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A recent study found that mothers of young children were heavier and ate more calories, sugary drinks and fatty foods than childless women. Dads and moms in the study were less active than their peers without kids.
The study involved 1,520 adults aged 25 on average, including parents with children younger than 5 years old. They were among more than 4,000 Minneapolis-area public school students enrolled in a study in their teens; the new study includes those who responded to two follow-up health surveys and answered questions about their diet and activity.
Results are published online Monday in the journal Pediatrics.
Mothers ate more fatty foods and drank about seven sugary drinks weekly, versus about four among childless women. Moms also had an average of 2,360 calories daily, 368 calories more than women without children. With that many calories, women that age would need to be active to avoid gaining weight, walking more than 3 miles daily at a moderate pace.
But mothers got on average a little more than two hours of at least moderate activity weekly, versus three hours weekly among childless women. Mothers had a slightly higher average body-mass index than childless women — 27 versus 26. Healthy BMIs are in the 19-24 range.
Fathers ate about the same amount of daily calories as childless men and both had an average BMI of about 25, but fathers got less physical activity — about five hours weekly, compared to almost seven hours among childless men.
For more details about the study, logon to msnbc.com
Sources: AP, msnbc.com
Monday, April 11, 2011
Friday, April 8, 2011
Green to Grow Eco-Giveaway: Congrats Charlene!
Congratulations Charlene Barnes! You are the winner of our Green to Grow Eco-Giveaway. Please send your shipping address to EcoLogicalMom (at) ymail.com by April 16, 2011. You will love your prizes!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
No Knead Bread
As promised, here is the easiest recipe for homemade bread. You can be creative and add whole wheat, cornmeal, wheat germ..... So easy and delicious. Enjoy!
Basic No-Knead Bread
Servings: One 10-inch round loaf.
Remove the dough and fold once or twice. Let the dough rest for 15 minutes. Next, shape into a ball. Generously coat a cotton towel with flour, wheat bran or cornmeal; place the dough seam side down on the towel and dust with flour. Cover with a cotton towel and let rise one to two hours at room temperature, until more than doubled in size.
Preheat a six- to eight-quart pot, at 450 to 500 degrees, at least 30 minutes prior to baking. Once the dough has more than doubled in volume, remove the pot from the oven and place the dough in the pot, seam side up. Cover with the lid and bake 30 minutes. Remove the lid and bake 15 to 30 minutes uncovered, until the loaf is nicely browned.
Sources: Sullivan Bakery, nytimes.com
Basic No-Knead Bread
Servings: One 10-inch round loaf.
- 3 cups of flour
- 1 ½cups water
- ¼teaspoon yeast
- 1 ¼teaspoon salt
- olive oil (for coating)
- extra flour, wheat bran or cornmeal (for dusting)
Remove the dough and fold once or twice. Let the dough rest for 15 minutes. Next, shape into a ball. Generously coat a cotton towel with flour, wheat bran or cornmeal; place the dough seam side down on the towel and dust with flour. Cover with a cotton towel and let rise one to two hours at room temperature, until more than doubled in size.
Preheat a six- to eight-quart pot, at 450 to 500 degrees, at least 30 minutes prior to baking. Once the dough has more than doubled in volume, remove the pot from the oven and place the dough in the pot, seam side up. Cover with the lid and bake 30 minutes. Remove the lid and bake 15 to 30 minutes uncovered, until the loaf is nicely browned.
Sources: Sullivan Bakery, nytimes.com
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
RECALL ALERT: Drug-Resistant Salmonella in Turkey Burger
Government health officials are warning that salmonella bacteria detected in an outbreak of food poisoning from popular turkey burgers may be resistant to common drugs used to fight serious infection.
At least a dozen people in 10 states have been sickened by raw, frozen turkey burger products produced by the Jennie-O Turkey Store. The firm recalled nearly 55,000 pounds of the meat last week after illnesses were reported, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
CDC officials announced that the strain of Samonella Hadar found in the meat appear to be resistant to several common antibiotics, including ampicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanate, cephalothin and tetracycline.
