Use Nutrition Month to get back on track

Q: I know National Nutrition Month is coming up in March, and I want to use the occasion to jump-start my resolution to eat better this year. But Ive done this kind of thing before and Im out of new ideas. Where can I find some good ones?

A: This is a great plan. Its not unusual for New Years resolutions to wane by now. But using National Nutrition Month to revive your resolve is a shrewd move: There will likely be an abundance of nutrition-related information out there for the taking, and youre bound to find new ways to get back on track.

You can take the bull by the horns and search out ideas yourself. A great place to start is the website of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association). As the sponsor of National Nutrition Month, the organization offers a dozen two-page tipsheets on a variety of topics at http://www.eatright.org/nnm/handoutsandtipsheets/.

Here are just a few pointers from some of the tipsheets:

To reach a goal of eating 2 cups of fruit and 2.5 cups of vegetables each day, try adding sliced pineapple, apple, peppers, cucumber and tomato to your sandwiches. (Find more ideas in the tipsheet 20 Ways to Enjoy More Fruits and Vegetables.)

For a kid-friendly healthy snack, peel a banana, dip it in yogurt, roll it in crushed cereal and freeze it. (More in 25 Healthy Snacks for Kids.)

Add some variety to your salad by adding corn, peas, sugar snap peas, water chesnuts or a variety of other vegetables. (More in Color Your Plate with Salad.)

Trying to lose weight? Slow down: It takes about 20 minutes for your brain to get the signal that your body is getting food. Dont wait until you feel full before you stop eating. (More in Eating Right for a Healthy Weight.)

On days when youre planning a dinner out, plan ahead. Have a light breakfast and lunch. (More in Healthy Eating on the Run: A Month of Tips.)

If youre tired of the same old breakfast options, make your own morning sandwich with a toasted whole-grain English muffin with lean ham and low-fat Swiss cheese. (More in Power Up with Breakfast.)

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Use Nutrition Month to get back on track

Nutrition Myths and Common Sense

David Katz

Bamboo is notoriously poor in nutritional value. And yet, it is not only adequate sustenance for giant pandas, it is the one and only food they can eat. Were there no bamboo, there would be no giant pandasat least not as we know them.

Similarly, eucalyptus leaves would make a very poor dietary choice for a human being marooned on a desert island. We couldn't hope to survive on them. But koalas do, and they couldn't survive on anything else.

Nor need we go nearly so far afield as the mountain forests of China or arid woodland of Australia to establish the remarkable links between food and those it feeds. I routinely marvel at the power of my horse, Troubadour, particularly when those magnificent muscles are engaged in full gallop or leaping fences with me on his back. I marvel all the more at the alchemy that turns a diet of grass, hay, oats, and very little else into a horse, and all that horse power.

There are creatures requiring sustenance on this planet only because there is sustenance to be had here. Were there no food on earth, there would be no lifeat least not life as we know it. That is the general case.

The more specific case is that there is no animal on earth, now or ever, that requires any particular food not found on this planet. I trust that assertion is so self-evident as to require neither embellishment, nor defense. But consider then what follows: All creatures on earth are specifically suited to survive on the food found here.

[See Why I Learned to Grow My Own Food, and 4 Tips for Starting Your Garden]

Food came first All of usyou, me, Troubadour; the koalas and pandas; anteaters, mackerel, and polar bearsfollowed. And we followed with adaptations to make use of the food we found in our particular ecological niches. Physiology adapted to burn some variation on the theme of available fuel, and no other kind of physiology ever existed. No machines of any kind run on power sources that don't exist.

This is the context in which all of our considerations, and fundamental conclusions, about diet and health should occur. The context is no substitute for the detailed content generated by modern science, of course, any more than it is for the culinary arts. All of the specific culinary talent practiced in the world's kitchens is bound by the food earth provides, but that talent has much to do with how delightfully those provisions are put to use. Similarly, scientific insight helps us know how best to apply the available foods to the promotion of health.

But whenever those insights seem to carry us outside the bounds of context, they inevitably prove wrong. Such are the follies of our nutritional history.

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Nutrition Myths and Common Sense

Student Nutrition Expo set to showcase food services at Loveland schools

The face of school nutrition across the country is changing, and on Tuesday, parents, students and community members are invited to see -- and taste -- what that means for the Thompson School District.

