Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Sorghum and Celiac Disease

FOOD REFLECTIONS: Sorghum and Celiac Disease (March 2009)

As many as one in 133 people may have celiac disease, of which the majority has not been diagnosed. One of the stories I heard was of a boy everyone thought for years was kind of sickly. Of course when he got really sick and didn’t eat much, he got “better.” The symptoms of celiac disease vary widely and a gluten-free diet is the only way to treat celiac disease. As more work is being done in recipe development for celiac disease, one of the grain flours that has emerged is sorghum. Whole grain sorghum flour provides important fiber and has a mild flavor that won’t compete with the delicate flavors of other food ingredients. For this month’s Food Reflections, they are sharing an article they developed that tells more about celiac disease, provides helpful links to additional information and other foods to avoid, plus several sorghum recipes.View the article at: http://lancaster.unl.edu/food/gluten-free-sorghum-recipes.shtml

Posted by Annetta at 16:30:03 | Permalink | No Comments »

Economize on food when your income drops

Here are some tips for economizing on food when your income drops.  Substitute lower cost ingredients to meet nutritional goals and family tastes.  For instance, perhaps for a time, you can use regular white vinegar instead of Balsamic, which must be aged and cured for it’s distinctive flavor.  Shop the sales and always get the deals on fresh fruit and vegetables.  Also, buy produce in season when possible.  If your family hasn’t tried something before, let it be a family adventure to do so!  As you buy food, compare cost per serving, cost per unit - ounce, quart, etc. and cost per brand.  You may find it helpful to have a calculator with you at the grocery store.  Use specials and coupons - have a friend teach you how to do the coupon thing if you haven’t done it before.  It is really fun and like a treasure hunt.  And don’t turn your nose up at generic brands.  One mother I know of had a great strategy with her family.  She would have them try a blind taste test between what they were used to and the generic brand.  If they could tell a negative difference, so be it, she would continue buying the brand they were used to.  But if not, welcome to the family new generic brand!  Hope these ideas help. 
Posted by Annetta at 16:11:59 | Permalink | No Comments »

Friday, March 13, 2009

Flood Safety Awareness Week - March 16 - 20, 2009

FEMA and the National Flood Insurance Program in conjunction with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service have declared March 16 through March 20th, 2009 “Flood Safety Awareness Week”.  Flooding is our Nation’s most frequent and costly natural disaster.  Visit   www.floodsmart.gov/noaafloodweek  to learn more about flooding and preparedness. 
Go to  http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/floodsmart/37348t  to view the multimedia presentation on Flood Safety Awareness Week. 
Posted by Annetta at 20:11:37 | Permalink | No Comments »