Giving Boys the Best Possible Start In Life 2011 International Mens Day

In 2011 Men and Women from more than 50 countries are calling on people around the world to unite and focus on “Giving Boys The Best Possible Start In Life”. Organizers of International Men’s Day (www.international-mens-day.com), which is celebrated annually across the globe, are inviting individuals and organizations to consider how we can improve the way the world supports boys.

Warwick Marsh - IMD Coordinator

Organizers are promising the biggest boys’ weekend the world has ever seen as the worldwide observance of International Men’s Day shares a 48-hour partnership with Universal Children’s Day on Sunday, 20 November 2011 and is endorsed by the United Nations.

International Men’s Day 2011 is asking people around the world to focus on five key challenges that boys all the over the world experience in areas of health, education, family life, violence and life choices and consider how we can all come up with local solutions to the global problems that boys face.

Contact the International Men’s Day Coordination team at  www.international-mens-day.com to share your thoughts on giving the best start to boys.

National Farm-City Week November 18-24, 2011

Farm-City Week is celebrated each year beginning on the Friday prior to and ending on Thanksgiving Day.  The purpose of Farm-City Week is to bring about a better understanding between rural and urban people by increasing their knowledge and appreciation of each other as partners in progress.

Farm-City: Harvesting Healthy Choices
Statistics indicated that about one-third of American children ages 6 to 19 are overweight, and a growing number of young people suffer from cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.

The 2011 Farm-City theme of “Harvesting Healthy Choices” gives Alabama farmers an opportunity to join forces with their city neighbors to show the healthy food choices available.

Farm-City 2011 "Harvesting Healthy Choices"
This video came in 1st Place in the 2011 Cullman County Farm-City contest.
Created by: Misha Buckelew and Miguel Pascual of Cullman High School

Harvesting Healthy Choices allows the opportunity to talk about the health benefits of locally grown produce and other foods:
- the bone-building power of milk;
- the leaner choices in beef, pork and poultry;
- the importance of folic acid-rich peanuts to expectant mothers;
- the cancer fighting properties of soybeans;
- the antioxidant power of blueberries 

What’s more, modern agriculture produces healthier animals, more nutritious grains and year-round access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Healthy food doesn’t just mean tofu and bean sprouts. A 5-ounce portion of lean beef or pork can be part of a balanced diet, and milk, cheese, bread and even fried catfish still have a place on Alabama’s dinner table. 

Eating well and living well are about choices – and is important to all ages in helping us create a healthier state. For more information on a balanced diet which includes fruits, vegetables, grains, protein and dairy products please visit the Department of Agriculture’s “My Plate” Nutritional Guide at www.choosemyplate.gov.

Resource:

Cullman FARM-CITY

Use Less Stuff Day November 17, 2011

The Thursday before Thanksgiving is "Use Less Stuff Day." The purpose of this day is to raise awareness to the amount of garbage produced in American between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. The estimated extra waste amounts to 25 million tons of garbage.

Through education, and in collaboration with many individuals and organizations around the world, the aim of Just-Use-Less.com  is to share the message of common sense, timeless wisdom, and gratitude for what we have been given. Just Use Less.

Ways to Use Less Stuff During the Holidays and Any Time

Plan meals using portion control to minimize waste. Recommendations: Food/Drink Portion Per Person Turkey 3 ounce, without bone Stuffing 1/4 cup Sweet Potato Casserole 1/3 - 1/2 cup Green Beans 1/2 cup Cranberry relish 2 to 3 Tablespoons Pumpkin Pie 1/8 - 1/10 of a 9" pie

After a party, put leftovers in plastic containers or bags and send them home with guests, or donate to food banks.

Bring your own camera instead of using disposable cameras.

Cancel mail order catalogues you know longer use.

Bring your own shopping bags.

Consolidate your purchases into one bag rather than getting a new bag at each store.

Plan your shopping in advance. Save money on fuel by making fewer trips to the stores. Avoid last minute shopping when you won’t have time to make careful gift choices.

Consider giving gift certificates or making a donation to a favorite charity in your friend/family's name.

Give homemade food or something you’ve made yourself from reused items.

Shop for gifts at antique stores, estate sales or flea markets, since one person’s trash is another’s treasure.

When buying electronics, remember to buy rechargeable batteries to go with them.

Send e-greetings to family, friends and business associates who are on-line. Did you know about 2.65 billion Christmas cards are sold each year in the US?

Get a tree that can be planted or mulched afterward, or buy an artificial one.

Compost your food waste. Fruits and vegetables and their peels, pits and seeds are all perfect for composting, a great natural fertilizer.

Resource: The Use Less Stuff Report

The Use Less Stuff Report (ULS)
Bob Lilienfeld is the editor of The ULS Report, a newsletter aimed at spreading the benefits of source reduction. The goal of ULS is to help people make more informed decisions about the products and packages they take home every day. ULS will grant the right to use a special version of the ULS logo on companies products if they meet any of the following requirements:

World Diabetes Day November 14, 2011

World Diabetes Day (WDD) is celebrated every year on November 14th. The World Diabetes Day campaign is led by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and its association members. It joins millions of people worldwide in diabetes advocacy and awareness.