The district's first Student Nutrition Expo will be held at Mountain View High School and features more than two dozen booths as well as educational presentations and lunchroom samples.

"It's just a perfect time for our district to really embrace the changes that are being made in school nutritional standards," Allie Clarke, district nutrition services clerk, said.

The USDA has continued to roll out new national standards for school meals, starting last fall when calorie limits and weekly minimums of grains and meat were put in place. The new guidelines have also increased daily servings of fruits and vegetables and increased the variety of vegetables served in school lunchrooms each week.

But district officials like to think they've always been ahead of the curve when it comes to encouraging healthy eating habits. In the past decade or so, the district has eliminated fried foods such as french fries from its menus and has made a concerted effort to move away from processed foods.

Thompson School District Student Nutrition Expo

When: 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Where: Mountain View High School, 3500 Mountain Lion Drive.

"Nutrition services has been ahead of the game as far as implementing the standards," Kathy Schlepp, wellness coordinator, said. "They've done taste tastes and worked on getting students to give input."

The new grain standard is one that Clarke said has been in place in the district for years, and this school year cafeterias started using a new pasta that's more than half whole grains. Locally processed in Aurora, the new pasta is also part of nutritional services's initiative to bring in local partners.

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Student Nutrition Expo set to showcase food services at Loveland schools

Matrix Nutrition Launch a New Product to Accelerate Winter Weight Loss

Matrix Nutrition have launched a product that combats the trinity problems that hinder weight loss in winter

(PRWEB UK) 18 February 2013

As well as this, many weight gainers suffer from the effects of SAD, the seasonal affective disorder that affects over ten per cent of the population. Symptoms can include an increase in appetite, lethargy and depression the trinity of problems that guarantee weight gain.

This new product however is extra strong in order to give that boost to help dieters and weight trainers lose weight, however Matrix Nutrition have not stopped there.

To help combat the trinity of lethargy, hunger and depression, their new fat burners incorporate high concentrations of natural vitamins and minerals that support the bodys own natural defences and increase energy lift moods, supress hunger and remove toxins from the body.

These natural ingredients include Acia Berry which is known as the new super food as it reduces bloating, removes toxins and promotes cardiac health.

The other active ingredient is Side Cordifolia which contains real ephedrine Alkaloids which are known for promoting weight loss. Sida Cordifolia is also well documented to provide the user with extra energy keeping them more awake, alert and motivated.

The other ingredient is green tea, and Matrix Nutrition claim they use only the best, as Adam Lowther the founder explains, Its well know that green tea is one of the best fat burning products on the market but Matrix Nutrition have taken this to new levels with a massive 1,500mg pure ingredient per tablet. The difference in grades comes down to the amount of EGCGs contained in the green tea. To put it simply, the more EGCG, the more active the ingredient. In weight loss industry new ingredients seem to be invented every day but green tea has stay fast simply because it works! Our new accelerated fat burners, Zepherine are quickly becoming the UK no.1 choice for losing weight."

Matrix provides effective sport supplements at an affordable price. While it is common knowledge the price of raw materials within the nutrition industry is rising (i.e. whey protein) they do their best to ensure Matrix Nutritions products are some off the most affordable on the market. While other companies may take advantage of these rising costs to inflate their prices even more Matrix will not.

Andrew Brown Dual Media 01253 406663 Email Information

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Matrix Nutrition Launch a New Product to Accelerate Winter Weight Loss

Bryan County to celebrate National Nutrition Month

DURANT March is National Nutrition Month, making it an opportune time for communities, families and individuals to eat better for improved health.

The first step toward creating a healthier Bryan County is having families right here our friends, neighbors and ourselves choosing to eat better and become more active, said Renee Wyrick Nutrition & Fitness Coordinator of Bryan County.

Created 40 years ago by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, National Nutrition Month is a worthwhile celebration because healthier eating can help Oklahomans lead stronger, more active lives.

Families and individuals can use the month as a springboard to start or build upon healthier eating habits, such as filling half of ones plate with fruits and vegetables, and cutting back on salt and sugar.

Simple yet effective nutrition tips can be found at ShapeYourFutureOK.com, a free resource presented by the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust and Oklahoma State Department of Health that encourages Oklahomans to eat better, move more and be tobacco free.

