by Marie Arick | Oct 2, 2015
![myplate_blue[1]](https://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/fcs/files/2015/10/myplate_blue1-150x150.jpg)
The numbers are in and, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 20% or more of the United States adult population is obese in each state. This data was collected during the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System that involves health-related telephone surveys. It has long been discussed in our society that obesity is a growing concern for our population. Many initiatives have been developed to address this issue, such as MyPlate and First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! Yet, we still fail to take this to heart.
Obesity has been linked to cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension. All of these can be linked to premature death. And yet, we still pick up those forks and stay off our feet. Even worse, we set a poor example for our children. Many people operate under the assumption that “it does not apply to me,” but it does. The definition of obesity is having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. The BMI is calculated using your weight in kilograms and dividing this by your height in meters squared. Thankfully, the CDC is one of many sources that has a BMI calculator online to make it simple. The first step is to determine your BMI using one of these calculators, and then to understand what that number represents. The following chart from the CDC explains the results for adults.
The standard weight status categories associated with BMI ranges for adults are shown in the following table:
BMI Weight Status
Below 18.5 Underweight
18.5 – 24.9 Normal or Healthy Weight
25.0 – 29.9 Overweight
30.0 and Above Obese
Next, take this information and act on it. If you have health concerns, see your physician. If you are sedentary, start taking a daily walk or bike ride. Review your personal eating habits and compare it to the MyPlate healthy eating guidelines. MyPlate has online tools that can make meal planning easy and help you track your calories and exercise. Can you make some small changes to improve your dietary intake? Small steps can lead to big changes over time. Modeling these behaviors can not only improve your health and well-being, but the positive changes can impact your children or loved ones as well. Share your goals and seek the support of friends and family. Most importantly, teens and children’s BMI results are interpreted differently. Talk with your child’s physician regarding any weight concerns and dietary guidelines.
Take care of yourself today, set a positive example for those you care about, and put the fork down and get on your feet!
by Dorothy C. Lee | Oct 2, 2015
Photo credit: Dorothy C. Lee
Fall is in the air. Cooler weather brings thoughts and plans for hayrides, carnivals, festivals, trick-or-treat, and more fun. Halloween may be a fun holiday for kids, but for parents, trick-or-treat time can be a little tricky. Concerns about children’s safety, whether they are out in the neighborhood or back home with bags of loot, could darken the festivities. But not to worry. To make Halloween a treat for all, follow these safety tips.
Costume Safety
- Make sure children dress up safely. Keep costumes short to prevent trips, falls, and other bumps in the night.
- Try makeup instead of a mask. Masks can be hot and uncomfortable and can obstruct a child’s vision.
- If the children will be in costumes, keep these tips from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in mind:
- Costumes should be made of flame-retardant materials.
- Decorate or trim costumes and goodie bags with reflective tape or decals so that children are visible at night to motorists. Reflective tape is available at most costume shops, sporting goods stores, and hardware stores.
Trick or Treat Safety
- Make sure older children trick or treat with friends.
- Children should stop only at familiar homes where outside lights are on.
- Make sure someone in the group has a flashlight and choose only well-lighted streets to go on.
Check the Treats
- Adults should check all treats. Parents should emphasize that no treats should be eaten until they get home and the treats have been checked. Parents should allow only unopened candies and other treats that are in original wrappers. Don’t forget to inspect fruit and homemade goodies for anything suspicious. When in doubt, throw it out!
Treats for Parents to Give
- Try some of these not-so-sweet treats—roasted nuts, pretzels, popcorn, pumpkin seeds.
- Consider giving inexpensive non-edible treats. Some non-food items to consider include stickers, snack coupons to a fast-food restaurant, novelty items such as magic tricks, finger puppets, yo-yos, little bottles of bubbles, and small games. Party stores and discount stores are great sources for non-food items.
Whether you opt for putting on a party, “trunk” trick or treating, participating in the local mall festivities, or door-to-door trick or treating, Halloween can be a lot of fun for parents and children. Just remember the tricks and treats of playing it safe.
For further information, visit the University of Florida Solutions for Your Life website, http://www.SolutionsForYourLife.com
References: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission,U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, http://www.cdc.gov/family/halloween
by Melanie Taylor | Aug 29, 2015
Healthy School Lunch
Packing the kids’ lunches for school means you know which nutritious foods they are eating. Here are some budget-friendly, creative ideas to keep kids happy and healthy at lunchtime.