World Diabetes Day was created in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization. World Diabetes Day became an official United Nations Day in 2007. The campaign draws attention to the issues of importance to the diabetes world and keeps diabetes in the public spotlight. Diabetes Education and Prevention is the World Diabetes Day theme for the period 2009-2013. 

The Global Diabetes Plan was launched on September 18, 2011. The latest figures from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) reveal that currently 366 million people have diabetes, 4.6 million deaths are due to diabetes and US$ 465 billion is spent on care for diabetes. This disease is one of the century’s greatest health challenges and remains on a relentlessly upwards trajectory.

IDF has brought together world experts to develop a coherent framework of action to respond to the diabetes challenge.  These cost-effective solutions for action by governments, health care professionals and the global diabetes community are presented in IDF’s Global Diabetes Plan 2011-2021. (The presentation is available for download or viewing on video at http://www.idf.org/global-diabetes-plan-2011-2021)

The Big Blue Test is a program of the Diabetes Hands Foundation (DHF). It takes place every November 14 (World Diabetes Day). People with diabetes are invited to test their blood sugar at 2 pm (local time), do 14 minutes of activity, test again and share the results.

Meet Toby Smithson, RD, LDN, CDE

Toby Smithson is a Registered Dietitian, a Certified Diabetes Educator, a national spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, and holds a certification in adult weight management. Toby was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in October, 1968, and has managed diabetes personally every single day since with no hint of complications. Toby founded DiabetesEveryDay to share her insights into successful diabetes self-management.

DiabetesEveryDay.com members enjoy 24/7 access to weekly menu selections, recipes (developed by dietitians for heart health and carbohydrate management), grocery lists and a unique library of video clips featuring Toby Smithson. New content is added weekly, Toby draws upon her own extraordinary diabetes management success to make this overwhelming responsibility for self-care both understandable and practical. She explores not only the nuts and bolts….medical issues, food and physical activity….but also everyday lifestyle, emotional challenges, stress, and life changing motivation; the real keys to success. To learn more, visit DiabetesEveryDay.com

Blue Circle Dance

About 500 employees, families and friends of Novo Nordisk from all around the world filmed themselves while dancing to 'Move your feet' by Junior Senior. The idea is to generate awareness for diabetes on World Diabetes Day 14 November 2011.

Seven Favorite Paper.li Food and Nutrition Daily's

Paper.li is a content service. It enables people to publish newspapers based on topics they like and treat their readers to fresh news, daily. Paper.li believes people are the ones qualified to organize and oversee the content that matters most.

Kids Eat Right Daily; @kidseatright

A national campaign of the American Dietetic Association and ADA Foundation to promote healthy eating and prevent childhood obesity.

The Kids-Health-and-Nutrition Daily; @TwinToddlersDad

Blogger; always learning, researching and writing about toddler nutrition. Have an idea or question related to toddler nutrition? Drop me a line!

The Nutrition Tidbits Daily; @HealthCastleGlo

Editor-in-Chief for HealthCastle.com. Author of @GoUnDiet book. Dietitian and nutrition geek.

*How2Cook*Today; @how2cook4u

How2Cook4U hopes you will enjoy your cooking more and eating even more! 

Garden☼ Food and Nutrition News; @GardenCuizine

I’m a Gardening Chef and Registered Dietitian, sharing Healthy Lifestyle, Recipe, Food & Nutrition tips using fresh Garden ingredients http://GardenCuizine.com

 The Diva-Dietitian Daily; @DivaDietitian

The Skinny on Nutrition From Registered Dietitians around the Web. 

Fast Food World; @ValburgerElba

Social Fast Food

National Men Make Dinner Day November 3, 2011

At some point in time, there must have been a movement to get certain men to assist with cooking. This event is not for male chefs, but for the man who believes "Cooking is Women's Work". 

I can't imagine there are many men who still feel this way, but for those who do stop by and visit the  National Men Make Dinner Day website for rules, recipes, and humor. Below are the Top Ten Reasons to Participate in "National Men Make Dinner Day".

Top Ten Reasons to Participate in
"National Men Make Dinner Day"
(Written by a Man)

10. While cooking, you can still wear your tool belt, simply replace the hammer with a whisk.

 9. Several recipes include beer as a legitimate ingredient.

 8. The blender, the electric mixer and the food processor are loud enough to drown out anyone in the house who is learning a musical instrument.

 7. Whoever is cooking always gets the most attention from the dog.

 6. Whatever recipe you choose, you can name it after yourself. Example: tonight’s dinner is called ‘Doug’s Surprise’.

 5. Discovering that ‘250 ml’ is the same as ‘8 ounces’ AND ‘1 cup’ is half the fun.

 4. Since YOU choose the recipe, it can be a turnip-free night.

 3. Some desserts, such as crème brulee, require the use of a propane torch. How much fun is that?!

 2. Since other husbands in your neighborhood are also cooking dinner, ironically this could be the ultimate male bonding experience

 1. Participating in ‘National Men Make Dinner Day’ gives you optimum points with your wife. Use those points wisely! 

  Action News Celebrates 
National Men Make Dinner Day