
> Dietetic Association.
>
> The particularly low vegetable intake among African Americans is
> "alarming," the researchers write.
>
> They based their findings on data from a federal health and nutrition
> survey of 17,688 U.S. adults. Participants reported on their diets
> over the last 24 hours and had medical exams that included measuring
> nutrient levels in the blood.
>
> Overall, salad and veggie consumers had higher blood levels of a range
> of nutrients -- 15 percent higher, on average, than people who
> reported a menu free of raw vegetables. They were also two to three
> times more likely to meet the recommended daily intake for vitamin C.
>
> What's more, the "dose" of salad didn't have to be large to help
> people meet their daily requirements for several nutrients. Even one a
> day made a difference, noted Arab, a professor of epidemiology at the
> University of California, Los Angeles.
>
> "Salad is a colorful, creative way to get nutrients that are in short
> supply in the U.S. diet," she told Reuters Health.
>
> Arab did offer some caveats as to what constitutes a healthful salad.
> Color is key; dark leafy greens mingled with red and yellow vegetables
> beats iceberg lettuce and croutons.
>
> "We are not talking about pasta or potato salad here," Arab added.
>
> The findings should also help allay any concerns about the body's
> ability to absorb certain nutrients from raw vegetables, according to
> the researchers. Water-soluble vitamins, like vitamin C and many B
> vitamins, are heat-sensitive, and it's better to get them through raw
> vegetables, Arab explained.
>
> But certain other nutrients, including the carotenoids, tend to be
> better absorbed from cooked vegetables.
>
> However, a little fat helps the body get the most from these
> nutrients. And in this study, salad dressing was linked to higher
> nutrient levels in the blood -- suggesting, according to the
> researchers, that the oils in many dressing aided in absorption of
> some nutrients.
>
> SOURCE: Journal of the American Dietetic Association, September 2006.
>
>
In other words everyone....eat more vegetables!
Best of health,
Patty

Children's Nutrition Bill HR5167

Hello everyone!
Yesterday Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey came to my school to my Kids Can Cook class to chat with the kids and their parents and other concerned citizens about her Childhood Nutrition bill. It will be resubmitted next year and I hope it passes. It will redefine what a nutritious food is (since the Childhood Nutrition Act was originally adopted in 1966, when folks thought that processed cheese was healthful!)
This was not a political day, merely a day of explanation. I thought I was brazen (getting more so every year) to call her office and ask her to come explain this bill and was pleasantly surprised when she said yes. The kids enjoyed meeting a Congresswoman and learning about the process of having a Bill written into law. Everyone also enjoyed eating the tostadas that the kids made.
Let's all work together to pass this and similiar laws mandating that our schools and other entities feed our children health-supporting foods devoid of trans-fats, excess sodium and fats and certainly anything fake (fake sugar, dyes, etc.)
I had a reporter recently ask me why anyone would care about childhood nutrition....particularly folks who don't have kids. Let's take away the fact that they are our children and future for a moment and look at this from a monetary standpoint. We have an aging population in America who will all need healthcare much longer than in past years when life expectancy wasn't as long. We are also raising a whole geneation of kids many of which are heading for an adulthood of diabetes and heart disease. Add these two up and it suffice it to say that few will be able to afford health insurance 20 years from now. Children's health is everyone's concern and needs to be addressed right now.
Of course, we begin with the health of our own children and then let's go to schools and community and on from there. I'm sure working together we can assist this generation of kids become healthier!
Healthy regards,
Patty

Family Meals and Rituals

Hello everyone,
I just received an email from a student of mine who now lives in Spain. I will quote Melissa, "Europeans cook,, and I think that accounts a lot for their health,
mentally and physically. If Americans understood food better and the
ritual of sharing meals, our society would not be degenerating as
quickly as it is." Well stated Melissa!
Whenever I have a class, kids or adults, we pause for a moment before we begin eating to appreciate the meal in front of us. Communal meals, at my school or at home, helps to build and strengthen relationships. Light the candles, have some flowers or cloth napkins or all of the above. Gather your family and have at least one meal a day together. Rituals become traditions and keep you close.
Healthy regards,
Patty

New York and Inspirational People

Hi everyone,
Isn't our fall beautiful this year? I'm not much of a winter person, but I do love the fall; crisp fresh air, pumpkins and flannel shirts, yeah.
I wanted to finish telling you about some folks I met in New York. It was almost lunch-time and I still needed to find a perfect avocado that had eluded me for my class, so I checked in at The Ella Baker Baker School where I was to teach at 1:00 and asked about grocery stores in the neighborhood. Thankfully the store had what I needed and I started to walk back to the school. I was hungry and needed a lunch that didn't take too long to prepare. As anyone knows who has been to New York there are wonderful restaurants everywhere! I walked by a few that looked interesting, but one in particular caught my eye; The Candle Cafe. I stepped in and asked if I would be able to order a salad within my time frame and as yes was the answer, I sat down. I had a wonderful arugula, beet, fig and fresh raspberry vinaigrette salad and perused their cookbook while I was waiting. I bought the book as the food was delicious and headed back to the school. After I taught the kids, I taught the adults. Who do you think were there? The owners of The Candle Cafe.
They are Joy Pierson and Bart Potenza. They are the most amazing people. Even though they don't have children at The Ella Baker School, they prepare an organic lunch for the kids one day a week in the price range that the school can afford. The kids love the fresh soups, salads, lasagnes, etc. and the teachers and parents feel good about what they are serving their children. They also very involved in the New York Coalition for Healthy School Lunches. If you want to order their cookbook it is called The Candle Cafe Cookbook.
I'm hoping that between us all we can work a bit harder to do the same with our kids lunches here in California where we actually can grow the food most of the year! They all worked together to keep the school clean and vibrant while serving nutritious foods.
I loved the synchronicity of this story and thought you all might like to hear about it.
Best of Health.
Patty

My New York Trip; part 1

Hello everyone,
I had an amazing trip last week to teach in New York. Monday I met with a woman who is a mentor to me; Dr. Annemarie Colbin. She started The Natural Gourmet Institute for Health and The Culinary Arts in New York long before anyone was putting the words natural and gourmet in the same sentence. She is truly an inspiration and if haven't read any of her books I suggest you do. They are Food and Healing, The Natural Gourmet, The Book of Whole Meals and Beyond Calcium. You can reach Dr. Colbin at her web site; www.foodandhealing.com
On Tuesday, I taught at The Ella Baker School in the upper east side. This school and it's students, teachers and involved parents were an inspiration. It was 8 stories and half of the students lived below the poverty level. They were the most well-behaved students and the school was so clean. I have never seen such shiny floors! I taught the kids from my Patty James Food Guide and they asked great questions and were truly interested in their health and how to support good health. Many of the teachers bought my Food Guide for their classrooms. That evening, I taught the parents how to prepare healthy dinners for their kids. We had a great time and we all learned a lot. I also met an interesting couple but I'll tell you about them tomorrow.
On Wednesday I taught at The Clinton Foundation in Harlem. I taught the interns my Nutritional Primer course. These are people from all walks of life and various interests with one thing in common; they all want to make a difference. Their interests ranged from public health or stamping out AIDS to climate change issues. They also asked a lot of questions and were really fun to teach. The positive vibrations were palpable there with everyone truly loving what they do. The Clinton Foundation always needs your help and you can reach them at www.clintonfoundation.org.
More tomorrow...best of health!
Patty