1. Finding Nutrition in Lewis County: A closer look at our food environment Marie Milliren Tucker, MPH, RD, CN Health Educator Lewis County Public Health Marie.tucker@lewiscountywa.gov

2. Personal Disclosures Not an extremist… Not the food police… Registered Dietitian/Certified Nutritionist MPH in Nutrition Health Educator Group Fitness Instructor New to WA… still learning about food/Lewis Co. Food lover… casual cook… simple farmer …all of these in my most humble opinion!

3. Objectives MO: motivate you to find better nutrition in Lewis County – for your body, the economy, and the earth… and maybe inspire a new career or special interest! – Review recent food trends – Describe the role of diet and health – Discuss critical intervention ideas Reveal how nutrition/food impact: policy writing, community development, land use, schools, people across the lifespan…

4. Food History “The way we eat has changed more in the last 50 years than in the previous 10,000… But the image used to sell the food is still the image of agrarian America….” 1

5. Food History: A Brief Review Early American Food 2 Based on traditions and cultures Supported by the seasons, and ability to grow various foods Limited preservation methods (salting, pickling, smoking, drying) and transportation system Local/regional food dominated the plate Nothing to support “convenience foods” Social/Family life favored home-grown and home-cooked meals

6. Food History: A Brief Review (cont.) Industrialization (and refrigeration) 3 helped change our food climate As cities grew – so did the distance b/w consumer and food source More people working away from home Factories: canning, preserving, distributing = mass production, mass marketing, product standardization Advent of fast food 4 (Automat, NYC, 1912… White Castle, Wichita, 1921… ) And convenience foods… Finger foods… to be eaten on the go From small burgers/fries… to “you name it!”

7. Food History: A Brief Review (cont.) Government implements food regulation programs… and subsidized food programs (NSLP 1946, WIC, CACFP, TEFAP, SNAP) – changed the way our “commodity crops” are used and promoted 5 Bigger problems: Who knows how to cook anymore? Who knows what foods are nutritious? Who knows that big food corps don’t support small farms? Who cares about small farms anyway?!

8. Lewis County Farm Stats 6 1950: 461 acres /farm 2007: 76 acres /farm

9. Problems Nearly half the money Americans spend on food is spent on food prepared away from home 7,8 – Lower in nutrient value, higher in calories Food deserts – – “poor access to healthy and affordable food, may contribute to social and spatial disparities in diet and diet-related health outcomes.” 9 Loss of crop diversity (Monsanato Inc./Percy Schmeiser) 10 Food Insecurity 11 – Not having access to enough safe and nutritious food for an active, healthy life. – US imports more food than exports Loss of income/jobs for local area

10. Diet and Health Obesity rivals Smoking as the nation’s leading killer Research has shown that as weight increases to reach the levels referred to as "overweight" and "obesity,"* the risks for the following conditions also increases: 12 – Coronary heart disease – Type 2 Diabetes – Cancers (endometrial, breast, colon) – Hypertension – Dyslipidemia – Stroke – Liver and Gallbladder disease – Sleep apnea and respiratory problems – Osteoarthritis (degeneration of cartilage and underlying bone within a joint) – Gynecological problems (abnormal menses, infertility)

11. What is Body Mass Index? BMI = (Wt in lbs x 703) /ht in inches 2 Or visit: http://www.nhlbisupport.c om/bmi/ http://www.nhlbisupport.c om/bmi/ *Important note: BMI is not necessarily the best nor is it the only way to gauge a person’s health

12. Obesity* Trends Among U.S. Adults BRFSS Maps 13 (*BMI ≥ 30, or about 30 lbs overweight for a 5’4” person)

18. Other contributors? Genetics?Genetics? 14 Sleep? Or lack thereof… Medications? Modern conveniences? Cultural influences? Physical Activity? Or lack… Stress? Emotional/psych. disorders? Fun Link Food marketing

19. The law of supply and demand… They offer what consumers will buy! I DO NOT BLAME THEM… for obesity or anything else… they have simply responded to our wishes. Don’t sue them! Just stop supporting them!

20. What is NOT working. 68% overwt/obese! – Supplements* – Weight loss drugs* – Exercise equipment – Diet programs* – Diet books – Finger pointing * $50 billion!! 15

21. Critical Interventions: What IS Working? Schools – Farm to School Farm to School – Walk to School – Recess before lunch – Phys. Ed. Program Grants Phys. Ed. Program Grants – After school programs – School Gardens School Gardens

22. Critical Interventions: What’s Working? Community – Farmer’s Market Farmer’s Market – Community Trails Community Trails – Healthier, local fast food – Worksite Wellness programs – Lewis County Extension Lewis County Extension Master Gardeners – Movies at Yardbirds Movies at Yardbirds – Complete Streets – Lewis County Table Lewis County Table – Lewis County Healthy Families Coalition

23. The Cost of Going Local *Study conducted in Iowa – during peak growing season. A second part of the study looked at prices for meat and eggs – difficult to find similar attributes at all venues – but overall found very comparable prices. 16

