Keep picnic guests happy and healthy.

What’s the best way to take perishable foods to a picnic site or family get-together? Let’s begin by thinking about the ending: leftovers. Often we plan how to take food to a gathering safely, but after a long day of fun and sun, we don’t have a safe plan for getting the leftovers home, and it’s the leftovers that can pose a larger health risk of food-borne illness. The best advice is to plan enough food for the event so there will not be any left over.

Picnic basket or cooler? The USDA and food safety experts remind us that some foods can go in the picnic basket and don’t need to be kept in a cooler. These include fruits, vegetables, hard cheese, canned meat or fish, chips, bread, crackers, peanut butter, jelly, mustard and pickles.

When you know how much food needs to be kept cold, be sure to use an insulated cooler filled with enough ice or frozen gel packs to keep the food at 40 °F. If you don’t have a good kitchen thermometer, buy one and use it often. Be sure to pack food directly from the refrigerator or freezer into the cooler.

Image courtesy of Seattle King County Public Health

The danger zone temperatures – 40 °F and 140 °F
The dangerous bacteria grow and multiply rapidly in the food safety danger zone of 40 and 140 degrees °F. Food transported without ice and out of a cooler does not stay safe long. Finally, don’t put the cooler in the trunk; carry it inside the air-conditioned car. At the picnic, keep the cooler in the shade. Keep the lid closed and avoid repeated openings.

Here’s wishing you a safe and enjoyable picnic season.

There are compelling reasons, including health, fitness, social responsibility and economic development to change things about the way we eat. But despite the number of clamoring voices for change, the reality is the typical family is not likely to completely reinvent their diet or buying habits. There are ways to make incremental changes that are important to you.

Do you know who brought you this bounty?

I’m offering a calmer message, and that is to eat smarter, and one of the easiest ways to eat smarter is talk to the people who grow your food. Vegetarian or meat lover, exotic chef or locavore, the common ground we all share is that by knowing where our food comes from, we can make more informed choices.

First, some background: Who are the people who sell us most of the food we prepare at home? There are 36,000 supermarkets in the United States, and they employ an amazing 3.4 million workers. The typical supermarket has 38,718 products.

38,718 products. No wonder we’re confused about what to eat.

There is no easy way to track the origins of 38,000 products. There is a bit of hope and it comes from a USDA program called “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food.” The government, with its love of acronyms, calls this “KYF2.” This program is designed to strengthen the connection between consumers and producers. By shopping at a farmers market, participating in a CSA, or buying direct from a farm gate, it gives you the beginning of understanding about what it takes to grow and raise the foods you like to eat.

For example, the KYF2 website shares these findings:

• The number of farmers markets has more than tripled in the past 15 years, and there are now more than 7,175 around the country;
• In 1986 there were two community supported agriculture operations, and today there are more than 4,000;
• There are farm-to-school programs in 48 states, totaling more than 2,200 and up from two in 1996;
• All 50 states in the U.S. have agricultural branding programs, such as “Jersey Fresh” or “Simply Kansas”;
• As governor of Iowa, Tom Vilsack started one of the first food policy councils; today there are over 100 food policy councils;
• And the National Restaurant Association declared “locally sourced meats and seafood” and “locally grown produce” as the top two trends for 2011.

The AG Census reports that direct-to-retail and local foods sales conservatively added up to $8 billion in 2007. That is more than our total U.S. sales of cotton and rice. Direct and local sales have being a significant force in agriculture – and the KYF2 program is making it easier for us to find those farmers.

So this year, instead of reinventing your entire food life, make a small change, choose a food or group of foods and get to Know Your Farmer.

The temptation to take one home is hard to resist.

I’m talking about the little bundles of fluff that show up this time of year in garden centers, pet stores, feed stores and farm and home centers: baby chicks, baby ducks and baby rabbits.

Before I go on, let me tell you little about me and what I share in “Dose of DMU.” Food, food politics and food systems is my beat. I’ll be honest. It’s a topic that can be a little bit academic and policy wonkish, so as I write here, I look for the more human and personal perspectives to bring to the chat. I share with our students that food policy is health policy, and what better place to bring the two together than our blog space? And what does a cute baby chick, duck or bunny have to do with your family’s food system — or national food policy? There is a connection. Let me explain.

