August 11, 2008
Kids will soon go back to school, which means the return of homework, after school activities and mealtimes that aren’t always ideal. The International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation would like to offer families innovative and healthful eating tips that will jumpstart a successful school year.
IFIC.org and Kidnetic.com offer a variety of resources for parents and kids as the school year begins. Features include the following and much, more:
School Foodservice and Food Allergies: What We Need to Know
A brochure for school foodservice professionals which discusses food allergy management in the school foodservice setting. It provides background information on the Big 8 food allergens (milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, soy, wheat, and shellfish) and offers tips on how to read food labels for food allergen information. It also explains the symptoms of a food allergic reaction and how food allergy differs from food intolerance, as well as what to do in a food allergy emergency situation.
Kids and Food Allergies: Facts Tips, and Resources
If your child has a food allergy, they're not alone. It's estimated that up to 5 million children in the US have a food allergy. That's no fun for anyone, but
you and your child can handle it together when you team up to learn the facts about food allergies along with tips for managing them.
Real-Life Guide for Parents
Of course you want your kids to be healthy. But, like many parents, you might be concerned because it's sometimes hard to get them to eat right and be physically active. You're right to be concerned because children with poor eating and physical activity habits are at increased risk for becoming overweight and for future health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. Overweight kids may also experience poor body image and have trouble making friends because of low self-esteem. The good news is, you can plant the seeds of good health today so your kids grow into a healthy future tomorrow. That's because, when it comes to eating right and being physically active, kids take their lead from you. You're their # 1 role model!
Q&A: Do Food Colors Cause Hyperactivity?
Food colors perform a variety of functions in foods and beverages. Yet, despite their careful regulation by federal authorities and history of safe use, claims continue to be made linking food colors to hyperactivity in children. This document serves as a guide to common questions about food colors, including what they are, how and why they are used, and how they are regulated for safe use in the United States. It also reviews recent scientific research that has examined the potential relationship between food colors and hyperactivity.
Food Ingredients & Colors
For centuries, ingredients have served useful functions in a variety of foods. Our ancestors used salt to preserve meats and fish, added herbs and spices to improve the flavor of foods, preserved fruit with sugar, and pickled cucumbers in a vinegar solution. Today, consumers demand and enjoy a food supply that is flavorful, nutritious, safe, convenient, colorful and affordable. Food additives and advances in technology help make that possible.
IFIC Review: The Science of Sugars
This paper examines recent research concerning the role of dietary sugars in nutrition and health. The nutrition and policy recommendations of the scientific community are summarized and their conclusions are related to supporting research.
As carbohydrates, sugars play many important roles in our food supply. They are a source of calories and, in addition to sweetening, perform many essential technical functions both in processed foods and in foods prepared in the home.
High Fructose Corn Syrup and School Wellness: Science-Based Facts for Healthful School Nutrition Operations
This Webinar aims to clarify the issues surrounding HFCS by presenting consumer, nutrition, and food science perspectives. The Webinar includes information and strategies for communicating scientifically accurate information to policymakers, parents, and others with whom nutrition professionals interact.
Nutrition professionals can learn about the broader context of HFCS as a consumer issue, followed by the detailed, real-life context of dealing with this topic in the school nutrition setting. Nutrition and food science experts provide data-driven facts to correct misunderstandings about HFCS.