24. Critical Interventions: What’s Working? Other – Insurance – reduced costs for “healthy weight” work, with higher premiums for the overweight/obese. – Local Government leaders – listen to constituents! Then policy changes effect the greater population… – National Policy &Legal Analysis Network National Policy &Legal Analysis Network – Nutrition labeling of restaurant foods The language in health reform legislation would establish national standard labeling requirements, so consumers would see calorie information in the same format regardless of restaurant(more than 20, standard items), city or state. – City laws banning/mandating food quality King County Nutrition Labeling Education Program Taxes on foods high in sugar… or sodium… NYC voluntary guidelines for limited sodium in restaurant foods LA fast food moratorium California ban on trans fats (effective Jan 1, 2010, Gov. Schwarzenegger)

25. Wake up and smell the farm fresh produce! Black Sheep Creamery - Adna, WA – www.blacksheepcreamery.com Fresh & Aged Cheeses Boistfort Valley Farm – Curtis, WA – www.boistfortvalleyfarm.com Certified Organic Vegetables, Herbs, & Flowers Childers Farm – Winlock, WA Fresh local produce Newaukum Valley Farm – Adna, WA - http://www.newaukumvalleyfarm.com Fresh Vegetables & Flowers (products only available through CSA membership, farmer’s markets, or for purchase through restaurants) Prana Farms – Toledo, WA – http://www.pranafarms.com - Fresh local producehttp://www.pranafarms.com Rose of Sharon Farm – Chehalis, WA - http://www.roseofsharonfarm.com Farm Fresh Eggs, Honey, & Vegetables Sweet Briar Herb Farm – Onalaska, WA Fresh Herbs, Herb Plants, Vegetables Winlock Meadow Farms– Winlock, WA - Fresh local produce Many others! Keep searching… dairy farms, chicken/beef/goat farms…etc.

26. Support Business that supports local farms… Just Jordie’s – Winlock, WA - http://www.justjordies.com Homestyle Pickled Veggies & Jellies LaPetit Ami – Chehalis, WA - http://lepetitamifamilyrestaurant.com/ Crepes, Quiche, Homemade candies Santa Lucia Coffee – Centralia, WA - http://www.santaluciaroasters.com Coffee, Iced Lattes, Coffee Beans Local Flavors (at Thorbecke’s gym) – Chehalis, WA- http://www.winlockmeadowsfarm.com/ …a local, seasonal, whole-food menu. Northwest Food Works – Chehalis, WA - http://www.nwfoodworks.com Gourmet Lunches, Beverages, & Baked Goods Once Upon a Thyme – Chehalis, WA - http://thyme.millerparsons.com/ Gina’s Organics – Centralia, WA - http://www.ginasorganics.com/

27. Where to go from here… Eat Seasonal foods – better variety = nutrition Eat Local foods – know your farmer (protect your health), and support local economy Plan ahead and prepare foods at home – “…a stitch in time saves nine…” Personal responsibility - until environment catches up! Farms/Food Bank Lecture next week… and great extension of this discussion…

28. Questions??

29. References 1.Kenner, Robert and Schlosser, Eric. 2009. Food, Inc. USA, Magnolia Pictures. 2.Mintz, Steven. “Food in America.” http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/historyonline/food.cfm http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/historyonline/food.cfm 3.Krasner-Khait, Barbara. History Magazine. Retrieved January 2010 from: http://www.history-magazine.com/refrig.html http://www.history-magazine.com/refrig.html 4.Fast food restaurant. In Wikipedia. Retrieved January 2010 from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fast_food_restaurant http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fast_food_restaurant 5.Pollan, Michael. The Omnivore’s Dilemma. The Penguin Press, 2006. 6.USDA Census of Agriculture – Washington State - County Data, 1950 and 2007. 7.Guthrie JF, Lin B-H, Frazao E. 2002. Role of food prepared away from home in the American diet, 1977-78 versus 1994-96: changes and consequences. J of Nutr Educ and Behav 34:140-150

30. References 8.Nestle, Marion. Food Politics. The University of California Press, 2002. 9.Beaulac J, Kristjansson E, Cummins S. A Systematic Review of Food Deserts, 1966-2007. Preventing Chronic Disease July 2009; Volume 6:Number 3. 10. Kingsolver, Barbara with Steven L. Hopp and Camille Kingsolver. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life. New York. HarperCollins, 2007. 11.Kyle, Susie. “Let’s Rally to Support Local Food.” The Chronicle. 7 January, 2010. Voices Section. 12. NIH, NHLBI Obesity Education Initiative. Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults. Available online: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/ob_gdlns.pdf (PDF- 1.25Mb) http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/ob_gdlns.pdf

31. References 13. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey maps. Centers for Disease Control. Retrieved January 2010 from: http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/trends.html http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/trends.html 14. CDC Genetics and Obesity Feature. Centers for Disease Control. Retrieved January 2010 from: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Obesity/http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Obesity/ 15.Freedhoff, Yoni and Arya Sharma. “Lose 40 pounds in 4 weeks: Regulating commercial weight loss programs.” Canadian Medical Association Journal. February 17, 2009. 180(4) 16.The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Iowa State University. “Is local food more expensive?” Retrieved January 2010 from: http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/pubs/staff/prices/summary.htm. http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/pubs/staff/prices/summary.htm Another good read: Schlosser, Eric. Fast Food Nation: The dark side of the all-American meal. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2001.