The USDA Proposes New Guidelines to Make School Lunches Healthier

It's no secret there is a childhood obesity epidemic in the U.S. Statistics from 2007-2008 indicate that about 16.9% of children and adolescents aged 2–19 years are obese and the prevalence of childhood obesity continues to increase.[1] Yet, many of us are still surprised when we see the numbers. What is being done about this? Do we know why obesity persists? There are several theories ranging from increased sugary drink consumption to bad eating habits to an overall lack of education, access to healthy foods, and supervision. It very well may be a combination of all of the above.

So what is being done? In an effort to fight childhood obesity, the USDA announced January 13 new proposed guidelines to make school lunches healthier. These would be the first changes in 15 years and would include cutting salt and fat and adding more fruits and veggies to cafeteria selections. Under the proposed new guidelines[2]:

• School meals would have calorie limits.
• Salt would be cut by half over 10 years.
• Most trans fats would be banned.
• More fruits and vegetables would be included in each meal.
• Only low-fat or nonfat milk would be served.
• Meals would see increases in the amount of whole grains and eventually will include only whole grains.
• Breakfast would include both grain and protein, not one or the other.

For more information about the proposed guideline changes for school lunches, read the HealthDay article "U.S. Aims to Make School Lunches Healthier" here.

Have a suggestion? We'd love to hear your thoughts! Post your comments here or to ACHS Facebook at www.facebook.com/ACHSedu

References
[1] Ogden, C., PhD & Carroll, M., M.S.P.H. Prevalence of Obesity Among Children and Adolescents: United States, Trends 1963-1965 Through 2007-2008. Web. Accessed online 1/14/11 at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/obesity_child_07_08/obesity_child_07_08.htm
[2] HealthDay. (2011). U.S. Aims to Make School Lunches Healthier. Web. Accessed 1/14/11 at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_107653.html

ACHS Apothecary Shoppe College Store Is Now Oregon Tilth Certified Organic

We're proud to announce our Apothecary Shoppe College Store is now Oregon Tilth Certified Organic (OTCO). OTCO is the certifying agent for the National Organic Program (NOP) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). An internationally recognized symbol of organic integrity, OTCO reflects the Apothecary Shoppe’s ongoing commitment to green business and sustainable practices.

As an arm of the ACHS community, our Apothecary Shoppe prioritizes environmental stewardship and offers a distinguished selection of natural health products, including certified organic herbs and essential oils, for ACHS students and the community at large. To promote sustainable harvesting, wildcrafting, and preservation of natural resources, ACHS President Dorene Petersen personally visits all Apothecary Shoppe distillers, wildcrafters, and suppliers to ensure ACHS’s dedication to sustainable practices.

“We’re very excited about our Oregon Tilth certification,” says ACHS President Dorene Petersen. “OTCO protects our customers by ensuring their herbal supplies meet strict production standards for organic products. Being OTCO means we cannot use the term ‘organic’ with our products unless the material is on the list of our approved products. To be approved, the material has to be NOP certified by the vendor. If the material is not NOP certified, it will not be sold as organic.”

The Apothecary Shoppe has been certified for a diverse selection of herbs and essential oils. For specific product information, visit the Apothecary Shoppe website (www.apothecary-shoppe.com) and click on the herb and/or essential oil of interest.

To learn more about the rigorous process of Oregon Tilth certification, visit the Oregon Tilth website (http://tilth.org) and click on Certification to access their FAQs.

READ the full-length press release here: http://www.achs.edu/news/news-detail.aspx?nid=249

Planting Herbs in the Fall: Which Herbs Are Best for Your Zone?

It’s the first day of fall (already!). Can you believe how quickly the seasons are passing? Of course, it may feel a bit more of a dramatic shift here in Portland, Oregon, because we had a short summer. Cooler temperatures than normal and more rain.

But it looks like fall is here. The leaves are turning from crisp greens to fiery jewel tones and the air has more moisture. The rain in coming! But before the weather turns for good, it’s time to plant our fall herbs. Planting in the fall gives herbs the chance to root so they are ready for harvest in the spring.

The best herbs to grow depend on the grow zone you live in. Before you make your selection, we suggest you find your climate zone on the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to ensure what you want to grow is compatible with your zone. Here’s the link: http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/ushzmap.html

Portland, for example, is hardiness zones 8-9. There can be lower levels of light here in the fall (and certainly in the winter), so Portlanders may want to select shade-loving herbs, such as parsley and peppermint.

Or, if you live somewhere that gets too cold for herbs to thrive and/or does not get enough direct light, consider growing your herbs in containers, so that you have the option to move them around (or even take them indoors, if needs be).

You also may want to concentrate on bulb herbs—like garlic, fennel, and saffron—which should be planted in the ground in the fall at least six weeks before the first freeze.

If you live in the Pacific Northwest, you may find this Monthly Garden Calendar from the Oregon State University Master Gardeners Program: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/calendar/ - september

You may also enjoy the article “The best herbs to grow in fall” for ideas about which herbs to plant: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/calendar/ - september

We hope your first day of fall is fantastic and look forward to hearing more about your fall herb garden. Post any planting tips, photos, suggestions …. here!

We’ve also started the discussion “What’s your favorite thing about fall?” on Facebook. Join the discussion here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Portland-OR/American-College-of-Healthcare-Sciences/99091122240