Family and Consumer Sciences

Live Smart Ohio

Ohio State University Extension

Keep Rethinking Your Drink

In December, a three part series called Rethink Your Holiday Drink ran on the blog. Amy Meehan, our Healthy People Program Specialist, wrote about how sugary drinks can negatively impact our budgets and our health. This is true not only during the holidays, but all throughout the year! According to the Centers for Disease Control […]

WRITTEN BY: Maddi Taylor, Dietetic Intern, Marshall University

REVIEWED BY: Jenny Lobb, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Franklin County

SOURCES:

  • American Heart Association (2015). Rethink Your Drink: Reducing Sugary Drinks in Your Diet. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/HealthyLiving/HealthyEating/%20SimpleCookingwithHeart/Rethink-Your-Drink-Reducing-Sugary-Drinks-in-Your-Diet_UCM_445267_Article.jsp#.WoMm4yXwaUl
  • American Heart Association (2017). Added Sugars. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/HealthyLiving/HealthyEating/Nutrition/Added-Sugars_UCM_305858_Article.jsp#.WmjVJ1VG2fQ
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2017). Get the Facts: Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Consumption. https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/data-statistics/sugar-sweetened-beverages-intake.html
  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (2015). 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. https://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/

Is Fast Food Getting Healthier?

Earlier this week, I was interviewed by a local news reporter who posed the question “Is fast food getting healthier?” The reporter was covering the story of Holy Chicken, a new fast food restaurant created by Morgan Spurlock, director of the documentary Super Size Me, slated to open its first location in Central Ohio this […]

WRITTEN BY: Jenny Lobb, MPH, RD, LD, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension Franklin County

REVIEWED BY: Amanda Woods, M.Ed. Healthy Finances Program Specialist, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension

SOURCES:

  • Batada A, Wootan MG. Kids’ Meals II: Obesity and poor nutrition on the menu. Center for Science in the Public Interest; 2013.
  • Cantor J, Breck A, Elbel B. Correlates of sugar-sweetened beverages purchased for children at fast-food restaurants. Am J Public Health, 2016: 106(11), 2038-2041.
  • Powell LM, Nguyen BT. Fast-food and full service restaurant consumption among children and adolescents: Effect on energy, beverage, and nutrient intake. JAMA Pediatrics, 2013: 167(1), 14–20.

Born to Crave: Origins of the Sweet Tooth

We all know it is nearly impossible to tear a child away from something sweet. Sugary foods and drinks can be a foolproof go to for any frazzled parent who needs their toddler to sit still. But have you ever wondered why children have this insatiable desire for all things sweet? Well, simply put, blame […]

REVIEWED BY: Amy Habig, MPH, RDN, LD, Program Specialist, Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program, Ohio State University Extension, habig.13@osu.edu

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • http://pixabay.com/en/cotton-candy-coneheads-white-heads-434810/
  • http://pixabay.com/en/lump-sugar-sugar-cubes-white-sweet-549096/
  • http://pixabay.com/en/children-playing-watermelon-summer-655542/
  • http://pixabay.com/en/pick-and-mix-children-s-sweets-candy-171342/

SOURCES:

  • http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1364537/pdf/nihms7936.pdf
  • http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20829174
  • http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/25318/title/Endocrine-role-for-skeleton/
  • http://journals.lww.com/co-clinicalnutrition/Abstract/2011/07000/Innate_and_learned_preferences_for_sweet_taste.12.aspx

REFERENCES:

  • Mokhnach L., et al. (2010). NICU Procedures are Getting Sweeter: Development of a sucrose protocol for neonatal procedural pain. Neonatal Network, 29(5), 271-279.
  • Pepino, M. Y., & Mennella, J. A. (2005). Sucrose-Induced Analgesia is related to Sweet Preferences in Children but not Adults. Pain, 119(1-3), 210–218. doi:10.1016/j.pain.2005.09.029
  • Ventura, A.K., & Menella, J.A. (2011). Innate and Learned Preferences for Sweet Taste during Childhood. Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care, 14(4), 379-384.

Sugar Math

How much sugar is too much? Added sugars, or those sugars added to prepared and processed foods, should only make up about 10% of an individual’s total calories per day. In fact, consuming less than 5% of your total calories from added sugars seems to provide additional health benefits, according to guidelines from the World […]

WRITTEN BY: Carol Smathers, MS, MPH Field Specialist Ohio State University Extension smathers.14@osu.edu

REVIEWED BY: Bridgette Kidd, MPH, RD Program Specialist, Healthy People Ohio State University Extension

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