The website also features links to other nutrition, fitness and tobacco control resources, including one to SuperTracker, a new online tool created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help people keep track of their own diet, calories and physical activity.

A balanced, nutritious diet can help reduce the risk of chronic and potentially fatal illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes and some forms of cancer.

One-third of Oklahomans are obese, which makes us one of the most obese states in the country, said Keith Reed, director of the Oklahoma State Department of Healths Center for the Advancement of Wellness. Its critical that every person, business, school and community group do their part to promote better health for Oklahoma. Planning or participating in National Nutrition Month activities is a great place to start.

Citizens also can ask local leaders to adopt policies that encourage healthier food and beverage choices in communities, schools and workplaces.

The Bryan County Turning Point Coalition is ready to help cities, businesses, schools and afterschool programs put policies in place that will improve the health of our local residents, said Jerry Speck. A healthier workforce and healthier families will make our communities stronger and more attractive to new and expanding businesses.

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Bryan County to celebrate National Nutrition Month

More Nutrition Professionals Needed To Monitor Athlete's Dietary Needs

By Karina Imran

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 21 (Bernama) -- More food and nutrition professionals are needed to monitor the athlete's optimal dietary intake pattern, said Special Adviser to the Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz.

He said this was important for the focus was no longer confine to elite athletes, instead all levels of athletes.

"Although we already have nutrition officers, they cater only for elite athletes.

"We need to instil a healthy dietary pattern to athletes at a young age as early between 10 and 12 years because we need to prepare the second echelon to take over from senior athletes in future," he told Bernama.

Dr Ramlan, who was former National Sports Institute (NSI) chief executive officer, said when he started work as a medical officer at the institute in 1990, there was only one nutrition officer to keep watch on the athlete's dietary needs.

"Nutrition officers can help athletes maintain a well-balanced diet in order to compete at the high levels.

"They are equipped with knowledge and expertise on nutritional needs and diet, but in the areas of specialisation in certain sports, they must have in-depth knowledge to gain the athletes' trust," he said.

Asked whether national athletes consume balanced diet, Dr Ramlan said he doubted it due to lack of exposure that could enlighten them on the importance of adopting a healthy eating pattern.

"However, it is too late to enlighten them now. That is why I encourage young athletes to be given the exposure," he said, adding that young athletes should know what, how much and when to eat so that it would become second nature to them.

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More Nutrition Professionals Needed To Monitor Athlete's Dietary Needs

Saladmaster Commercial- The Nutrition Protecting Cookware – Video


Saladmaster Commercial- The Nutrition Protecting Cookware
According to the Mayo Clinic, the average american cooks out 50-80% of the nutrition in a given meal. Losing the nutrients, vitamins minerals is missing the major part of "healthy" in each meal, call your local Saladmaster dealer and schedule a healthy cooking demonstration highlighting how this amazing system can save you time, more money each month and can maximize the nutrition of each meal! Log on: http://www.happycookingco.com

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Saladmaster Commercial- The Nutrition Protecting Cookware - Video

7 day nutrition plan – Video


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7 day nutrition plan - Video

Healthy Nutrition Plan – Video


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Healthy Nutrition Plan - Video

Nutrition cluster holds but DSM profits slide 27% as recession bites

Royal DSM saw 2012 EBIT (operating) profits fall 27% to 635m from 866m in 2011 but the human and animal nutrition business it has invested 2.4bn in since 2010 added 6% in profit.

Nutrition EBIT profits grew from 577m in 2011 to 613m in 2012 with sales up 9% to 3.667bn and boosted by the 900m Ocean Nutrition Canada and Fortitech acquisitions in the year along with other animal and human nutrition investments.

Omega-3s and blends were singled out as star performers in the division that includes cultures and enzymes, carotenoids, vitamins and minerals.

Board member Stephan Tanda told us the company's Martek (2011) and ONC buys meant it could handle all omega-3 demands, even high-end pharma requirements although the company was not particularly active there now, preferring to focus on food and supplements. It was however,"keeping an eye" on the omega-3 drug patent landscape where blockbuster drugs were coming off-patent.

Feike Sijbesma, CEO/chairman of the DSM managing board, praised the nutrition division performance which he noted contributed 70% to the Dutch firms EBITDA profits of 1.1bn.

The company forecast for EBITDA of 1.4bn in 2013 remained intact despite a 'problematic Europe'that remains deep in recession, according to Tanda.

