The Question of Organic Food

By Sandra Crockett

So you want to eat healthy but are confused about all the different guidelines. It’s pretty clear to most people that trans fat is something to limit in your diet or stay away from altogether. The same is true of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), although hard to do since it is in so much processed food products.

Perhaps going organic is the safer way to go. But what exactly makes any produce “organic?” And what if you have the choice of going to a grocery store and buying something labeled “organic” or going to a local farmers market and purchasing fresh produce without the “organic” label? It's clear that the road to good health, healthy eating, and being kind to the environment is not always easy.

A food label “organic” means the producer has been certified organic, says Laure L. Sullivan, resident district manager, Food and Nutrition Services for LifeBridge Health. The producer has to meet certain standards to gain certification, and it is not the same for all countries.
In the United States, a food labeled “organic” usually means only organic ingredients were used. Legally, if a food is 95 percent organic, it can be labeled organic.

That said, buying from a local farmer’s market whenever possible would be your best bet, Sullivan explains.

“Buy local at your local farmer’s market and support the farmers,” Sullivan says. Farmers at local markets can have organic produce without having the organic label. “Farmers’ produce can be chemical free but not all farmers can afford to get the certification,” she says.

“You can get organic strawberries from China. But then you have the whole carbon footprint question.”

LifeBridge Health buys as much seasonal produce from local farmers as possible, Sullivan says.

Like we said, living healthy and being environmentally aware is not always easy. However, if you love yourself and your planet, it is worth it.

If you want to learn more about how sustainable food practices, several hospitals in Maryland and D.C. are being recognized tomorrow night for improving nutrition, maximizing carbon footprint and purchasing sustainable-produced meat through the Balanced Menu Challenge.

The “Balance Meets Taste” event kicks off National Nutrition Month for March 2010. It is being organized by Maryland Hospitals for a Healthy Environment.

If You Go
What: Balance Meets Taste
When: Thursday, March 4
Where: Pier 5 Hotel, Baltimore Inner Harbor, 711 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, MD
Time: 6:30 - 10 p.m.
Cost: $100 (hors d’oeuvres and cocktail hour, four-course meal including wine. Proceeds donated to Future Harvest – Chesapeake Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture.
For More Information: 410.706.1924 or click here. You can also e-mail Lmitc001 (at) son.umaryland.edu

Build strong growing bones

Yogurt, cheese and pudding are all calcium-rich, bone-building foods. So are calcium-fortified juice, soy beverages and tofu, as well as dark green vegetables like broccoli and kale.

Still, it takes more than good nutrition to build strong bones. Regular weight bearing activities such as dancing, soccer, running, weight lifting, tennis and volleyball are important since they trigger bone tissue to form.

Feeding Your Teen Machine

Bigger appetites, busy lifestyles, mood swings, struggles for independence, peer pressure - they all challenge how and what your teenager eats. As a parent, there are ways you can positively influence the eating habits of your teen.

• Stock your kitchen with easy-to-grab nutritious snacks, such as whole fruit, yogurt, hummus, cut vegetables and string cheese.
• Make time for family meals. Even if you have to schedule around after-school activities and jobs, put family meals on the calendar days in advance.
• Discuss the options at fast-food restaurants with your teen.
• Help kids learn about healthy portion sizes by buying small bags of snacks.
• Set a good example by leading a healthy lifestyle yourself, complete with regular physical activity and healthful eating.

Did you know March is National Nutrition Month? For more ideas on how to improve your family's diet, consider signing up for the next Healthy Shopping Tour on Thursday, March 26, at the Whole Foods Market in Mt. Washington neighborhood of Baltimore. Northwest Hospital Community Health Educator Kristen Diaz, M.S., instructs a group on how to select healthy foods and shares strategies for keeping junk food from filling your cart or basket.