Make a “Smarter” Sandwich:
While some kids prefer the same thing every day, others may be okay with a slight switch to their sandwich.
- Use different breads like 100% whole wheat tortilla wraps (choose wraps low in saturated and made with no hydrogenated oils) or 100% whole wheat pita pockets.
- Besides lettuce, try shredded carrots or avocado slices with a turkey sandwich.
- Buy blocks of low fat, low-sodium cheeses. You save money when you slice it yourself. Or use a cookie cutter to cut into fun shapes.
- Instead of lunchmeat, try a leftover grilled chicken sandwich with lettuce and tomato.
Love Those Leftovers:
Try using the leftovers from the family dinner for the next day’s lunch. Invest in a thermos to keep foods hot or cold until lunchtime.
- Low-sodium tomato, vegetable or bean soups
- Chili made with lean or extra lean ground turkey
- Whole wheat spaghetti with low sodium tomato sauce
- Low-sodium baked beans, bean casserole or beans & rice
Let Them Dunk:
Sometimes it is okay to let your kids play with their food, especially when they are getting extra nutrition.
- Apple and pear slices to dip into low-fat plain yogurt mixed with peanut butter.
- Carrot, celery and sweet pepper strips to dip into hummus, fresh salsa or homemade bean dip.
- Whole grain crackers (choose crackers low in sodium and saturated fat and made without hydrogenated oils) to dunk into low-sodium vegetable or tomato soup.
- Unsalted sunflower seeds, crushed whole wheat cereal and sliced banana to mix into low fat vanilla yogurt (no added sugars) to eat with a spoon like a sundae.
Get Them Involved:
While letting kids in the kitchen might mean a bigger mess, if they help pack their own lunch, they are more likely to eat it! On nights you have a bit more time, like a Sunday night, have them choose which piece of fruit or what type of whole grain bread they want and let them assemble their lunch. Make this a weekly routine – it’s another great way to spend family time together.
For more heart healthy lunch tips visit: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/
by Marie Arick | Aug 24, 2015
Consumer Reports recently pulled their previous endorsement for laundry detergent pods in light of the potential poisoning hazard for young children. Just to be clear, this is only the laundry pods that contain the highly concentrated liquid detergent, not pods containing powdered detergent. Although these laundry pods are quickly accessed, pre-measured, use less packaging, and are just simple to use, they ultimately are not worth the lives of children. Ariana Eunjung Cha of The Washington Post recently highlighted this excerpt from Consumer Reports:
‘When curious kids find their way into regular liquid laundry detergent, the result is often nothing worse than an upset stomach. Laundry detergent pods are presenting more serious symptoms. Along with vomiting, lethargy, and delirium, some victims have stopped breathing.’
Additionally, two children have died from ingesting a concentrated laundry detergent from a pod. Cha also noted “Last year, 11,714 reports of incidents involving kids aged 5 and younger and laundry detergent pods were reported to poison control centers nationwide. In the first six months of this year, there were more than 6,000.” This is a truly alarming fact that the numbers continue to rise. The Children’s Hospital Los Angeles posted this list on their blog:
Helpful Tips for Safety at Home
Tip 1: Cleaning materials should always be stored out of the reach of children and pets.
Tip 2: Install child-proof latches on under-sink cabinets in the kitchen and bathroom. Even if cleaning materials are no longer stored there, chemical smells may linger and could be dangerous to a child if they play under sinks.
Tip 3: Store laundry products on high shelves because many detergents can cause rashes or itching on a child’s sensitive skin.
Tip 4: Never leave a bottle or container of cleaning supplies open and unattended. Always close and put away the cleaning supplies if you are interrupted. You do not want any temptation sitting around that may harm your child.
Tip 5: When cleaning, take only the proper amount you need from the container, seal the container back up, and store the container away immediately. Use the proper equipment for handling the cleaning supply material, as recommended on the label. If the label says “Wear protective gear, gloves, or goggles,” do so to reduce harm to yourself and family.
Tip 6: When you are done cleaning, properly dispose of paper towels and rags that have come in contact with the cleaning chemicals.
Tip 7: Keep a list of emergency telephone numbers. Many cleaning products and chemicals have instructions on what to do if the product is used incorrectly, resulting in an emergency. Create and keep a first-aid kit that includes emergency-wash liquids. In the first-aid kid, keep a list of telephone numbers for:
- National Poison Control, 1-800-222-1222
- The nearest hospital
- A local ambulance service
- Your family doctor
The American Cleaning Institute urges consumers to “Pledge Now to be the KEY to a safe laundry room and routine!” Click here to take the pledge and for helpful tips for keeping your family safe.