Day-old Chinese goslings hatched at Two Mile Ranch - too cute!

I want to talk you out of getting a fluffy baby chick for the wrong reasons — and see if I can talk you into getting one or two for the right reasons.

Adopting any pet is a commitment. The baby rabbit that lived in our family home grew up to live nearly nine years. Nine long, power-cord-chewing years! And now, as a poultry farmer in southern Iowa, I owan chickens and ducks that require daily care, feeding and protection from predators. Many animal rescue leagues and breeder groups strongly discourage the giving of these babies to unprepared owners. You may have heard of the national “Make Mine Chocolate” campaign to discourage the impulse purchase of baby rabbits as spring-time gifts.

For lots of reasons, I want you to think before you bring home the baby duckling or a cute, neon-dyed chick. After the fun of posing for Facebook photos, the I-have-to-care-for-this-everyday reality sets in.

But here is my twist: That reality can have a self-sufficient lining. If you like the idea of taking care of a pet, and your city ordinances allow it, consider raising backyard chickens. A backyard chicken or two not only provide entertainment but also a near-daily source of eggs. Once you taste and cook with fresh eggs, it’s very difficult to return to buying them at the store.

This 1918 poster promoted backyard poultry.

The idea of raising backyard chickens was promoted as a practice of patriotism leading up to World War I 100 years ago. It’s an idea that is becoming more mainstream again and provides rewards many times over.

So how about some Chicken and Egg 101? A backyard chicken is a hen, and a pullet is a hen less than a year old. If you’re not sure why a rooster won’t provide the family eggs…and why you don’t need a rooster for a hen to lay eggs…um, well, go ask your mother…or Google it. And don’t be embarrassed – I usually have to explain it several times a year. And sometimes to very smart Ph.D.-type people.

You can purchase chicks a few at a time from a local store or order them online in batches of 25 or so from a hatchery. Ordered this way, there are enough of them in the shipping box to keep each other warm, and they can amazingly survive a few days en route after hatching without food or water. Twenty-five chickens is too many for most beginners, and town councils often limit the number of chickens you can have in your backyard, but if you have a group of friends who want to share an order, ordering from a hatchery an easy way to get them.

Like any pet, a backyard chicken needs few things: a feeder; something to hold drinking water; shelter from predators, especially at night; and a perch to sleep on. Ideally, the chicken should be able to wander on grass in a protected space (an enclosed pen) and have shade. You can buy a chicken coop new or used, find plans to build one online, or put something together from odds and ends in your garage or shed. Chicken manure from a couple of chickens can easily be added to your compost pile.

What’s in it for you? Once your pullet begins laying, you can expect four to six eggs a week. Your laying hens will need daily care. It takes about the same time as waiting in line for a coffee from your favorite barista.

In the years to follow, each spring, your chickens will begin laying eggs with longer daylight and stop laying eggs in the fall with shorter daylight. You can encourage your chickens to lay year-round if you add supplemental light to their coop, or you can give the girls a break each year. Most years, I give the girls time off, and one of my early signs of spring is the first egg of the year.

I cook, I farm, I teach.

I split my time between two worlds. In one, I’m an assistant professor here in the Des Moines University health care administration program. I also teach food policy courses in our master of public health program. This year, I am serving a year-long term as president of the Iowa Food Systems Council board of directors.

In my other world, I’m a small rancher.

My home, Two Mile Ranch, is halfway between Des Moines and Kansas City. Two Mile Ranch features a game bird habitat where we raise and release pheasants and ethically grow pasture-raised ducks, turkeys and chickens that are antibiotic-free.

I’ve done a number of things that led me to DMU five years ago. During my career I’ve been a special assistant to the president of a four-year college, the program director of a paramedic training program, vice president of a multi-million-dollar advertising agency, and president of my own consulting firm. I was co-founder of a nonprofit organization that worked with two Nobel Prize-nominated charities along with a select group of NGOs that were making a significant difference in the lives of people who were in need or at risk.

Working in 12 countries I’ve produced documentaries and was an early pioneer in producing Internet-based multimedia storytelling projects in the early 1990s. I launched my first commercial website for a client in 1994.

