For Your Diet

Don't Let Your Cooking Make You Ill
You have probably heard on the news about a recent e coli scare. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the FDA have joined together to form the Foodborne Illness Education Information Center, which provides information about foodborne illness prevention to educators, trainers and consumers. Its purpose is to increase the knowledge of food related risks from production through consumption, and has developed two education databases which contain consumer and food worker educational materials. To learn more on how you can prevent foodborne illness, contact: USDA/FDA Foodborne Illness Education Information Center, National Agricultural Library/USDA, Beltsville, MD 20805; 301-504-5719.

When Eating Is a Problem
Over 3% of girls and young adult women suffer from anorexia and bulimia. Learn the dangers of these illnesses, symptoms, treatments, how to help, and resources for more information. Request the free publication Eating Disorders, and help your loved one on the road to good health. Contact: National Institute of Mental Health, Room 7C-02, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857; 301-443-4513.

Some Dinner Reading
For books on nutrition, the Food and Nutrition Information Center offers Nutri-Topics which are free brief reading lists designed to help locate information or resources on a given topic. They are available as separate lists of resources appropriate for one or more user levels: consumer, educator, and health professional. Included are print materials, videos, journal articles, pamphlets, and lists of contacts for further information. Topics include: Nutrition and Cancer Consumer Resource List on Food Allergies and Intolerances Food and Nutrition Fun For Kids Nutrition and Cardiovascular Disease Nutrition and Diabetes Nutrition and the Elderly Food Composition Resources About Eating Disorders for Consumers Herbal Medicine Sensible Nutrition Sports Nutrition Vegetarian Nutrition Weight Control Contact: Food and Nutrition Information Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Library, Room 304, 10301 Baltimore Blvd., Beltsville, MD 20705; 301-504-5719.

Are the Kids and I Eating Right?
The National Maternal and Child Health Clearinghouse has several free publications concerned with pregnancy and early childhood nutrition: Nutrition During Pregnancy: Weight Gain, Nutrient Supplements Nutritional Disorders of Children: Prevention, Screening, and Follow-up Nutrition Resources for Early Childhood Resource Guide Contact: National Maternal and Child Health Clearinghouse, 8201 Greensboro Dr., Suite 600, McLean, VA 22102.

Eating Right To Lower Your Cholesterol and High Blood Pressure
Has your doctor told you that your cholesterol is too high? What about your blood pressure? You may be on medication, or maybe your doctor has suggested a change in life style to help your condition. The Information Center for the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute can answer your questions regarding cholesterol, high blood pressure and heart disease. They can provide you with free journal articles, and other information on these topics, including several publications dealing with nutrition such as: Check Your Weight and Heart Disease I.Q. Eat Right To Lower Your High Blood Cholesterol Facts About Blood Cholesterol The Healthy Heart Handbook for Women High Blood Pressure: Treat It For Life Facts About How to Prevent High Blood Pressure Step by Step: Eating to Lower Your High Blood Cholesterol Contact: Information Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, P.O. Box 30105, Bethesda, MD 20824; 301-251-1222.

The Fountain of Food
One of the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) missions is to protect the safety and wholesomeness of food. They regulate what's termed fresh, what's low fat, and more. They test samples of food to see if any substances, such as pesticide residues, are present in unacceptable amounts. If contaminants are identified, FDA takes corrective action. FDA also sets labeling standards to help consumers know what is in the foods they buy. Information is available (for free) on a wide variety of topics including, but not limited to: calcium and other special needs of women, cellulite removal gimmicks, eating disorders, fad diets and diet books, fast food and nutrition, food preparation, nutrition labels, organic foods, saccharin, salt, vitamins. Contact: Information Office Of Consumer Affairs, Food and Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857; 301-827-4420.

Information For Community Nutrition Services
The National Clearinghouse for Primary Care Information offers manuals for community health centers, primary care providers, home health services, HMOs, and outpatient clinics on approaches for establishing a nutrition program. Single copies of a 96-page Guide for Developing Nutrition Services in Community Health Programs is available free, and covers the planning, developing, and evaluating of nutrition services as an integral component of community health programs. Contact: National Clearinghouse for Primary Care Information, 8201 Greensboro Dr., #600, McLean, VA 22102.

Know What The Most Informed People Know
The Food and Nutrition Information Center is a great starting place for every nutrition question you could have. They can send you free information, refer you to videos, books, articles, print materials, or other resources on your topic of interest. Some of the materials include: Nutrition Education Printed Materials and Audiovisuals: Grades Preschool through 6 Nutrition Education Printed Materials and Audiovisuals: Grades 7-12 Nutrition Education Resource Guide: An Annotated Bibliography of Educational Materials for the WIC and CSF Programs Database of Food and Nutrition Software and Multimedia Programs Sources of Free or Low-Cost Food and Nutrition Materials Contact: Food and Nutrition Information Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Library, Room 304, 10301 Baltimore Blvd., Beltsville, MD 20705; 301-504-5719.

The Road to Good Health
Starts with a good diet. One day you're told to eat carbohydrates, the next day it's fruit. Get the facts from the people who wrote the book on nutrition. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has several free publications which can help you eat right and enjoy the good life. Women and Nutrition: A Menu of Special Needs A Consumer Guide to Fats Fiber: Something Healthy To Chew On Dietary Guidelines For Americans Olestra and Other Food Substitutes For these and other publications on food, contact: Food and Drug Administration, Division of Consumer Affairs, HFE-88, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857; 301-827-4420.

Talk Turkey
Actually, you can talk about any meat or poultry product with the experts at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Meat and Poultry Hotline. They can answer your questions regarding power outages, meat and poultry labels, cooking time, and meat safety. Some of the publications they have to offer include: Take Out Foods: Handle With Care A Quick Consumer Guide to Safe Food Handling Talking About Turkey A Consumer's Guide to Safe Food Handling of Ground Meat and Poultry For more information on meat and poultry items contact: Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250; 800-535-4555.

Change the Channel
Plug in these videos and turn on a healthy alternative to chips and dip. Discover how to make food taste great without fat, salt, and all the other no-nos. The Food and Nutrition Center has three publications to get you started: Audiovisuals About Low Fat, Low Cholesterol Eating for a Healthy Heart Audiovisuals About Weight Control Audiovisuals About Basic Nutrition To receive these publications, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope with 64 cents postage to: Food and Nutrition Information Center, National Agricultural Library, Room 304, 10301 Baltimore Blvd., Beltsville, MD 20705.