Forecasts intact

You have to remember we lost about 300m in the caprolactam nylon business in 2012. It suffered from weakness in demand so with that excluded our 1.4bn EBITDA profit forecast for GDP plus 2% remains intact, Tanda said.

He added: Europe continues as a problem and Brazil and latin America could be stronger, but the US market is picking up, and China and Asia remains in growth. It is true that it is not a pretty situation in Europe though.

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Nutrition cluster holds but DSM profits slide 27% as recession bites

Accomplished Retail Executive Anna Datri Appointed Vice-President Marketing of Liquid Nutrition

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Feb 20, 2013) - Nutrition Group Inc. ("Liquid Nutrition" or "Company") (TSX VENTURE:LQD)(TSX VENTURE:LQD.WT) is proud to announce the appointment of Anna Datri to the role of Vice-President Marketing.

With over 20 years of experience across various types of retailers, Ms. Datri brings a wide range of merchandising and marketing expertise to Liquid Nutrition. Her track record includes developing innovative programs for various brands such as Teaopia, Second Cup and Laura Secord. Ms. Datri held various senior management positions at Second Cup, Indigo Books and the Liquor Control Board of Ontario. She has earned numerous awards for her retail excellence including two Retail Council of Canada Awards for her retail marketing and merchandising strategy.

"We are very excited to have Anna Datria join the Liquid Nutrition management team, Anna brings over two decades of marketing experience, valuable industry insights and innovation success," comments David Bellisario, Chief Operating Officer of Liquid Nutrition.

Ms. Datri will oversee all aspects of retail marketing for the Liquid Nutrition brand and retail stores, and will be focused on maximizing the in store experience.

About Liquid Nutrition Group Inc.

Liquid Nutrition Group Inc. (LNGI) (TSX VENTURE:LQD)(TSX VENTURE:LQD.WT) is a rapidly growing, hybrid retailer of functional beverages, fresh pressed fruit juices, vitamins and supplements. Liquid Nutrition is committed to building a global brand in the health and wellness industry by bringing its healthy and delicious product offering to communities around the world. Through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Liquid Nutrition Franchising Corporation, LNGI has signed franchise agreements for over 80 stores across Canada, as well as license agreement in the Caribbean and the Middle East. For store locations, business opportunities or more information visit http://www.liquidnutrition.com. Please join Liquid Nutrition on Facebook and follow on Twitter @liquidnutrition.

About Team Liquid

Comprised of pro-athletes and experts in the world of sports, fitness and nutrition, members of Team Liquid were selected based on their personal and professional dedication to healthy active living. Members of the Team Liquid include: Steve Nash, Matt Ryan, Suzann Pettersen, Russell Martin, Vincent Lecavlier, Torah Bright, Elaine Hastings, RD, LD/N, CSSD, Nutritionist, Trish Stratus, seven time WWE World Champion and Yoga and Fitness icon, and Arlene Dickinson from CBC''s Dragon''s Den. To see what the Team Liquid has to say about Liquid Nutrition, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=da785AGWQqk.

To receive Company news via email, contact Erica@chfir.com and mention "Liquid Nutrition news" in the subject line.

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Accomplished Retail Executive Anna Datri Appointed Vice-President Marketing of Liquid Nutrition

Better nutrition for needy kids

THE Herbalife Family Foundation (HFF) recently presented a grant to two childrens homes in the Klang Valley under its flagship Casa Herbalife programme.

Good Samaritan Home, Klang, and Rumah Bakti Dato Harun, Ampang, each received US$18,000 (RM56,000) from the foundation.

The cheque presentation was held in Putra Stadium, Bukit Jalil, where Herbalife Malaysia general manager Sridhar Rajgopalan said the foundation had been supporting Rumah Bakti since 2006 and Good Samaritan home since 2011.

The foundation is dedicated to improving childrens lives by supporting nutritional education, the provision of healthy food and the construction of hygienic kitchen facilities through these grants, he said.

Sridhar added that the foundation, supported by Herbalife Ltd was created by Herbalife founder Mark Hughes in 1994 and was aimed at creating partnerships with charities to see to the essential nutritional needs of children around the world.

This year, the grants will support the Healthy Nutrition Begins From Home project by the Good Samaritan Home and the Nutrition Education for a Healthy Lifestyle project by Rumah Bakti.