Along the way, some folks have had some nice things to say about my work. I’ve been recognized for my website design and content four times by USA Today. Twice I was picked as one of the Top 100 Producers by AV Video/Multimedia Producer magazine. The journalists over at the National Press Photographers Association honored me with a special citation for my work on a documentary titled “Behind the Viewfinder.”

On campus, some great research colleagues have allowed me to work with them on the topics of learning styles, evidence-based practice, and the role gender plays in health care leadership. Last year, the MHA students voted me “Student Choice Faculty of the Year.”

Which is all very nice, but I thought you should also know what those same PR gurus strongly encouraged me to leave out:

In high school, I used to do an impression of Chuck Barris from “The Gong Show.”

I once dislocated my shoulder skiing while trying to impress a woman. (She was not amused or impressed.)

I joined the Grand River Volunteer Fire Department and my first call was to my own out-of-control grass fire.

I can sing the lyrics to the theme from “The Beverly Hillbillies” TV show to the tune of “Gilligan’s Island.”

And this one time, at band camp, I almost…

• Many mental health disorders are preventable and treatable.
• About one in five people experience a mental, emotional, or behavioral disorder at some point in their life.
• Fewer than half of people diagnosed with a mental illness receive treatment in any given year.
• An American dies of suicide about every 15 minutes.

What can you do if you want to start small?

• Provide positive parenting and a violence free home.
• Seek treatment if you are depressed or have another mental health condition.
• If you see signs of depression and suicide in someone you know, refer them to an appropriate resource.
• Become a mentor or tutor.
• Encourage children and adolescents to participate in extracurricular activities.
• Talk to your children about bullying.

What can you do if you want to think big?

• Encourage employers to provide health coverage that includes comprehensive mental health services.
• Host an organized community activity that encourages social participation and inclusion of everyone in the community.
• Encourage policy makers to expand access to mental health services and enhance linkages between mental health, substance abuse, disability, and other social services.

Don’t forget to post what you did well today on the website! Everyone who submits a post will be entered to win one of our fabulous prizes!

Important reminders:
MPHSC Do Something Well Today T-shirts are still available for purchase. If you are not in the Des Moines area, just follow the ordering instructions on the linked page and we will ship one to you.

Don’t forget to attend the “Strategies for Community Health Improvement” discussion with Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and DMU President Angela Walker Franklin, Ph.D., TODAY at 12:30 p.m. in the SEC auditorium.

Why focus on reproductive and sexual health?

• Nearly half of all pregnancies are unintended. Risks associated with these unintended pregnancies include low birth weight, postpartum depression, and family stress.
• The rate of preterm birth has risen more than 20% in the last 20 years. These preterm infants are more likely to suffer complications such as respiratory distress, infant mortality, cerebral palsy, and learning disabilities.
• There are about 19 million new cases of sexually transmitted infections in the U.S. each year.
• An estimated 1 million Americans are living with HIV and each year another 50,000 become infected.
• Preconception and prenatal care can reduce birth defects, low birth weight, and many other preventable conditions.

What can you do if you want to start small?

• Eat healthy, stay active, quit smoking, don’t drink, and get prenatal care during pregnancy.
• Get tested for HIV and other STDs.
• Discuss sexual health concerns with your provider.
• Talk to your children about knowledge, values, and attitudes related to sexual activity, sexuality and healthy relationships.

What can you do if you want to think big?

• Work with local schools to ensure they are providing comprehensive reproductive and sexual health education.
• Collaborate with a local hospital to offer HIV and STD testing.
• Promote community-based prevention programs for intimate partner violence and sexual assault.
• Encourage employers to provide health coverage that includes family planning and reproductive health services.
• Promote the importance of planning for healthy pregnancies in your community.

Don’t forget to post what you did well today on the website! Everyone who submits a post will be entered to win one of our fabulous prizes!

Important reminders:
MPHSC Do Something Well Today T-shirts are still available for purchase. If you are not in the Des Moines area, just follow the ordering instructions on the linked page and we will ship one to you.

