According to information from Diane Morris, Mainstream Nutrition, there are  5 trends in regards to current eating patterns in our country:

1. Dichotomous Dining - people have a dual mindset about eating today. They want to eat healthy, but they don't want to eat healthy. They order pizza with everything and a diet soda. There is a drive for lowfat foods and at the same time for high fat sweets and treats. Consumers increasingly describe foods in terms of good and bad. The consumer is the one driving the food industry. More than $14 billion was spent on salty snacks in 1995.
2. Quilt Cuisine - our eating habits reflect an ethnic quilt - with food from around the world. People are experimenting with more and more new foods. Asians, Blacks, and Hispanics will represent 3/5 of the consumers in fewer than 8 years.
3. Speed and Feed - people eat on the go and are in the habit of grazing. Dashboard Dining is another term for this. It is estimated that 80% of all Americans eat at fast food restaurants once a week. One third of us eat there more often than that. Fast food represents about 50% of total eating places sales. The typical consumer spends a maximum of 30 minutes daily preparing meals. It is expected that this time will be down to 15 minutes by the turn of the century.
4. Speed Scratch Cooking - pre-assembled ingredients are key/single meals in one package.
5. 5-a-Day - not fruits and vegetables, but 5 meals a day: 1) daystart, 2) pulsebreak, 3) humpmunch, 4) holdmeal, 5) evensnack.

What consumers believe is that there is too much conflicting information on diet, that they believe in the good/bad myth of food, and that they have to eliminate their favorite foods to have a healthy diet. But the real message is this; move more and enjoy eating! For your copy of an article entitled "ALL FOODS CAN FIT", call 402-223-3103 or write PATCH at 1201 S 9^th Street Beatrice, NE 68310.

Despite America's bounteous food supply, about 1 in every 200 adolescents - 9 out of 10 of whom are girls from all socio-economic levels - are literally starving themselves. These young girls and a few boys suffer from eating disorders identified as anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and bulimarexia, which involve learned behaviors stemming from a preoccupation with food.

In February 1999, Gage County PATCH with co-sponsorship of Beatrice Community Hospital and Blue Valley Mental Health Center, presented a 2-part workshop on eating disorders. This was available through the distance learning format at area schools in Southeast Nebraska. Further resource information as follow-up will be sent to all schools again in August. Videos are available for viewing free of charge through the Dairy Council of Central States. If you are interested in this information or a copy of "10 Things Parents Can Do To Help Prevent Eating Disorders", please contact the PATCH office.

As a community, we can do our part by being better informed, providing support and openness for families dealing with these issues, and encouraging support plus therapy for those experiencing this disorder. We can support public policy to counteract societal exploitation of youth via constant over-emphasis on beauty, fitness and dieting. Through such community actions, parents, schools and community can seek to protect all of our population, but especially a most vulnerable faction - adolescent girls in epidemic numbers who suffer from anorexia, bulimia and bulimarexia.

Current research shows that good nutrition coupled with regular aerobic and strength-building exercises can be beneficial to almost all older adults. To help stay on the path to a longer, healthier life, try following the eating and exercise guidelines here:

	Establish good eating patterns…use the food pyramid as your guide. The right mix of food is crucial. Try eating a variety of foods from the pyramid with emphasis on complex carbohydrates, vegetables, and fruits.
	Eat a diet rich in vitamin E and B6 and the trace mineral zinc…these nutrients may play a role in helping to protect the immune system. Focus on whole grains and legumes, green leafy vegetables, seafood, lean meat, unsaturated margarines or vegetable oils.
	Choose foods rich in vitamin D and calcium…these foods will be helping your bones to stay strong. Bone growth slows as we age. Low-fat dairy products are good sources of calcium.
	Up your fiber intake…include at least 20 grams of fiber in the diet, to ensure a healthy, active, and regular digestive system. Good sources of fiber include; fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes.
	Try and consume foods that are good sources of antioxidants…cut the fat, dietary cholesterol, and sodium in your diet - increase your consumption of vitamins B6, B12, and folate.
	Try to maintain an ideal body weight…keeping a balance between energy consumed and energy expended is an increasing challenge as people age. As the body ages, there is a decrease in muscle tissue and increase in fatty tissue. The key is to try and keep excessive fat out of your diet, stay active, and select foods that are high in complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber.
	Exercise and Stay Alive…important muscle tissue and strength is lost with aging. Newer research shows that it is never too late to rebuild and strengthen muscle with the right kind of activity and exercise. Regular physical activity can help to prevent and manage coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis, obesity, and mental health problems. The best news is, its never too late to start. No matter what your age, simple changes in activity and eating habits can delay or even reverse many problems and symptoms associated with the aging process.

