august-2009-hmm-newsletter

Healthy Menus Minneapolis

VOLUM

ended Community Strategies surements to Prevent Obesity in the United States.

s fat free restaurants easedinclude: on July 24, 2009 by the

Disease Control (CDC) details 24 ations for community action on how s obesity in the United States.

Pizza Kitchen ke lorieFactory labeling and trans fat phase resh Mex one of the suggestions, t specifically rollows and with Grillour goal of creating ng environments for all den s. g’s

ists numerous strategies that can nted at the local level. One of the trategies is to have communities e availability of healthier food and Fried Chicken hoices in public service venues. ’s King it isBurger suggesting policies be put in sply nutrition standards that are with the dietary guidelines for offee o all food sold within local facilities in a local jurisdiction or on ol campuses.

port is yet another reminder of the al policy change around healthy r communities to help prevent and ity.

erested in seeing a copy of the full se contact Jennifer Anderson at 52 or janderson@metrodoctors.com

Welcome to Healthy Menus Minneapolis!

What is Healthy Menus Minneapolis?

Healthy Menus Minneapolis is a project of the West Metro Medical Society. We are a co local health organizations concerned about the lack of nutrition information offered at f establishments. One of the contributing factors to the growing national obesity epidem public’s increasing reliance on fast food. Today, the nation’s children and families cons third of their calories eating out. Unfortunately, the majority of restaurants do not pr accessible information related to the calorie content of the food they serve.

Healthy Menus Minneapolis believes that in order to combat one of the root causes of o restaurant chains should be required to provide the calorie content of the food they se boards, drive thru menus and table menus so consumers can make healthy informed c point of purchase.

Federal Menu Labeling Legislation Update

This summer has been filled with talk of health care reform; debates about what will w won’t work, who has the best ideas to bring the cost of health care down, and how qui care reform can be approved to help the American people. Healthy Menus Minneapolis watching this unfold because there is a federal menu labeling policy that is included in care reform package. As legislators take their August breaks, we will have to wait on a the mean time a recent article from the Los Angeles Times suggests the restaurant ind odds about who should be covered under the policy.

“The fight has become so intense that the warring parties have made some unusual a National Restaurant Association has forged a pact with a public policy interest group, o the “food police” and long a foe of the industry. It sees the proposed legislation, introd Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) in May and since combined with a competing bill, as the be expand menu labeling nationwide after years of objections by the restaurant trade. Me more than a dozen fast-food and pizza chains have linked up with several health group believe the legislation should include as many establishments as possible. The bill, the gaps big enough to let a milk tanker drive through. As written, the bill applies only to 20 or more restaurants operating under the same name. They must post calories on m provide more detailed written information, such as fat and sodium content, on request

Jonathan Blum, Sr. Vice President of Yum Brands Inc. which owns Taco Bell, Pizza Hut others is suggesting that only 25 percent of all fast-food establishments will be covere which he see’s as poor service to the American public. Yum is asking that the regulatio apply to individual restaurants with $1 million or more in annual sales and chains with more locations.

According to Margo Wootan, Director of nutrition policy at the Center for Science in the Interest, exempting small businesses is reasonable and allows for larger chain restaura provide accurate information and deal with government regulation.

As this proposed legislation continues to make its way to a final vote, Healthy Menus M will continue to provide updates.

Grassroots Campaign Update

ow that we’re in the full wing of summer, here’s mething to think about hen you’re craving that Dairy Queen blizzard.

A large Dairy Queen Chocolate Chip Cookie ugh Blizzard contains 6 grams of trans fat.

U.S. dietary guidelines uggest that individuals ould consume less than grams of trans fat daily, which only allows for nsumption of naturally occurring trans fat. owever, Americans age 20 and older eat an verage of 5.8 grams of ans fat on a daily basis.

The Skinny on Trans Fats Actually there’s nothing skinny about trans fats!

Partially hydrogenated fats, also known as trans fat, develop when liquid oils are conve solid fat such as shortening and margarine. While traces of trans fat can be found nat animal-based foods, almost all trans fat is artificially produced and found in hydrogena for frying and baking. Research studies indicate that on a gram-for-gram basis, trans most harmful fat (even more harmful that saturated fat) because it lowers good choles and raises bad cholesterol levels (LDL).

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Scientific studies have found a link between trans fat and an increased risk of coro disease (CHD). In 2006, 15% of deaths in Minneapolis were a result of CHD. Trans fat increases the risk for stroke, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.

A Harvard Study estimates that eliminating trans fats could prevent 10-19% of eve to coronary heart disease.

Trans fats are most commonly found in fast-food, bakery products, crackers, cakes and pastries.