Both projects revolve around enabling the homes to prepare nutritious meals through healthy food supplies and hygienic kitchen facilities.

Good Samaritan Home co-founder Y.M. Ong said she wished to upgrade the homes kitchen facilities as well as cooking methods to give better nutrition to the children.

Some of the children are really malnourished and they need essential nutrients and a balanced diet that is vital for their growth.

We plan to buy a proper chiller to keep our food fresh, she said, adding that the home currently housed 37 children aged from one to 22 years old.

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Better nutrition for needy kids

Activate Nutrition releases Diet Protein Plus

(PRWEB UK) 19 February 2013

Offering the highest protein content per 100 grams of any lean protein shake on the market, each serving provides 30.8 grams of quality, muscle building whey protein, whilst at the same time being low in fat and carbohydrates.

Packed with proven weight loss ingredients including green tea, CLA, L-Carnitine, taurine and acai berry, Diet Protein Plus offers an affordable alternative for people who want to lose weight but still tone up.

Mark McCall, Managing Director of Activate Nutrition said We have raised the bar with Diet Protein Plus, maintaining a high level of quality that not only helps build lean muscle but can actively benefit a weight loss diet.

Fighting back after last years government decision to add 20% VAT to sports nutrition supplements, Activate Nutrition was granted VAT exemption on its Diet Protein Plus due to its exceptional quality and ability to support weight loss, despite also being a protein shake supplement.

Mr McCall concluded: Being granted VAT exemption for such a fantastic product has meant we can offer our customers even more value without scrimping on quality. We are continually looking at ways to lead in the sports nutrition field and proactively find out what our customers really want from their nutritional supplements.

Diet Protein Plus is the first of our next wave of products due to launch in the coming months and we are excited to be able to offer it in such a competitive market.

About Activate Nutrition

Activate Nutrition is a sports nutrition supplement company based in Manchester, UK, specialising in high quality affordable supplements, including whey protein, Creatine and ZMA. Exclusively e-commerce based, Activate Nutrition is able to pass on savings directly to the customer, cutting out the middle-man and providing better value for money. http://www.activatenutrition.co.uk

For more information contact: Paul Scott Marketing and Communications info(at)activatenutrition(dot)co(dot)uk

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Activate Nutrition releases Diet Protein Plus

SCAN Health Plan Arizona Focuses on Nutrition and Wellness for Seniors During National Nutrition Month

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Nutrition plays an important role in overall health and seniors ability to manage chronic conditions and avoid illness. To help support seniors efforts to eat well and be healthier, SCAN Health Plan Arizona is honoring National Nutrition Month with a nutrition presentation, healthy cooking demonstration, and the start of an eight-week Wellness Way of Living workshop series in March.

All presentations and workshops are free and open to SCAN members as well as the general public; however, space is limited, so pre-registration is required. They will be held at the SCAN Connections Resource Center at 1313 E. Osborn Road in Phoenix. Anyone interested in attending may call 602-778-3420 to register.

The Wellness Way of Living workshop series will be held every Wednesday, beginning March 6, from 9:30-10:30 a.m. through April 24. Each workshop examines a different aspect of holistic, healthy living. Wellness Way of Living is offered in cooperation with Empowerment Systems Inc.

The Eat Smart presentation is Monday, March 11, from 10-11 a.m. This informative presentation will focus on the role of nutrition in overall health, portion distortion, guidelines for seniors, and tips to maintaining a healthy weight.

On March 20 from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., interns from the Greater Valley Area Health Education Center will show seniors how to prepare a delicious avocado mango salsa during the March Healthy Cooking demonstration. The recipe will feature all of the five food groups necessary for a balanced diet.

Improving seniors health and supporting their ability to remain independent is a driving force behind the presentations, workshops and classes we offer at the SCAN Connections Resource Center, said Susan Cypert, senior community resource specialist for SCAN Health Plan Arizona. We are delighted to be able to provide free resources that help local seniors as they age.

For 35 yearsSCAN Health Plan has been focusing on the unique needs of people with Medicare and today is one of the largest not-for-profit Medicare Advantage plans in the United States. SCAN Health Plan Arizona serves approximately 12,000 members in Maricopa and Pima counties. Further information is available at scanhealthplan.com.

