Ethnic diets, health and food in the United Kingdom

Food – a fact of life is pleased to announce the launch of a new two-part video podcast series based on the topic of ethnic diets, health and food in the United Kingdom (UK). According to the latest census, non-white minority ethnic groups made up 7.9% of the UK’s population in 2001. The largest of these groups were South Asians, Black African-Caribbean and Chinese. The first video podcast explores the diet and health of the three largest ethnic groups in the UK. The second video podcast will investigate ethnic foods and ethnic style cuisine within the UK.   

The video podcasts are based on the following Briefing Paper and article:

Leung G and Stanner S (2011) Diets of minority ethnic groups in the UK: influence on chronic disease risk and implications for prevention Nutrition Bulletin 36:161-98.

Leung G (2010) Ethnic foods in the UK Nutrition Bulletin 35:226-34.

The first video podcast is available now. Registered Dietitian Azmina Govindji provides insight into the health status of these groups. The traditional diets South Asians, Black African-Caribbean and Chinese are also explored. Factors affecting food choice are also highlighted which include: income, socio-economic status, food availability and access, health, religion and dietary laws, food beliefs, amount of time available for food shopping or preparation, generation and gender.

The second video podcast on the topic of ethnic foods will be launched later in the year. This episode will look at different types of ethnic foods, market trends and some emerging issues.

Why not view the video podcast today? Food – a fact of life video podcasts can be accessed via two main routes:

Food – a fact of life website

British Nutrition YouTube channel

Supporting food and nutrition education in schools

We are delighted to announce details of this year's Scottish conference for schools. 

 

The conference programme will include:

·         Ethnic foods and ethnic diets

·         Sustainibility and The eatwell plate

·         Food labelling and health claims

·         Meat in the diet

·         SQA update

·         Priority health issues, including diabetes

·         Practical ICT Home Economics

·         The latest free BNF resources for schools

 

The conference will take place in Edinburgh on Saturday 5 November 2011. The day will begin at 10:00 and finish by 15:15.  Details of the venue and a full programme for the day will be released soon.

 

Cost 

The cost of this conference is £85 per delegate.  This includes refreshments, lunch and delegate notes.

 

Places for the conference are extremely limited due to the capacity of the venue, so book early to avoid dissapointment.  Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

 

For further information about the conference and details of how you can book your place, Click here

 

We look forward to welcoming you in Edinburgh!

 

Video clips and video podcasts

A wide range of video clips are available for Early years and Primary children and teachers on our website.

• Videos peel, chop and grate provide instruction on:

                  The bridge hold

                  The claw grip

                  Peeling

                  Grating

                  Onion preparation

• Video recipe demonstrations with:

                  Brilliant baking

                  Cool creations

                  Hot and happening

• Farming video clips investigate:

                  Plants

                  Plant or animal?

                  Where does it come from?

                  Fruit and vegetable harvesting

                  From wheat to bread

                  Milking

                  Cheese making

                  Growing potatoes

These short video clips are clear and simple, carefully demonstrating key points about preparing food. 

We are planning to create new videos in the form of primary video podcasts. We would love to hear your ideas on what sort of video podcasts might be helpful in the primary classroom, when thinking about food and nutrition education. Why not add your comments or thoughts below.

Ages and stages: nutrition for baby

The British Nutrition Foundation provides a wide range of detailed nutrition information for each stage of life and is pleased to announce the launch of a new section on their website dedicated to providing detailed information about pregnancy and weaning. The new website section is packed with vital information, provides a nutrition perspective to the different stages of pregnancy and weaning, with insight and advice as well as recipe suggestions, to make good nutrition easy and fun.

Some important areas covered include:

• Bones and teeth

Most of a newborn baby’s skeleton is formed during the last 3 months of pregnancy and it contains between 20-30g of calcium.  In addition, baby’s teeth are actually formed while in the womb. The body naturally adapts to use calcium more efficiently during pregnancy by absorbing more from food and losing less in urine. However, if calcium intakes are insufficient, you risk losing calcium from your own bones and teeth to provide for your growing baby, so it is especially important to get enough calcium when pregnant. Extra vitamin D is needed during pregnancy and when you are breastfeeding to ensure that both you and your baby are absorbing all the calcium your bones need.  Many pregnant women are not aware that they should be taking vitamin D supplements of 10 micrograms each day throughout pregnancy.  These are available via the government’s Healthy Start scheme. This is particularly important considering that there are many women in the UK with low vitamin D status.  A lack of vitamin D during pregnancy can affect a child’s bone health long-term and may also have long term detrimental affects for mums whose own skeleton acts as a calcium reserve during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

