VERITABLE AND FRUIT GARDENING: AN ACTIVITY FOR BODY, MIND AND POCKETBOOK

FROM:  VETERANS ADMINISTRATION
How Does Your Garden Grow?
June 8, 2012 by Kasey Vagedes
What is one of the best ways to lower your grocery bills and provide a fun and free form of physical activity? If you said by growing them yourself and gardening you are exactly right! Few people would argue that there is a better tasting tomato than one fresh from the vine, but gardening can also help Veterans stay in shape!

Whether you own a home with lots of acreage, or live in an apartment, there are many ways to start gardening.  For those of us with limited outdoor space, container gardening may be the way to go.   Containers allow the option of planting a variety of plants in a multitude of different sized pots and containers (ask an expert at your local gardening center for assistance in choosing containers based on your outdoor space and the plants you wish to grow).  Raised bed gardens are another option that has become popular.  With the right tools you may choose to build your own, or purchase a raised bed garden kit at your local garden center.

If outdoor space is a problem many cities and towns offer community gardens within your neighborhoods.  This gives people a chance to manage a garden in another location outside of their home and the ability to mingle with your neighbors.  Your local extension office or park district can give more information on community gardens and may offer free seedling starters!

When we have fresh vegetables at our doorstep it makes it easy to implement a healthy plate. Check out Choose My Plate for tips. Half of the food on your plate should come from fruits and vegetables.  It is important to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables from a wide array of colors.  Be sure to include dark green along with red and orange fruits and vegetables in your daily diet.  All of these foods can be grown in your very own garden.  You may need to talk with your PACT dietitian about specific disease conditions that may prevent you from eating certain foods or nutrients.

As I mentioned before, heavy gardening such as digging and shoveling can even strengthen muscles and bones.  Along with an increase in physical activity gardening can also be therapeutic.  It can be a time of solace to unwind and relax and relieve stress and tension from your day.

Talk with your PACT team for referrals to your dietitian, physical therapist, social worker, or mental health specialist for more information on healthy eating, ways to incorporate exercise into your daily routine, community food assistance programs and stress management activities.

Kasey Vagedes, MS, RD is a clinical dietitian working in both inpatient and outpatient areas at the Dayton, OH VA Medical Center.  She has been employed with VA for four years and enjoys spring time and outdoor gardening in her own back yard and community.

A VETERAN'S MOM

FROM:  U.S. VETERANS DEPARTMENT
Thank You Mom, For Helping Me Serve May 12, 2012 by Lauren Bailey
Janny, as I affectionately call my mom, has never questioned my commitment to work for Veterans, even when I have.  Working in a bureaucracy can be crushing and I’d be lying if I said there weren’t days when I just want to pack it all in.  But my mom never lets me give up.  She listened carefully when I stressed about putting pen to paper to explain the civilian guilt I felt , she answered my phone calls and encouraged me to keep toughing it out at the office when my husband moved to the other side of the country (I stayed because I love my job and the work my team does matters to me), and she unwaveringly and unabashedly loves my teammates—all of whom served overseas.

Those closest to me were not directly affected by the wars of the last decade.  My little family stayed out of harm’s way because of the unflinching commitment of my team and the Veterans that we reach every day.  My mom is so proud that I work with—and for—such valiant men and women.  She is the reason that, even though I sometimes feel like I’m using all my energy to push a peanut across the table, I never ever give up on doing my best to serve Vets.

Mom – thank you so much for being such an awesome woman, for pushing me to always do the right thing, finish what I start and fight the good fight.  You inspire me to help others the same way you so selflessly and lovingly help me.  I like to think that the Vets I work with and serve fight for mothers just like you.
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ORGANIC FOODS

FROM:  U.S. VETERANS ADMINISTRATION
What’s the Deal with Organic Foods?April 30, 2012 by Liz Chrencik
Veterans are becoming increasingly concerned about health. In both group classes and individual appointments Veterans want more information about nutrition. A common question that frequently comes up is, “should I be eating all organic foods?”. Organic foods are more mainstream these days. Along with the expected fruits and vegetables you can also find processed organic foods, health and beauty products and even dog food. Many Americans think of organic foods as being healthier and safer for the environment, but is the hype behind organic foods worthy of your attention (and dollars)?

What exactly does “organic” mean? Organic is a labeling term regulated through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The voluntary certification process allows companies to put the USDA organic seal on their product if they meet certain specifications. To meet these criteria, there can be no synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, genetically engineered material or irradiation used in the growing or processing methods. Most organic foods fall into one of two categories:  fresh foods (such as fruits, vegetables, meat, or eggs) and ready-made processed items with several ingredients (cereals, frozen meals, soups, etc.). The term “organic” can only be used for processed foods if 95% of the ingredients are certified organic. “100% organic” on the label indicates that all ingredients are certified organic.

Organic methods of food production encourage farming practices that benefit the environment through water conservation, improved soil quality and reduced pollution. Presently, there is conflicting evidence that organic foods are more nutritious than conventionally raised foods. Many people imagine most organic foods to come from small, independently run farms and ranches. In actuality a lot of the commercially available organic foods found in grocery stores are produced by large corporations. While some small, independently owned farms go through the certification process to become organic, many practice sustainable farming methods but forego organic certification because of the cost.  As more people become aware of the importance of nutrition in both prevention and management of chronic diseases, more and more questions arise about which foods should be eaten. I often encounter Veterans who are concerned because they can’t afford to eat all organic. While organic has its merits, it is not the magic health bullet people think it is. Eating all organic won’t improve your health if you switch from conventional junk food to organic junk food. Even more important than eating organic is to try to eat more whole foods and limit your intake of processed foods, including organic processed foods.  Try something new and stop by a farmers market to include fresher, locally raised fruits, vegetables, and eggs. Some of these smaller operations practice sustainable farming methods but don’t undergo organic certification because of the cost. Plan ahead and make a list before heading to the grocery store so you know exactly what you need and don’t end up buying things that will go bad before you can use them.  Having a plan can help you save money and eat healthier as you avoid eating out or throwing food away that goes bad before you cook it.

Consider these tips to make better decisions:
Buy fruits and vegetables in season. This will help you get the best produce.  Seasonal fruits and vegetables will be cheaper, fresher, and probably tastier. If produce is locally grown it will also have less of an impact on the environment because that apple in your lunch didn’t have to hop on a plane to get there.

Wash all fruits and vegetables with running water.  This will help to remove dirt, bacteria, and some pesticide residue. Peeling after washing is also an option but this means losing fiber and other nutrients.

Read nutrition labels carefully. The term organic does not necessarily mean it is healthy. Organic mac and cheese is still high in calories, fat, and sodium. Many products have nutrition claims on the front of their packages, consider these advertisements! Always flip it over to get the nutrition facts.

“Natural” is not organic. For meat and egg products natural means they were “minimally processed” and contain no artificial ingredients. There are NO regulations for products that claim they are natural but contain no meat or eggs.