Don’t forget to put the “Strategies for Community Health Improvement” discussion with Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and DMU President Angela Walker Franklin, Ph.D., on your calendar for tomorrow at 12:30 pm in the SEC auditorium.

“Every year, chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes are responsible for millions of premature deaths. Americans miss 2.5 billion days of work because of these illnesses, and all of that lost productivity adds up to more than $1 trillion. Injuries, unexpected accidents and violence affect people daily in all aspects of life. Unintentional injuries, such as motor vehicle crashes, poisonings, and burns rank among the top 10 causes of death for people aged 44 and younger” (American Public Health Association).

Tips for a healthier lifestyle from the American Public Health Association

• Eat less by avoiding over-sized portions, make half of the plate fruits and vegetables, make at least half of the grains whole grains, switch to fat-free or low-fat (1 percent) milk, choose foods with less sodium and drink water instead of sugary drinks.

• Engage in physical activity every day. Aim for a total of 60 minutes for children, 30 minutes for adults.

• Consider following the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendations that children under 2 years old not watch any TV and that those older than 2 watch no more than one to two hours a day of quality programming.

• Lead or convene city, county and regional food policy councils to assess local community needs and expand programs (e.g., community gardens, farmer’s markets) that bring healthy foods, especially locally grown fruits and vegetables, to schools, businesses and communities.

Get Involved at DMU

Please join the MPH Student Club on Friday, April 6 at 12:30 p.m. in the SEC Auditorium. The MPHSC has invited Governor Terry Branstad and DMU President Dr. Franklin to speak with the DMU community regarding Strategies for Community Health Improvement.

Both assumptions are far from being accurate, however. In fact, while the U.S. does spend more on health care, as a percentage of its Gross Domestic Product, than any other country, we have the fewest licensed hospital beds among the top seven developed countries, our physician availability is quite low and our numbers of medical school graduates is comparatively modest. How will we accommodate increased demand from newly insured patients?

The assumptions "we have too much, we use too much" in health care are faulty.

Richard Belloff, D.B.A., ACHE, assistant professor in DMU’s master of health care administration and master of public health programs, will explore these assumptions and questions in an upcoming presentation titled “Is the U.S. medical care system ‘resource constrained?’” Dr. Belloff will discuss some of the paradoxical aspects of the U.S. health care system as he examines how we compare to other nations around the world.

Mark your calendar now for a stimulating and enlightening presentation – you’ll come away with a greater understanding of the challenges we face as a nation and as providers of health care. This free event will take place on Thursday, March 1, from 7 to 8 p.m. in Lecture Hall 1 in DMU’s Academic Center.

Let’s Move is a campaign started by Mrs. Obama two years ago to promote healthy living amongst our nation’s kids. It is a program that was made to solve the problem of childhood obesity. The Let’s Move campaign has ‘provided children with healthier food and greater opportunities for physical activity in schools and communities, helped get families the information they need to make healthier decisions, supported a healthy start in early childhood, and have worked to ensure more people have access to healthy, affordable food.’

The Let’s Move website has many useful tools including, food pyramids, portion recommendations, tools for child care providers and day care centers to help the youngest children get off to a healthy start, resources for parents, and much more.

The first lady has chosen Des Moines as the kick-off location for a three-day national tour promoting the Let’s Move campaign. Thousands of central Iowa elementary and middle school students will descend upon Wells Fargo Arena to participate in this 2^nd anniversary event. Mrs. Obama is scheduled to speak to the crowd at 11:00 a.m. Local acts will perform for the crowd. There will also be some local and national celebrities including: Biggest Loser trainer Bob Harper, ISU basketball coach Fred Hoiberg, figure skater Michelle Kwan, WNBA player Tamika Catchings, NASCAR driver Carl Edwards, and gold-medal gymnast Shawn Johnson. Organizers have said more celebrities could be added.

Des Moines University has recently implemented a new Vision statement. I believe this event fits perfectly with the vision’s main points which include: education, leadership, wellness, and community. We get many opportunities to volunteer here at DMU, but I feel this one is very unique. Our students and employees are getting a chance to come together as one body and represent DMU in one of the best ways they know how: by giving back to our community and volunteering for an event that will hopefully have a positive effect on the future of our children.