Diet Books for Children?
NutritionWe've all heard about the rising numbers for childhood obesity, but do they warrant children's books about dieting? Paul A. Kramer thinks so. His controversial new book, “Maggie Goes on a Diet,” tells the story of a chubby 14-year old who wants to lose weight because she is teased at school. She changes her food choices and exercises, with the result of a slimmer figure. Her new body size makes her instantly popular with her classmates. This book reinforces...
Purslane: The New 'It' Green
Nutrition, From Our Kitchen, GardensRecently, while buying greens at the farmers' market, I was encouraged to try purslane, which was entirely new to me. The vendor tossed some in with the spinach and mesclun in the bag. As part of a salad, it was an interesting element. The taste was slightly lemony and astringent, though not at all bitter. Then a friend mentioned that Dr. Oz has been touting the health benefits of purslane, and I saw folks talking about it on Twitter...
Excess Sodium a Concern, Even in Infants
NutritionMany of us were shocked a few years ago to learn of a growing incidence of hypertension and diabetes in children. Now, from the United Kingdom, comes a report that as many as 70 percent of 8-month-old babies there consume too much sodium, putting them at risk for kidney disease and hypertension later in life. As part of a longitudinal study, the researchers examined the diets of more than 1,000 infants born in the early 1990s. Their mothers kept...
Improvised Summer Dinner
Nutrition, From Our KitchenRecently, I invited a friend for dinner, but with the temperature in the mid-90s, cooking was not an enticing prospect. What could I throw together that would be tasty, seasonal and simple, with little or no cooking required? At the farmers market that morning, I was enticed by the sweet corn and vivid red tomatoes. (The heirloom tomatoes growing in my backyard are getting there, but are not quite ready to eat yet.) The plump, glossy blackberries and fragrant...
A Shift in Food Shopping Habits
NutritionSome interesting data from the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) sheds light on how consumers shop for groceries and what their priorities are as they fill their carts. Shopping for Health 2011, the 19th annual study released by the FMI and Prevention magazine, found a change in behavior from previous surveys: Consumers no longer place such a high priority on avoiding undesirable ingredients in food -- such as fat, sugar and calories. Instead, they increasingly look for foods offering healthful components...
Celebrate Can-it-Forward Day
Sustainability, From Our KitchenAs with many of the domestic arts, canning has made a big comeback. Sales of home canning equipment have been surging since 2008, in large part due to a growing interest in eating more healthfully and reviving traditions from a simpler time. To capitalize on this trend, Jarden Home Brands -- the makers of Ball canning jars -- has partnered with Canning Across America, a nationwide group of food writers, bloggers and cookbook authors with a passion for canning, to...
Where's the Beef?
Nutrition, Sustainability, From Our Kitchen[caption id="attachment_5632" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Farmer Shane Hughes with some of his cattle at Liberty Delight Farms."][/caption] Or, perhaps a more appropriate question is, where's the beef from? It's so important to know where your food comes from, and what's in it. Across the United States, SAGE works with farmers to bring locally raised beef, chicken and produce to the schools we serve. One such partner is Liberty Delight Farms, a family-owned and operated business in Reisterstown, MD. Their Simmental...
Boost Your Intake of Whole Wheat
Nutrition, From Our KitchenWe love the Whole Grains Council, because it does so much to promote healthful eating. The organization has even developed a calendar that features a different whole grain each month of the year. July's featured grain is one familiar to all of us: wheat. In the United States, about two-thirds of all grains consumed are some form of wheat. A large portion of that is refined wheat, which is less nutritious than whole wheat. Even enriched wheat, which has been...
About Us
At SAGE Dining Services®, our unparalleled expertise in nutrition, sustainability, and culinary trends produces exceptional dining experiences that delight the senses, inspire minds, and foster community.