The word "exercise" often can be a negative term. To many people, exercise - the old "20 minutes of aerobics three times a week" - is a dull and inconvenient expenditure of energy and sweat. Exercise has had such a bad reputation that even though the message has been around for 20 years, it hasn't caught on yet. In fact, today only about 20% of adults and kids are exercising at the recommended levels. That means that nearly 80% of those in the U.S. are not getting enough exercise.

The U.S. Surgeon General in 1996 emphasized the importance of physical activity as a public health issue. The report supports new research that introduces the concept of moderate-intensity physical activity to provide important health benefits. Among the reports major findings:

	People who are usually inactive can improve their health and well-being by becoming even moderately active on a regular basis.
	Physical activity need not be strenuous to achieve health benefits.
	Greater health benefits can be achieved by increasing the amount (duration, frequency, or intensity) of physical activity.

From these conclusions comes a new physical activity message:

Examples of activities at this level include:

	Taking the stairs instead of the elevator.
	Walking instead of riding in a car when doing errands.
	Taking longer routes when walking from one place to another.
	Going for a 10-minute walk when you get up in the morning and also at lunch.

Any kind of movement at all counts here; the more the better!

Prevention Begins at Home

Kids don't stay alcohol and drug-free by luck. It takes caring and effort.

Start talking to kids early…Attitudes about alcohol and drugs are formed early in life, so get your two cents worth in while you can.

Help kids learn how to say "NO"…Help your kids practice ahead of time so they will know what to do or say when someone puts pressure on them to use alcohol or drugs.

Set rules and consequences…Kids are less likely to use alcohol and drugs if they are aware this behavior is unacceptable to their parents. This means telling kids what you expect of them and imposing consequences if they don't honor these expectations.

Know what your kids are doing…Make a real effort to be selective about TV shows, movies, and concerts. Check ahead to see if parties will be chaperoned and alcohol/drug-free.

Set a good example…Kids often do what parents do. By setting a good example, you'll increase the chances that your children will make low-risk decisions about alcohol and other drugs.

The past two years, PATCH has co-sponsored a project called "Safety City" with the Beatrice Police Department. This is a two-day event that teaches preschool-aged children (children just getting ready for Kindergarten) a variety of safety awareness themes. Examples of the activities include:

	Sidewalk Safety
	Safely Crossing the Street
	"McGruff House"
	Poison Awareness
	Fire Safety
	Water Safety
	"Stranger Danger"
	School Bus Safety
	Seatbelt Safety
	Storm Safety and Awareness

About 25 million students ride school buses daily. Although this is one of the safest ways to travel to and from school, injuries do occur. In 1996, 35 school-age children were killed and an estimated 5,000 were injured in school bus-related incidents. Here are some tips:

	Arrive at the bus stop at least five minutes before the bus
	Stay out of the street and avoid horseplay
	Always wait for parents on the same side of the street as the  school bus loading/unloading zone
	Remain seated at all times and keep aisles clear
	Don't throw objects
	Don't shout or distract the bus driver
	Keep heads and arms inside the bus

When boarding and leaving the bus:

	Wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before exiting.
	Use handrails to avoid falls.
	Walk in a single file line.
	Be aware of the driver's blind spot (10 feet in front of the bus) when walking away from the bus. Don't bend over to pick up dropped items. Instead, children should notify the driver and ask for help.
	Cross the street at least 10 feet in front of the bus.
	Remove loose drawstrings or ties on jackets and sweatshirts and replace them with velcro, snaps or buttons.

The American Cancer Society's priority legislation in Nebraska during this past session of the Unicameral was LB 505. Introduced by Lincoln Sen. Dave Landis, this bill proposed to raise the tax per pack of cigarettes to one dollar. The American Cancer Society supports this policy because such legislation has proven effective in reducing youth smoking. Kids are very price sensitive - in states where the tax on cigarettes has risen, youth consumption has declined dramatically.

Tips About Smoking

Cigarette smoking is perhaps the most devastating preventable cause of disease and premature death. Nearly 50 million Americans smoke - including one in five teenagers - resulting in nearly 450,000 deaths each year. Cigarettes are highly addictive, both mentally and physically, and can serve as a major gateway to other forms of drug addiction. Adolescent cigarette smokers are 100 times more likely to smoke marijuana and are more likely to use other illicit drugs such as cocaine and heroin in the future.

