March 13, 2012

Gettin' Food Educated

As I mentioned earlier this month, March is National Nutrition Month.

I know that in order to prepare nutritious meals for my family, I must be food educated!

My sister-in-law recently introduced me to this awesome App on her iPhone: Fooducate. I thought it was so cool! I was instantly wishing that I had an iPhone. I was thrilled when I discovered that there is also an Android App available. But don't worry if you don't have either of those options...They are also on the web at www.Fooducate.com.

Fooducate allows you to use your phone to scan product barcodes, then get a "report card" for that food item. It also offers healthier alternatives...LOVE THAT!!

I was going to try to explain this App in detail, but the iTunes App Store description says it all:
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Fooducate

By Fooducate, Ltd.

Description

Appstore 2011 best of the iPhone Health & Fitness category. Get Fooducated!!!
Scan and choose healthy groceries. Over 200,000 unique UPCs! As featured in USAToday, NYTimes, WSJ, Lifehacker, Gizmodo and on ABC, FOX, NBC and more...

Do you want your family to eat better food?
Are you confused by ingredient lists, nutrition labels, health claims, and marketing hype? Want to lose weight by eating real food?

Get F O O D U C A T E and hurry to the supermarket.

Use your iPhone to:
★ Automatically scan a product barcode, search for products, or browse by categories
★ See product's highlights (both good & bad)
★ Compare products
★ Select healthier alternatives

Features:
✓ Created by dietitians and concerned parents
✓ Uses iphone's camera to effortlessly scan UPC barcodes
✓ Over 200,000 unique products and growing daily
✓ Simplified information helps you make better choices
✓ Works on iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad

"...Fooducate is like having a dietitian on speed dial..."

Fooducate analyzes information found in each product's nutrition panel and ingredient list.

You get to see the stuff manufacturers don't want you to notice, such as
- excessive sugar
- tricky trans fats
- additives and preservatives
- high fructose corn syrup
- controversial food colorings
- and more...

Just pick up a product from the shelf, scan it, and let Fooducate do the rest.

Fooducate is NOT affiliated with food manufacturers, supplement companies, diets, or any sort of magic pill.

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I have spent half the day scanning product codes from my pantry. I was having so much fun! I'm almost scared to take it into the grocery store with me...I may not come out for days!

The truth is that the information that I found was a bit shocking. Foods that I thought were healthy choices for my family, may indeed not be the best choice!

Check out Fooducate and let me know what you discover about the foods you eat!

March 5, 2012

National Nutrition Month

March is National Nutrition Month.

"National Nutrition Month® is a nutrition education and information campaign sponsored annually by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The campaign is designed to focus attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. NNM also promotes the Academy and its members to the public and the media as the most valuable and credible source of timely, scientifically based food and nutrition information."

It has been a goal of mine for some time to eat better. I do want to eat nutritious meals. I do want to feed my children nutritious meals. But I need more nutrition knowledge. I thought it would be a great month to move toward this goal.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' theme for the month is "Get Your Plate in Shape."

As a mother, it is my job to be a role model for my children. If they see me eating healthy, they will know that it is important. If I feed them healthy meals, they will learn to make healthy choices for themselves.

As a mother of a child with Type 1 Diabetes, these reasons are magnified for me. I want Ally to be healthy in every way that she can, to lessen any risk of the many long term complications of Type 1 Diabetes.

I plan to dedicate some time this month toward my goal of food education. I hope that you will stop back by and see what I've learned.

Visit www.eatright.org/nnm (the Academy's National Nutrition Month Website) "for helpful tips, fun games, promotional tools, nutrition educaton resources, all designed to spread the message of good nutrition around the 'Get Your Plate in Shape' theme."

March 3, 2012

Impossible Situations...Possible Miracles

"Impossible situations can become possible miracles."
~Robert H. Schuller

This post is dedicated to my friend, Meri and her family. As I mentioned earlier this week, I am joining the Schuhmacher family and friends in Flooding the Heavens with Prayer. We are specifically asking for a miracle of healing for Ryan Schuhmacher.

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them." Matthew 18:20

Please send Your healing power and give Ryan the strength to fight this cancer.

I ask You to send forth your miracle-working power to heal Ryan Schuhmacher.

"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." Matthew 21:22

May Ryan trust in Your goodness and hope in Your faithfulness, even in the middle of this suffering. Let him be filled with patience and joy in Your presence as he waits for Your healing touch.
Please restore Ryan to full health, dear Father.
Remove all fear and doubt from his heart by the power of your Holy Spirit.
Amen.

A FB page, Schuhmacher Family's Miracle, has been set up for friends and family to gather for updated information, prayer and support during this journey. We invite you to post prayers and reflections of hope on your personal blogs and websites. There will be a thread started there, where your links can be shared. If you do not have a blog/website, and would like to share your prayers, please feel free to add your thoughts and reflections to the thread as well. By keeping them in one place, the family will easily be able to access your words of encouragement in the days, weeks, and months to come. Please spread the word to anyone, and invite others to join this massive prayer effort as well.