However, the true topic of controversy here is that Paula has announced that she has no desire to change her cooking and eating habits to accommodate her newly diagnosed disease. Instead, she is turning to medication to treat it. Although modern medicine provides great opportunities to treat sicknesses in our society, we believe that the best way to treat Type II Diabetes is through a combination of diet, exercise and medication when necessary. And, although claims have been made that her diabetes is hereditary, Type II Diabetes is primarily caused by poor eating habits like choosing foods that are high in fat, sugar and calories.  Rather than fresh fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and foods that are low in carbohydrates and fatty oils, which we all know are used heavily in Paula’s most famous recipes.

Here are some shocking statistics! Approximately 26 Million Americans are currently living with some form of diabetes. And, approximately 58% of them are treating their disease with oral medication. The total cost for Diabetes Management is estimated at $174 billion, yes that’s BILLION, each year!  It’s important to note here that we acknowledge there are times when medication is necessary to treat diabetes. However, using it as a blanket treatment for diabetes is very expensive for the patient, and isn’t always necessary in order to treat it appropriately. This is why diabetes education is so important!

I’m not sure if you know this, but NCES offers a wide range of diabetes education products to help patients who have been diagnosed with diabetes.  We also carry a number of products designed to help the diabetes educator teach their patients about the disease. Check them out today, and be sure to share them with your friends too. Diabetes is the most commonly diagnosed health-related illness in our society. Let’s turn this trend around! Plus, you never know… maybe if we share this enough, Paula Dean herself could get wind of these great tools and incorporate them in to her daily life!

There are many products out there advertising that they can help with portion control. However, we have found a few that we think are more helpful than others, which is why we carry them in our catalog. Yum Yum Bowls are perfect for any snack. These perfectly portioned bowls conveniently tell you when ‘Yum Yum Time is Over’, ensuring that you will only eat a proper portion of your favorite snack. Yum Yum Plates are very similarly designed. At 9”, they are the perfect size for anyone who wants to eat correct portions. Each plate is sectioned and labeled for Protein, Carbs and Veggies to help you with portion control. And, of course they are all microwave and dishwasher safe! As if all this wasn’t enough motivation to order right now, both Yum Yum products are currently 20% off on the NCES website. Simply enter code Yum6 at checkout to receive your discount!

We’re also big fans of our Right-Sized portion plates. With two different designs, one focused on kids and one on adults, these plates are sure to fit everyone’s portion control needs. The size of the average plate has grown wildly out of control. This 9” plate demonstrates the plate size that we should be basing our portions off of. It also demonstrates how to fill our plate using each of the food groups as recommended by the USDA’s MyPlate and 2010 Dietary Guidelines.

The bottom line is that portion control is not something you can ignore! It is something that every adult needs to understand, not only to become healthier, but also to be a positive example for our kids! We learn eating habits based on what we see those around us doing. Why not take advantage of these exclusive savings to kick off your commitment to portion control?

1. The easiest exercises for the car include squeezing and releasing your muscles, also known as isometric contractions. So, pick any muscle of your choice and begin squeezing and releasing.
2. Exercise/ Relax your Shoulders. Doing shoulder shrugs will engage your shoulder muscles, while relieving tension from your hectic day. Lift your shoulders up towards your ears and hold for about 10 seconds. Then, release and repeat.
3. Similar to our first exercise, isometric contractions;  you can also try placing a sweater (or other soft item from your car) between your thighs while you squeeze. This will increase the difficulty of the workout.