The risks associated with smoking cigarettes are:

	Diminished or extinguished sense of smell and taste
	Frequent colds
	Smoker's cough
	Gastric ulcers
	Chronic bronchitis
	Increase in heart rate and blood pressure
	Premature and more abundant face wrinkles
	Emphysema
	Heart disease or stroke

Quick Facts

	Use your head - smoking is responsible for close to 450,000 deaths each year.
	Stay active - exercising and participation in sports is nearly impossible if you smoke.
	Stay informed - young smokers are 100 times more likely to go on to other drugs.
	Be aware of the risks - smoking can lead to many physical problems.
	Keep your edge - smoking makes you smell bad, gives you bad breath, and gives you premature wrinkles.
	Play it safe - experimenting with smoking could lead to addiction and a lifetime of trying to quit.
	Do the smart thing - smoking puts your health and the health of those around you at risk.
	Get with the program - smoking isn't "in" anymore.
	Find ways to reduce anxiety - smoking may actually contribute to your state of agitation.
	Be a real friend - if you know someone who smokes, be a part of the solution. Urge your friend to get help and quit.

Clinical Depression is a Treatable Illness

Every year, more than 17 million Americans suffer from clinical depression. Clinical depression is one of the most treatable medical illnesses and getting treatment can save lives. The most commonly used treatments are anti-depressant medications, psychotherapy, or a combination of the two. When you talk to your doctor and/or mental health professional, it is important to explore the range of treatment options.

The symptoms of depression are caused by chemical imbalances in the brain and other parts of the body that influence things like mood, sleep, and how much energy we have. Antidepressant medication acts on chemical pathways of the brain. There are many extremely effective antidepressants. Antidepressants are not habit-forming. It may take as little as eight weeks before you notice an improvement. It is usually recommended that medications be taken for at least four to nine months after the depressive symptoms have improved.

Talking with a trained mental health professional can help teach better ways of handling problems. Therapy can be effective in treating clinical depression, especially depression that is less severe. Scientific studies have shown that short-term (10-20 weeks) courses of therapy are often helpful in treating depression. Cognitive/behavioral therapy helps change negative styles of thinking and behavior that may contribute to clinical depression. Interpersonal therapy focuses on dealing more effectively with other people, working to change relationships that can worsen clinical depression.

Symptoms may include persistent sad or anxious mood, sleeping too much or too little, reduced or increased appetite or weight gain or loss, loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, restlessness or irritability, difficulty concentrating or making decisions, loss of energy, feeling guilty/worthless/hopeless, thoughts of death or suicide.

For more information on depression, contact Blue Valley Mental Health Center, Beatrice, NE 402-228-3386.

Dealing with Anger

When some people get angry, they shout or throw things. Everyone around them knows right away that they are angry. Other people get angry in other ways. They cry, they feel upset and put-upon, but they can't talk about what they're feeling.

When you are angry with someone, you can choose to keep your angry feelings, or you can talk to the person you are angry with and figure out together what to do so that both of you are happy.

But to have that kind of talk, you can't show that you are angry in a way that is going to make the other person pull away.

Try Not To:

	Call the person names or say that he or she is bad or no good.
	Blame the person for things that have happened.
	Shout, cry, or throw things.

Try To:

	Tell the person what you like about them before talking about the things that make you angry.
	Try to say, as calmly as possible, why you feel angry.
	Ask them how they feel and don't interrupt them when they answer you. Wait until they have finished and then let them know that you hear what they are saying.
	Talk about what the two of you can do together to help both of you feel happy.

 

Nurturing Your Child's Mental Health

As a parent, you are responsible for your child's physical safety and emotional well being. There is no one right way to raise a child. Parenting styles vary, but all caregivers should agree on expectations for your child. Here are some suggestions:

	Do your best to provide a safe home and community for your child.
	Encourage your child to express his/her feelings; respect those feelings.
	Promote mutual respect and trust.
	Listen to your child.
	Set a good example - check your own problem-solving and coping skills.
	Encourage your child's talents and accept limitations.
	Celebrate accomplishments.
	Foster your child's independence and self-worth.
	Discipline constructively, fairly and consistently.
	Love unconditionally…teach the value of apologies, cooperation, patience, forgiveness, consideration of others.

PATCH After 13 years

The Gage County PATCH began in 1986 through sponsorship by Beatrice Community Hospital and a grant from CDC and the Nebraska Dept. of Health promotion. In 1998, Blue Valley Mental Health Center became a cosponsor of PATCH. Our basic mission is to promote coordination and resource sharing in health promotion and education; and ultimately to enhance the health and health awareness of the citizens of Gage County. Sharon Langvardt, M.S. is coordinator of the team. The team meets on the 4^th Tuesday of each month at Parkview Conference Center to plan, implement, and coordinate projects. If you would like to be on the team or involved in some way, please call PATCH at 402-223-3103.

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