• Heart and brain

Essential omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids found in oily fish, nuts, seeds and vegetable and seed oils (e.g. rape seed oil, sunflower seed oil) and spreads made from these help to keep the heart healthy. For unborn babies, essential fatty acids perform an additional role, forming a major component of membranes in brain cells, the coating of nerve cells and of the retina of the eye, thus laying the building blocks for your baby’s nervous system and eyes to develop.  Nature has a clever way of taking essential nutrients from the stores in a mother’s body to ensure that the baby’s growth isn’t impaired. But, in order to maintain these stores, mums need to make sure they are getting enough from their diet. In particular, a lack of omega 3 fatty acids (found in oily fish such as salmon, sardines and mackerel) has been associated with giving birth early and having a baby with a low birth weight.

• Exercise

An exercise regime, tailored for the stage of pregnancy, can be really beneficial for mum.  It can help to keep the heart pumping and lungs healthy, prevent excess weight gain, reduce muscle pain and cramps, reduce swelling in the legs and feet; can help to keep mood swings in check; reduce risk of high blood pressure and gestational diabetes and may even help mums to have a shorter and easier labour! This, in turn, can benefit the unborn baby by reducing the risk of complications during birth.

For more information why not visit the new section of the website now?  Go to, www.nutrition4baby.co.uk

Congratulations on your retirement

Stephanie Valentine

For almost 18 years, Stephanie Valentine has been busy working at the British Nutrition Foundation, championing for high quality food education throughout the UK, and internationally.

In the beginning of Stephanie’s career, she worked in secondary schools before being promoted to an Advisory teacher, and then Adviser for Design and Technology, in Redbridge, London. Stephanie has also been Chief Examiner for an awarding body, as well as an OfSTED inspector. Her career path then led her to take a position at BNF.

At the Foundation Stephanie has led numerous food and nutrition education initiatives throughout the UK, and internationally. Food – a fact of life is one such programme that Stephanie has played a pivotal leadership role in its development and ongoing success.

Her contribution to food and nutrition education has been outstanding and is difficult to encapsulate in one short blog. Stephanie has also sat on many Government boards and project groups, was a trustee for the Design and Technology Association and continues to be a Trustee for the All Saint Educational Trust.

We are grateful for Stephanie’s leadership and will miss her enthusiasm, bright ideas, clever thinking, warm humour and sharp wit. The Education Group  (Roy, Claire, Michelle, Georgine and Kim) at the Foundation, wish Stephanie all the best and hope she enjoys retirement.

Special offer until 31st May 2011

In the month of May,  Food – a fact of life are offering a special deal on the Energy and Nutrient poster series. These posters are normally  £ 2.50 each, or £15.00 for the full set of 8 posters  - but they are now available for  just  £10.00. The posters are A2- sized, full colour and designed to be of use when teaching 11-16 years of age. In addition to being a colourful wall feature,  they also provide detailed information on their function, source and dietary requirements. The range of posters includes: Energy, Carbohydrate, Fat, Protein, Vitamins, Minerals, Water and Dietary fibre.

Other posters are also available for both purchasing and/or downloading from the 

Food - a fact of life website. Why not take a look at the range of posters?

To download PDF version of the posters, click here.

To order copies of the posters, click here.

NEWYDD ar gyfer ysgolion yn 2011

Newly translated Welsh resources are now available on our website.

To download these, go to:  http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/

Mae Food - a fact of life yn cynnig adnoddau am ddim,

gyda’r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf, sy’n gywir a pherthnasol

i’r cwricwlwm ar fwyta’n iach, coginio, bwyd a ffermio.

Mae hefyd 3 modiwl i gefnogi plant rhwng 5 ac 11 oed i

ddysgu am fwyta’n iach, coginio, bwyd a ffermio. Mae’r rhain

i gyd yn cael eu cefnogi ag amlinelliadau gwersi, taflenni

gwaith, gweithgareddau rhyngweithiol ar gyfer byrddau

gwyn, fideos, ryseitiau, posteri a llawer, llawer mwy!

Cadwch mewn cyswllt

Cofrestrwch ar-lein i dderbyn ein cylchlythyr misol am ddim

– byddwch y cyntaf i wybod am y datblygiadau diweddaraf.

Ewch i www.foodafactoflife.org.uk heddiw.