Drug resistance can "increase the risk of hospitalization or possible treatment failure in infected individuals," a CDC statement said.
So far, illnesses have been reported in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Washington and Wisconsin. Investigators have not been able to confirm that all of the ill people actually ate the burgers; however, at least three peple in Colorado, Ohio and Wisconsin specifically reported eating the turkey burgers the week before they became ill. Samples of turkey burgers taken from patients' homes in Colorado and Wisconsin tested positive for Salmonella Hadar.
The recall includes 4-pound boxes of Jennie-O Turkey Store All Natural Turkey Burgers with seasonings Lean White Meat. Each box contains 12 1/3-pound individually wrapped burgers. The boxes are marked with a use-by date of Dec. 23, 2011 and a lot code of 32710 through 32780. Establishment number P-7760 is located within a USDA mark of inspection on the front of each box.
Health officials warn that recalled turkey burgers might still be in grocery stores and in consumers' homes, including in the freezer. Consumers should return the product to the place of purchase for a refund. Otherwise, dispose of the product in a closed plastic bag placed in a sealed trash can to prevent animals from eating the meat.
Source: msnbc.com
At least a dozen people in 10 states have been sickened by raw, frozen turkey burger products produced by the Jennie-O Turkey Store. The firm recalled nearly 55,000 pounds of the meat last week after illnesses were reported, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
CDC officials announced that the strain of Samonella Hadar found in the meat appear to be resistant to several common antibiotics, including ampicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanate, cephalothin and tetracycline.
Drug resistance can "increase the risk of hospitalization or possible treatment failure in infected individuals," a CDC statement said.
So far, illnesses have been reported in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Washington and Wisconsin. Investigators have not been able to confirm that all of the ill people actually ate the burgers; however, at least three peple in Colorado, Ohio and Wisconsin specifically reported eating the turkey burgers the week before they became ill. Samples of turkey burgers taken from patients' homes in Colorado and Wisconsin tested positive for Salmonella Hadar.
The recall includes 4-pound boxes of Jennie-O Turkey Store All Natural Turkey Burgers with seasonings Lean White Meat. Each box contains 12 1/3-pound individually wrapped burgers. The boxes are marked with a use-by date of Dec. 23, 2011 and a lot code of 32710 through 32780. Establishment number P-7760 is located within a USDA mark of inspection on the front of each box.
Health officials warn that recalled turkey burgers might still be in grocery stores and in consumers' homes, including in the freezer. Consumers should return the product to the place of purchase for a refund. Otherwise, dispose of the product in a closed plastic bag placed in a sealed trash can to prevent animals from eating the meat.
Source: msnbc.com
Monday, April 4, 2011
Green to Grow Eco-Giveaway: Last Call!!
Have you signed up to this amazing Eco-Giveaway yet? This is your last chance to participate. Winner will be announced in April 8!
Green to Grow eco-friendly sippy trainer cup and snack and formula stackers are made from recyclable polypropylene plastic (#5), and are free of BPA, phthalates, PVC, and lead. All products are beautifully designed, combining high quality materials and convenience.
In celebration for the coming Earth's Day, we are giving away 2 awesome kits, each includes:
- 1 Ecosystem Seahorse Sippy Trainer Cup
- 1 Ecosystem Snack Stacker
- 1 Ecosystem Formula Stacker (may also be used for snacks)
- 1 Pack Seashell lids
- 1 Pack Fair Trade, Organic Cotton Baby Cloths
As always, it is very easy to participate:
Become fan (a.k.a. "Like") of EcoLogical Mom and Green to Grow on Facebook. That's all you need to do! Winner will be announced on April 8, 2011.
Green to Grow offers a complete line of baby bottles, sippy cups, formula and snack stackers, totes and other accessories. All products comply with EN 14350 and CPSIA. Click here to learn more about the new Ecosystem lineGood luck!
Winners will be chosen at random.
The "Ecosystem" line is provided by Green to Grow.
The "Ecosystem" line is provided by Green to Grow.
Colorless Foods
Would you buy colorless food? We would, but the food industry states that kids and adults would never enjoy Cheetos without artificial coloring FD&C Yellow No. 6. Cheetos would look like 'shriveled larvae of a large insect'.