All too often, it is hard to find time to fit exercise in to your routine. So, the last thing you need is to be forced to waste time sitting in the parking lot. The key to fitting exercise in to a busy schedule is to get creative! Find ways to workout in your office, while cooking dinner, cleaning your house and even playing with your kids! Make exercise a part of your everyday routine. Not only will you see the difference in your body, you’ll also be setting a positive example for your kids!  How do you fit exercise in to your everyday schedule? We always love learning about how you live healthy! Share with us here on the blog. Or, connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Static Running (Medium Difficulty)

• Stand tall with feet shoulder-width apart
• Lift one leg toward the chest and raise the opposite arm, mimicking a running action
• Alternate legs and arms     Repeat 20 times

Squat (Medium Difficulty)

• Stand with feet shoulder-width apart and arms crossed on your chest
• Keeping the back straight and looking forward, bend the legs 90°
• Return to the start position     Repeat 20 times

Oyster (Medium Difficulty)        

• Lie on your left side with your lower arm extended above your head; keep the legs together, bent at 45°, making a straight line from shoulders to hips to feet.
• Life the upper knees as high as possible, keeping the lower leg on the floor.
• Return to the start position.     Repeat 20 times
• Turn over and repeat with the opposite leg.

Side Raise (Medium Difficulty)

• Sit on your right hip with knees bend and right arm extended under your right shoulder.
• Without collapsing the arm, lift the hip to the ceiling, keeping your knees on the floor and making a straight line from shoulder to hip to ankle; hold for 10 seconds.     Return to start position and repeat 3 times
• Roll over and repeat for the left hip

Side Stretch

• Standing upright and looking forward, extend both arms above your head
• Without bending forward or backward, lean to one side
• Hold for 20 to 30 seconds
• Return to the start position     Repeat for the other side

Like what you see? All of the exercises mentioned above were pulled from the book ‘Fit in 5’. (Item # 4507 at www.NCESCatalog.com) This book includes a lot of exercises that will work on your core strength, flexibility, Power, Abs and much more. The workouts are customized to you based on the amount of time you have to commit to working out. We’ve got plenty on the shelf to go around. So, go ahead and order your copy today! Give these workouts a try today and let us know what you think! You can always connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or right here on the blog.

1. If your travels require you to eat out, try incorporating at least one serving of fruit and one serving of vegetables with each meal. (By the way, French fries and ketchup do not count as a vegetable!)
2. Squeeze in exercise whenever and where ever you can.  Get creative with it: If you’re flying, try walking the airport terminals between flights. If you’re driving, when you stop for a break, race your kids around the car a few times to get everyone’s blood flowing and hearts pumping a little faster. This is a much better alternative to seeing who can pick out the most sugary snack at the convenience store.
3. Limit yourself to one sweet a day.  It’s tough when your Aunt makes the best chocolate chip cookies ever and your Grandma makes a pecan pie that you may be willing to trade one of your kids for! But, try setting a goal that you will only allow yourself one sweet treat each day. Remember, you can always take some home to enjoy throughout the following couple of weeks.

Alright, are you ready for your healthiest holiday season yet? Providing resources that will help you stay healthy is our #1 goal. That is why we have compiled the best list of health and nutrition education resources available. Be sure to visit www.ncescatalog.com to view the latest, greatest nutrition products, including our Holiday Gift Baskets… wrapped and ready to give!

1. Cut the fat! Remember, there are so many substitutes you can use in your foods to cut the fat. In many recipes, you can replace oil with applesauce. Plus, it’s always a great idea to use egg substitutes instead of eggs.
2. Continue to exercise! With all of the Christmas parties and family get-togethers, it is hard to keep your workout routine. But, find a buddy and commit to working out at least 4 times per week. You can help hold each other accountable.
3. Don’t over indulge!  Who can resist the platefuls of homemade fudge, gallons of holiday Wassail and Santa’s cookies?  I know I can’t! The key is moderation… enjoy your favorite foods in healthy portions. And, if you do over indulge, be sure to make up for it in the gym! Remember the E.I.E.O theory, Energy In (food) needs to equal Energy Out (exercise).

Although we are pretty proud of this list, we understand that there are many other things you can do to stay healthy during the holidays! What do you do? We’d love to hear about your ideas for staying healthy this holiday so we can all start 2012 on a healthy foot! Share your thoughts here on the blog, on Facebook or on Twitter! Cant’ wait to hear from you!

