Food, ag and nutrition network of Solano - Column
​Written by Joshua McAtee, Napa State Hospital Dietetic Intern
​Almost everyone has been on a diet at some point or knows someone who has. From the Paleo diet to the more recently popular Keto diet, dieting has been a large part of our culture for many years. As far back as 1863 when William Banting created the “Banting” diet, a low carb and low calorie diet that he used to lose weight, new diet fads continue to pop up and have been established as an easy solution to losing weight fast.
The Story Of Seasonal Vegetables Has Just Gone Viral!
Written By: Napa State Hospital Dietetic Intern, Marina Kalenyuk
Eating “seasonal” may seem like a recent trend, but it has been around for many generations. Affordable produce is easy to find, whether its winter or summer, especially in the sunny state of California. You just need to know where to look! The key to healthy eating throughout the year is to buy seasonal produce. We will be focusing on seasonal vegetables because let’s face it, sometimes we need a little more convincing when it comes to enjoying our vegetables compared with fruit. Let’s get started with our story of seasonal vegetables by discussing the benefits of eating in season!
​Written by Napa State Dietetic Intern, Mallori Rahimnejad
​Here we are again with the holiday season upon us! As the weather begins to change to that crispy coolness, the smell of pumpkin spice and cinnamon is beginning to fill the air. It’s such a wonderful time of the year filled with fun, family, fiestas, and of course, food! While enjoying all that this time of year has to offer, it can be a challenge to balance indulgence for the season with healthy habits and self-care. Here I’ll be sharing some simple things you can do to make it through the holiday season with vibrancy and good health!
Food & Culture: Incorporating Healthy Food Choices into Various Traditional Cuisine
​Katie Zaboy, Eastern Michigan University Dietetic Intern 2019
Living and working in Solano County we interact daily with a diverse community of people. Cultural competency is vital to unify our community, to create a safe and thriving place to live.
What is culture?Culture refers to a group that we have shared experiences with, that in turn informs the way we understand the world around us. Culture can be groups we are born into like race, class, national origin, or ones we join or become a part of by moving to a new place, becoming disabled, or based on our lifestyle choices. Culture can be inborn or by choice, either way someone’s culture is something we should work to understand and respect.
One of the first steps in becoming culturally competent is to recognize and understand our own culture. Understanding our own culture can help us become aware of areas where we may differ from other cultures and can help us to be sensitive about asserting our own cultural norms on others.
By Morea Donahue, 2017 Napa State Hospital Dietetic Intern
​Let’s face it; eating out is a part of life. It has become a convenient way to catch up with friends and family, and eat a wonderful meal while not having to think about any dirty dishes. What’s not to love? With many mouth-watering restaurants all over Solano County, it’s pretty easy to find a restaurant you enjoy that doesn’t even have to break the bank. Unfortunately, our taste buds can sometimes override our judgment to make healthy choices as soon as we sit down in that comfy booth with fun music playing and the smell of potato skins and garlic fries passing every two minutes.
By ​Charlotte M. Cantrell, 2016 Napa State Hospital Dietetic Intern
Barbecue and picnic season is quickly approaching as summer is right around the corner! When the weather warms up we have more opportunities for outdoor activities with family and friends; however we often forget about safe food handling. Below I will explain the importance of food safety in summer and will list practical tips to help protect you and your loved ones from foodborne illnesses (a.k.a. “food poisoning”).
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the prevalence of foodborne illness doubles during summer months... but why?
Edible Backyard plants
​If you pay any attention at all to eating advice, you know that getting more fruits and vegetables is a sure way to work on a path to better health. In fact, the USDA recently revised its ideal “plate,” giving more space to produce and less to grains and protein.
But eating the same-old stuff every day can quickly get boring—so there’s another way to get creative with your greens. Backyard plants may not be the stuff that you want to dig out and toss, but dig out and eat. Loads of plants that are probably growing outside, nestled in your other “desirable” plants and amidst the grass, may be edible.
Learning their characteristics and how to use them, as well as how to distinguish them from other poisonous plants, isn’t hard, and this graphic can help.
Little Hands - Big Difference: Benefits of Incorporating Cooking Lessons in Schools
Written By: Allison Williams, Napa State Hospital Dietetic Inter
Research has consistently demonstrated that young children truly thrive in a hands-on learning environment where they are provided with the opportunity to touch, smell, and taste. In turn, these interested students are more motivated and successful. During this critical time of growth, forming a positive experience with fresh and healthy foods is critical primarily because these foods are the foundational building blocks for good nutrition and overall healthy development. ​
Food Foraging: Returning to Our Roots
​Written By: Kristina Todini, Fork in the Road
As food prices continue to rise, many Americans are turning to community or urban gardens to supplement food costs. Backyard chicken and bee keeping are becoming more popular, and planting tomatoes or basil on a balcony can provide harvests for years to come. However, the chances of a small family surviving off a garden plot is slim and shopping for local, seasonal, and organic food can take a toll on the pocket book. But what if the answer to food insecurity and rising food prices was growing next to your own backyard garden?