Remember, treat all household cleaning items with care and always err on the side of caution. Look at the product you are purchasing and be aware of potential dangers. Review the warning labels and store in secured areas per label instructions. Always keep in mind: manufacturers use a product label to draw our attention to their product and this, however unintended, applies to children as well! Be diligent in keeping children safe. Personal convenience will never be more important than the life of a child.
by Judy Corbus | Jun 26, 2015
Photo Credit: Chris Luczkow, www.flickr.com
The bright, beautiful colors of a fireworks displays are a sight to behold and the highlight of July 4 celebrations across the country. But, it’s important to be careful when selecting and using fireworks for your family’s celebration. The National Council on Fireworks Safety offers these consumer safety tips:
- Check and obey local laws regarding what types of fireworks are legal in your area. Laws vary by state and municipality.
- Only buy consumer fireworks from a licensed store, tent, or stand. Never buy fireworks from an individual’s house or from someone on the street. Such devices are likely illegal explosives or professional 1.3G fireworks that can seriously injure you. Illegal explosives are often unpackaged and wrapped in brown paper. They are unlikely to have any safety warnings or the place of manufacture.
- Know your fireworks; read the cautionary labels and performance descriptions before igniting.
- A responsible adult should ALWAYS supervise fireworks activities. Never give fireworks to children.
- Do not consume alcohol while using fireworks.
- Wear safety glasses when shooting fireworks.
- Always have a bucket of water and charged water hose nearby.
- Light one firework at a time and then quickly move away.
- Use fireworks OUTDOORS in a clear area, away from buildings and vehicles.
- Never relight a “dud” firework. Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
- Never carry fireworks in your pocket or shoot them into metal or glass containers.
- Do not experiment with homemade fireworks.
- Dispose of spent fireworks by wetting them down and placing in a metal trash can away from any building or combustible materials until the next day.
- FAA regulations PROHIBIT the possession and transportation of fireworks in your checked baggage or carry-on luggage.
- Report illegal explosives, like M-80s, Quarter Sticks, and Cherry Bombs, to your local fire or police department.
Use your fireworks according to instructions and safety warnings and enjoy a safe, happy Fourth of July!
Source: National Council on Fireworks Safety, http://www.fireworksafety.com/
by Ginny Hinton | Jun 26, 2015
Photo Credit: Vicki Vargason
On June 20, 2015, a two-year-old boy in Bay County, Florida, drowned in his family’s above-ground pool after being able to get out of the house undetected. Drowning is a very real risk for young children, especially in Florida. Drowning is quick and silent. A child can drown in less than one minute in one inch of water. This year, there have been 39 drowning fatalities in Florida. Of those, 69% (24) have been children under three years of age.
In Florida, we love our beaches, pools, lakes, rivers, and creeks. How can we enjoy Florida’s beautiful water and still protect the ones we love? The answer is simple – but not necessarily easy. Injury prevention experts in Florida agree that the key to water safety is establishing layers of protection. There are three primary layers: Supervision, Barriers, and Emergency Protection.
First, establish a method of supervision and always have a responsible adult watching children who are near water. Even at a party where there are lots of adults available nearby, one should always be assigned as the “water watcher” to keep an eye on the kids.
Second, set up barriers that physically block children from entry to an unsupervised pool or body of water. Effective barriers include the following:
- Pool safety fencing with self-closing, self-latching gates
- Door, window, and pool alarms
- Childproof locks
- Professional pool cover or net (Note: Homemade pool covers may fail and actually trap children in water)
- Locking pet doors
Of course, YOU are always the most important layer of protection, but secondary barrier methods can literally save a life. The cost for setting up barriers can range from $20 to over $1,000. Experts advise that you purchase and use the most protection that you can afford.
The third layer is emergency preparedness. There is a small, precious window for resuscitating a child who is drowning – but only if someone knows what to do. It is a good idea for all adults, not just parents, to become CPR-certified in case of a water emergency. A phone should always be kept handy to call 911 in case something happens.
A 2007-2009 campaign called “Keep Your Eyes on the Kids” reduced the number of children ages one to four who drowned by 15% and the overall drowning rate by 18%. By taking a few important steps, we can do a lot to protect the little ones we love.
References: http://dcf.state.fl.us, http://drowningpreventionfoundation.com, http://nova.edu/ichp/drowning/, http://floridahealth.gov, http://waterproofFL.com, http://flsafepools.com
