CSA: Community Supported Agriculture

Eat Right Knox will have a guest blogger for the next 25 weeks! In addition to the usual nutrition and health-related posts, Jennifer will be blogging about her experience with her first ever CSA share. Expect pictures, recipes, and general information about local agriculture and seasonal produce.

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Don't know what CSA is? Read on for more information!

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer. Basically, local consumers support their local farmers by purchasing shares of the next season's harvest.

CSA Basics:

• A farmer offers a certain number of shares to the public
• A share is usually a box of produce but other products may be included
• Consumers purchase a share and receive a weekly box of seasonal produce during the farming season

Benefits for the Farmer:

• Marketing for the food they grow
• Receive payment early in the season, helping with cash flow
• Provides an opportunity to get to know people who eat the food they grow

Benefits for the Public:

• Weekly access to super fresh, nutritious food
• Exposure to new vegetables and new ways of cooking/recipes
• Develop a relationship with your very own farmer so you know who grows your food and how!

I will be sharing with you what comes in my box each week and the recipes I try. Check back soon to see this week's share!

Eat Right Knox Guest Blogger
Jennifer Nicklas, MS-MPH, RD, LDN

Sources:
Local Harvest: http://www.localharvest.org/csa/
Colvin Family Farm: http://www.colvinfamilyfarm.com/Our_CSA.html
Pick Tennessee Products: http://www.picktnproducts.org/

Facts About Flax

The nation’s interest in flaxseed has exploded in recent years as flaxseed is thought to have many beneficial effects on the body. Flaxseed is the seed from the Linumusitatissimum plant - the seed and seed oil are used as food and can be found in many medications. Common food products that contain flaxseed include crackers and oatmeal. Flaxseed contains protein and offers many nutritional and health benefits. The main three nutritional benefits of flaxseed are:

• Omega-3 Fatty Acids.
Flaxseed contains alpha-linoleic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid. These fatty acids are considered “healthy fats,” and can help improve heart health, lower triglyceride levels, and aid in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease and arthritis. One tablespoon of ground flaxseed has around 1.8 grams of omega-3.

• Lignans
Lignans can help lower blood cholesterol and improve atherosclerosis. Lignans in flaxseed have been shown to reduce total cholesterol levels and LDL (bad cholesterol) levels. However, flaxseed does not appear to improve HDL (good cholesterol) levels. Lignans also have antioxidant properties which help protect the body’s cells from harmful compounds called free radicals. Flaxseed may contain as much as 800 times more lignans than most other plant foods.

• Fiber
Flaxseed contains both soluble and insoluble fiber. Fiber is an important part of digestive health, weight maintenance, and blood cholesterol control. Fiber from flaxseed may help manage constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or irritable colon, diverticulitis (inflammation of the lining in the large intestine), ulcerative colitis (ulcers in the large intestine lining), gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining), and enteritis (inflammation of the small intestine). Although flaxseed may help with the above conditions, it is not advised for all. If taken without sufficient water, flaxseed can cause constipation or even a bowel obstruction. Most of the fiber found in flaxseed is located in the seed coat, so consuming flaxseed oil will not provide a significant amount of fiber.

"Get Your Plate in Shape" Boot Camp

Thank you so much to everyone who came out to our "Get Your Plate in Shape" Boot Camp on March 24th! An even bigger thank you to Fort Sanders Health & Fitness Center for providing the space and fitness instructors for our event!

Enjoying a heart-pumping Step class!

Sugar Overload presentation with Peggy Pratt, PhD, RD (Registered Dietitian from Radiant Nutrition)

An energetic Zumba class!

To wrap up the Boot Camp, we had a Nutrition for Exercise discussion with Casey Peer, MS, RD, LDN (Registered Dietitian with Provision Health & Wellness).

Attendees received goody bags with pedometers, coupons, citrus peelers, and other local information. We had wonderful prizes to giveaway from: Jason's Deli, Tomato Head, local Registered Dietitians, Neighborhood Barre, Kroger, Ingles, the Health Shoppe, Runners Market, and others!

We look forward to another successful Boot Camp during National Nutrition Month 2013!

Eat Right Knox @ Diabetes Now! Health Fair

Eat Right Knox is at the Diabetes Now! Health Fair at the Knoxville Convention Center. We're spreading the word about nutrition and healthy living!

We'll be giving out our fantastic door prize too (Kroger gift card, Defeating Diabetes book, Pampered Chef items, Health Shoppe gift certificate, and more with a total value of $100).

"Get Your Plate in Shape" Part V: Physical Activity

Nutrition is just one part of the healthy living equation. The "Get in Shape" part of this year's theme reminds us to be physically active. Pick your favorite activities and get moving!

Be physically active your way
Pick activities that you like and start by doing what you can, at least 10 minutes at a time.

Every bit adds up and health benefits increase as you spend more time being active.

Children and teens: Get 60 minutes or more a day.

Adults: Get 2 hours and 30 minutes or more a week of activity that requires moderate effort such as brisk walking.

Want to get moving with a group of people?

Join us Saturday, March 24th for our first annual boot camp!

Information from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association). The Academy is the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals and is committed to improving the nation's health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education and advocacy. Visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics at www.eatright.org.