Cumberland County #NJ #Greenhouse Ribbon Cutting #GardenCuizine #schoolgardens

New Greenhouse 

at Bridgeton High School, NJ

This summer, Bridgeton High School, located in Cumberland County, NJ, unveiled a new 1,500 sq. foot greenhouse that was funded and donated by the Procacci family, Revive South Jersey and NJ Community Capital. 

The new student greenhouse features a student-built hydroponic farm! In the fall, science and nutrition class students will plant herbs, fruits and vegetables there. 

Thanks to District Nutritionist, Allison Wentzell; Jacque Mermer, Assistant Director of Food Services and master of ceremonies, Mr. Warren DeShields, Director of Food Services of Bridgeton Public Schools for inviting me to attend; I love the new greenhouse and can't wait to see what your students grow! 

Dietitians and healthcare professionals take the challenge of reversing childhood obesity very seriously. Scientific evidence has long shown that kids who garden eat more fruits and vegetables. Eating more plant foods helps to prevent diseases, such as obesity, cancer and heart disease. The introduction of gardens in schools is a great gift to the students.

Many people were involved in bringing the idea of a greenhouse to the school district at Bridgeton HS to the students. Agriculture is one of the goals that some students are pursuing. The greenhouse will serve as a teaching tool for students in science class. Hydroponic gardening depends on an important nutrient blend and water testing the pH in order to grow food without soil.

Plant foods are important because they provide essential vitamins, minerals, fiber and other compounds. Fruits and vegetables are low in energy density so they also help people achieve and maintain a healthy body weight.

"Imagine having your own greenhouse," said Dr. Thomasina Jones, Superintendent Bridgeton Public Schools. The students will be given an opportunity to "Cultivate seeds, nurture those seeds and watch them bloom and flourish." Best wishes to all with this exciting agriculture opportunity to grow their own fruits and vegetables. 

The first greenhouse for Bridgeton Public Schools will provide 540 plant spaces in the new hydroponic system. Raised garden beds and more outdoor learning spaces can be found at West Avenue School and Cherry Street School.

Related Links
NJ State Health Assessment Data

Crab Imperial #GardenCuizine Cooking with #realbutter Can we trust advice about Saturated Fats?

Crab Imperial
 made with real Butter

Watch for my spin of a traditional recipe adapted from the Colonial Williamsburg Cookbook. The recipe calls for butter. Butter adds great flavor to seafood; no substitutions were used.

A few words about Saturated Fats and cooking with real Butter

Over the years, starting in 1977, US public health dietary advice to the public was to reduce overall fat consumption to 30% of total energy intake and reduce saturated fat consumption to 10% of total energy intake. During that time Americans feasted on foods low in fat with little mindfulness about carbohydrate content. Obesity increased to the epidemic levels we have today.

Health buzz over butter got sizzling after the March 2014 release of a controversial meta-analysis study by Chowhury, Kunutsor, Crowe, et.al. who concluded that current evidence did not clearly support cardiovascular guidelines that encourage high consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids and low consumption of total saturated fats.  

Writers were quick to comment on this hot topic; I remember the June 2014 Time Magazine's cover featuring a big fat swirl of real butter. I actually saved that issue and have a copy as a souvenir.

Just last year a meta-analysis study by Harcombe, Baker, Cooper et.al. informed the public that the US National Dietary Guidelines to consume low fat foods to prevent cardiovascular disease did not have enough RCT evidence to support that claim. Say what? ...not enough randomized controlled trials?!? And, the studies didn't include any women! As a dietitian, I find that shocking.

So while healthcare leaders decide what future recommendations will be with regard to saturated fats, here's the deal on butter: One tablespoon (14g) of butter contains 11g total fat (17% DV) with 7g of saturated fat (36% DV - very high) and 100 calories. Saturated fats have been shown to increase bad LDL cholesterol. The saturated fat in butter also increases the good HDL cholesterol. What do you think? Eat it or not? Vegans of course won't because it's from an animal. What if you're not vegan? 

Best advice is to Savor the Flavor (this year's NNM theme) and focus on the quality of your overall food choices and be mindful of excess calories and saturated fat consumption. For disease prevention, or if you have heart disease or high cholesterol, it makes sense to limit foods like butter.  

Enjoy butter in moderation; especially in recipes that require making a roux for thickening. Butter is a good source of butyrate, hence the origin of the name.

Crab Imperial recipe coming next - just have to type it up!
Related Links
Is Butter Really Back?
Butter is Back 
Meta-analysis study by Chowhury, Kunutsor, Crowe et.al. 
Saturated Fat: Not so Bad or just Bad Science? Today's Dietitian 

According to doctors @ForumHSPH, medications alone are not the answer @eatright @kidseatright @letsmove #GardenCuizine

 Diet Quality is Important

In researching science-based evidence to recommend and teach to others to help improve their diets and lifestyles to prevent disease, I came across a video by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health on Rethinking Cholesterol. New medications are being tested now. The distinguished medical professionals conveyed that medications alone were not the answer to obesity-related diseases such as high cholesterol - healthy diets and lifestyle for disease prevention is key. (Several of the forum participants were from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, which is where my Uncle is now as he battles cancer.)

Check out this important quote from Dr Patrick O’Gara, Senior Physician, Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Immediate Past President, American College of Cardiology:

According to Dr. O'Gara, "...People need to know the benefit of exercise, maintaining a good body weight,and maintaining a good diet, learning about food. How to sit down with their family members and have dinner together, or how to go to the grocery store and then build on that..."

Lifestyle modifications including exercise and a heart healthy diet are, "...Key in prevention of disease and could prevent 90% of type II diabetes cases and 80% of heart attacks and 1/3 of cancers...", according to JoAnn Manson, Chief, Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Professor in the Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She stressed her concerns of our current obesity public health crisis and more children being started on medications in grade school because of preventable chronic diseases.

For more information, you can watch the Harvard video on YouTube. Just know that food and exercise do matter. Keep exercising and cooking and eating healthy for yourself and for your family; you just may inspire others to do the same.

Watch for more GardenCuizine Heart Healthy Recipes coming soon!

Blog post Copyright (C)Wind. All rights reserved. Prayers to Uncle Richard and Aunt Joanne and the Johnson Family. This blog post is not intended as medical advice. Discuss all medications, options and concerns with your doctor.