This is the time of year to finish up the harvesting of the garden. Long term care facilities often choose to have a garden on the campus for residents to enjoy the benefits of home grown foods. The question often arises, “Can nursing homes use the food harvested from their…

Last year Oprah challenged her 400 staff members to go vegan for a week. Some were more than happy to give it a try, while others were already vegan. Then there were some meat eaters that were not too keen on giving up meat and did not participate. There are…

It's March and that means it is National Nutrition Month. The theme this year is "Get Your Plate in Shape". "MyPlate" illustrates the five food groups that are building blocks for a healthy diet using a familiar image.  "MyPlate" is not just for kids.  It's a great tool for all…

When you think of seasonal foods the first things that most likely come to mind are mouthwatering  foods of summer; golden corn on the cob, crisp green beans, juicy watermelon and fresh berries. The long cold days of winter may have you dreaming of summertime foods and outdoor activities but…

The Restaurant Nutrition Menu Labeling Requirement requires restaurant chains with more than 20 locations to post calorie counts for all the food items they sell. This adds up to more than 200,000 restaurants nationwide.Once these calorie counts become more standard on menus and drive-through displays for the larger chain restaurants,…

This summer has been very hot and stormy for many parts of the country. With severe storms comes the possibility of power outages that could last hours or even days. While disastrous flooding can often occur with strong storms, power outages can also cause loss of refrigerated or frozen foods.…

September is whole grains month and every year the Whole Grains Council celebrates with special events and promotions all month. Whole grains or foods made from them contain all the essential parts and naturally-occurring nutrients of the entire grain seed. If the grain has been processed (e.g., cracked, crushed, rolled,…

Food allergies can have a devastating impact on children. A new study indicates that food allergies are even more common, almost double, in children than originally thought. The study done by researchers at Northwestern University, estimates that about 8% of children or 6 million in the U.S. have a food…

Recently the USDA said goodbye to the food pyramid and hello to MyPlate. The food pyramid had six vertical stripes to represent the five food groups plus fats and oils. MyPlate features four sections (vegetables, fruits, grains and protein) plus a side order of dairy in blue. It uses a…

As our residents age, they experience changes in their physical and mental abilities which may require alterations in the consistency of their diet. Dysphagia affects anywhere from 35 to 60 percent of elderly people living in long term care facilities. It is important as health care providers to ensure that…