SCAN Health Plan Arizona is a Medicare Advantage Organization with a Medicare contract. Y0057_SCAN_7831_2013 IA 02142013

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SCAN Health Plan Arizona Focuses on Nutrition and Wellness for Seniors During National Nutrition Month

Gaspari Nutrition Myofusion Elite Protein Review- Peanut Butter Cookie Dough – Video


Gaspari Nutrition Myofusion Elite Protein Review- Peanut Butter Cookie Dough
http://www.sixpacksmackdown.com We recently got a shipment of supplements and samples from Gaspari Nutrition. One of the items was Myofusion Elite Protein Series- Peanut Butter Cookie Dough flavor. This is a blended type protein that contains 4 different protein sources that have varying digestion rates. This is intended to fuel your body over an extended period of time. Needless to say, I was pretty pumped to try it. I am a huge peanut butter fan, and eat peanut butter multiple times per day. So to have a peanut butter flavored protein powder is just a brilliant idea. Highlights of Myofusion Eilite Protein 25 grams of protein per scoop Blend of 4 "time-released" proteins Great Taste Great Mixability Gluten Free Abundant in BCAAs The taste and mixability of Gaspari Myofusion Elite Protein was awesome. I rated it a 9/10 for taste and it mixed up very well, and wasn #39;t clump or grainy. The peanut butter cookie dough flavor was a very light peanut butter and almost more of a butterscotch flavor. In any case, it was very good. Overall Rating: Very Good

By: Gabriel Davidson

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Gaspari Nutrition Myofusion Elite Protein Review- Peanut Butter Cookie Dough - Video

Level Health and Nutrition | SuperCook – Video


Level Health and Nutrition | SuperCook
Supercooking: The art of preparing and freezing 30+ meals in 7 hours I #39;m using my cookbook - Cooking Against The Grain to complete a supercook but this can SO be done with your existing recipes. I #39;ll be streaming this live then editing it down so that it can be viewed at any time! If you want the eBook, get it here: http://www.lvlhealth.com/store

By: Orleatha Smith

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Level Health and Nutrition | SuperCook - Video

iFORCE Nutrition Tim Terwilliger squatting. – Video


iFORCE Nutrition Tim Terwilliger squatting.
I started my leg day with laying hamstring curls. I did 6 sets, 2 sets warm up, then 4 work sets of 8 heavy. I then went to squats. I did 135x12, 185x12, 225x5, 275x5, 315x5, 365x5, 385x5, 405x5, 415x5, 425x5, 445x5. This was my last set, with 445x5.

By: Tim Terwilliger

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iFORCE Nutrition Tim Terwilliger squatting. - Video

Head of Brunswick school nutrition serves up good food

Published: Monday, February 18, 2013 at 12:38 p.m. Last Modified: Monday, February 18, 2013 at 12:38 p.m.

Tina Ward, a lifelong nutrition educator and promoter of good food and healthy living, knows about overindulging.

And not just with food.

My colleagues and I sometimes joke that we are absolute gluttons for punishment when you consider all the rules, regulations and changing standards we have to adhere to, says Ward, the director of Child Nutrition for the 12,335 students spread across the Brunswick County school district.

In her role the past six years at Brunswick County schools, and for another six years prior to that in Child Nutrition in New Hanover County schools, Ward and her colleagues tackle two very distinct challenges.

1. Make feeding children a break-even business: In Brunswick, Ward administers a $6.5 million budget that must break even after hiring and managing 105 Child Nutrition employees, scattered between 19 school sites and the central office, and paying the grocery bill along with other required operating expenses. The Child Nutrition Program is a self-supporting enterprise within the school system.

2. Meet exacting standards for feeding students: Chief among the agencies helping her break even is the federal government, in the form of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, from which Ward receives more than $4 million of her revenue and almost all of her guidelines, which is to say the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act (HHFKA).

The HHFKA authorizes funding and sets policy for the USDA's core child nutrition programs, which, says the USDA, has allowed it to make real reforms to the school lunch and breakfast programs by improving the critical nutrition and hunger safety net for millions of children.

It has also revved up Ward and her colleagues with another major project by authorizing and funding the Summer Food Service Program. And Ward is about to tackle it this summer with her insatiable zeal and admirable work ethic.

In Brunswick County, says Ward, 62 percent of the students receive free or reduced-priced meals.

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Head of Brunswick school nutrition serves up good food