Did you play in our Birthday in a Box giveaway this week? We are giving out a $25 gift certificate! The contest ends on midnight EST Sunday March 22, 2009.
Here is another installment of 5 noteworthy nutrition related stories of this week.
Look out for Food, Inc.
This is the title of a new documentary by Robert Kenner - who I am not familiar with – but I must admit that after watching this clip on YouTube, I am looking forward to getting this movie as soon as it is available on Netflix! Sounds a little dramatic but it has a few big names behind it – Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation) and Michael Pollan (The Omnivore’s Dilemma) are featured. See for yourself in this embedded video clip from YouTube and share your thoughts!
Soy foods can now be fortified with vitamin D
The FDA has approved the use of vitamin D addition to soy based products such as beverages, beverage products, butter substitutes, cheese substitutes and related products. Only vitamin D2 produced from yeast is allowed. Vitamin D3 is not allowed even though it is three times more effective than vitamin D2. Soy products are becoming popular as substitutes for dairy products. Since many dairy products are fortified with vitamin D, this makes a lot of sense.
Sugar is still sugar even though you might now hear it is “natural”
Listen to this – since High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) has acquired a bad image among consumers and is often blamed for our obesity problem, the wizards of marketing at Snapple and Pepsi have decided to pitch the “natural” appeal of sugar this time. Sugary drinks are a problem anyhow, so don’t be fooled by this new angle. Soda is a big no-no in our household with our without the “natural” label and retro-looking bottle! Read the full story here.
With introducing new foods, remember “slow” and “small”
I enjoyed reading this very practical post that is a good reminder to go slow when introducing new foods to toddlers. It takes time for them to explore the new food and get used to it, so it is best to offer in small amounts and keep trying in different ways. And it is ok for your picky eater to not like some foods; even adults have their unique tastes and preferences. Also, remember that children will eat what the parents eat, so it is important to include a variety of foods and recipes in your own diet too. What are some of your tricks to encourage your little one to try new foods?
All you wanted to know about dietary fiber..and more
Dietary fiber helps with weight management, heart and digestive health. Delving into Dietary Fiber is recently published report that provides a lot of details about new types of fibers. Natural resistant starch is one such fiber which gives you a feeling of fullness after meals. Other types of commercially available fibers are also included. Expect to see increasing use of these ingredients in foods such as breads and other baked foods and snacks.
Enjoy your weekend!
Image source: Tom Chambers on Flickr
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