According to the industry natural colorings have not proven to be a good alternative. They are generally not as bright, cheap or stable as artificial colorings, which can remain vibrant for years. Natural colorings often fade within days.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest, an advocacy group, asked the government last week to ban artificial coloring because the dyes that are used in some foods might worsen hyperactivity in some children.
A government advisory panel concluded that there was no proof that dyes caused problems in most children, and that whatever problems they might cause in some children did not warrant a ban or a warning label beyond what is already required — a disclosure on the product label that artificial colors are present.
It looks like nothing is going to change any time soon....
Sources: NYTimes.com
According to the industry natural colorings have not proven to be a good alternative. They are generally not as bright, cheap or stable as artificial colorings, which can remain vibrant for years. Natural colorings often fade within days.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest, an advocacy group, asked the government last week to ban artificial coloring because the dyes that are used in some foods might worsen hyperactivity in some children.
A government advisory panel concluded that there was no proof that dyes caused problems in most children, and that whatever problems they might cause in some children did not warrant a ban or a warning label beyond what is already required — a disclosure on the product label that artificial colors are present.
It looks like nothing is going to change any time soon....
Sources: NYTimes.com
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Eat Those Walnuts!
Nuts pack large loads of antioxidant polyphenols, compounds that interact with free radicals to stabilize them and prevent them from doing damage to cells. Harmful free radicals are charged particles that are produced from reactions in our body, as well as by pollution and cigarette smoke. When they collide with cells, they can start a chain chemical reaction that disrupts the workings of the cell, which can damage or kill cells.
Researchers found that walnuts have almost twice as many antioxidant polyphenols as almonds, peanuts, pistachios, hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, cashews, macadamias and pecans, researchers said.
The potency of antioxidants present in walnuts was higher than any other nut he examined in the study.
Antioxidants in walnuts were four to 15 times as potent as they are in vitamin E.
Source: My Health News Daily
Researchers found that walnuts have almost twice as many antioxidant polyphenols as almonds, peanuts, pistachios, hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, cashews, macadamias and pecans, researchers said.
The potency of antioxidants present in walnuts was higher than any other nut he examined in the study.
Antioxidants in walnuts were four to 15 times as potent as they are in vitamin E.
Source: My Health News Daily
Milk Concerns
Last Wednesday, federal officials announced that tests had detected a trace amount of iodine 131 — a radioactive byproduct released by leaks at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Japan — in a sample taken on March 25, in Spokane, Washington. The level of radiation was tiny and would have to be more than 5,000 times higher to reach the “intervention level” set by federal officials.
Jason Kelly, a spokesman for the Washington State Department of Agriculture, said the positive sample came from a gallon of pasteurized whole milk produced at the Darigold plant in Spokane, which processes milk from a number of farms in Washington and Idaho.
By scientific standards, the radiation found was not dangerous to humans.Officials said an adult would need to drink thousands of liters of the milk containing radiation at the levels found so far before it would be remotely dangerous. Anyways...enough to keep us, parents, a bit concerned!
Sources: NYTimes.com
Jason Kelly, a spokesman for the Washington State Department of Agriculture, said the positive sample came from a gallon of pasteurized whole milk produced at the Darigold plant in Spokane, which processes milk from a number of farms in Washington and Idaho.
By scientific standards, the radiation found was not dangerous to humans.Officials said an adult would need to drink thousands of liters of the milk containing radiation at the levels found so far before it would be remotely dangerous. Anyways...enough to keep us, parents, a bit concerned!
Sources: NYTimes.com
Friday, April 1, 2011
Great News from Kids Konserve!
Attention Kids Konserve fans: 20% off during the month of April! Woohooo!
We can celebrate Earth Month with reusable waste-free lunch and snack packing!!
Green to Grow Eco-Giveaway: First Winner!
Congratulations Emily Harris Griffin, you are the first winner of our Green to Grow Eco-Giveaway. You will love your prizes! Please send your shipping address to EcoLogicalMom (at) ymail.com by April 7, 2011 to redeem your prizes.
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