$25 Holiday Gift Set

Set includes: Fruit & Veggie Note cards (1 set of 12) Eco-friendly shopping bag (1) $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook (1) and Stainless Steel Water Bottle (1).

$50 Holiday Gift Set

Set includes: Fruit & Veggie Note Cards (1 package of 12), an additional Eco-Friendly Grocery Bag (1) $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook (1) and 1 set of 4 Yum Yum Dishes

$75 Holiday Gift Set

Set includes: Fruit & Veggie Note Cards (1 package of 12) Eco-Friendly Grocery Bag (2) $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook (1) Stainless Steel Water Bottle (1) Yum Yum Dishes (1 set of 4) Adult Right-Sized Portion Plate (1) Kids Right-Sized Portion Plate (1)

$100 Holiday Gift Set

Set includes: Fruit & Veggie Note Cards (1 package of 12) Eco-Friendly Grocery Bag (2) $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook (1) Stainless Steel Water Bottle (1) Yum Yum Dishes (1 set of 4) Adult Right Sized Portion Plate (1) Kids Right Sized Portion Plate (1) Healthy Accent Print (1 randomly selected)

Okay, now that you’re back, let’s talk about why you shouldn’t still be eating your Thanksgiving leftovers! BACTERIA! So often, we think of bacteria when we see mold growing, or brown spots appearing on fruits and vegetables. But, the truth is that bacteria grow on so many foods while you can’t see, smell or taste it. You’ll have no idea what type of viruses or parasites that you are putting in your body. These bacteria can cause very serious foodborne illnesses, especially in children, the elderly and those with weak immune systems. So, what do you think? Is it really worth it to clean up every piece of that leftover turkey or pumpkin pie?

So, did you skip that last opportunity to go throw away your leftovers? Now is your chance… It’s not too late! To learn more about food safety, and keeping your family safe, be sure to visit www.4DayThrowAway.org. Plus, as always, you can visit the Food Safety section of the NCES website.

We want to hear from you! How long do you continue eating leftovers after the holidays? Share your response here at WordPress, on Facebook or on Twitter.

Here is a cute video to remind you of the 4 Day Throw Away rule!

Another Thanksgiving has come and gone. However, the leftovers haven’t! If you’re fridge is like mine, it is still filled, from top to bottom, with enough leftover food to “feed the multitudes”. So, the question today is what to do with those leftover foods. Here are a few ideas that I am going to try out this year to make the most of my leftover Thanksgiving feast!

1. Mix them in to new recipes: You know how much you love all of your traditional Thanksgiving dishes. However, you may not know exactly how great they taste when certain ones are mixed together, or turned in to new dishes altogether; like this popular Turkey Casserole. (Be sure to use leftover sides and fat-free options when possible)
2. Have a party: I know you just finished ushering chatty Aunt Cathy out the front door after your families Thanksgiving meal. But, having a few of your closest friends over to help you eat some of your leftovers is a great way to make sure that you don’t feel the need to empty the refrigerator all by yourself!
3. Find a needy family: If you have an entire meal leftover, you may want to find a family in your area that wasn’t able to enjoy a traditional holiday meal! If you’re not exactly sure where to find a family, start with your community center or a local church. They may be able to point you in the right direction. Knowing you could provide something so basic for a family in need is so rewarding!
4.  Throw them away: This is our most important tip! November 29^th is Throw Away Your Leftovers Day. By this point, many of your favorite foods will begin growing things you NEVER want to put in your body! Keep an eye out for our blog next week! We’ll be focusing on food safety and why it is so important to throw away your leftovers as they expire.

What do you do with your leftover Thanksgiving foods? We would love to hear your tips! Feel free to share on the blog, or visit us on Facebook or Twitter. 

Are you diabetic? If so, you’ve probably been told that carb counting is one of the single most important things you can do to help control your diabetes. Obviously, exercise is important as well. But, counting your carbs is your lifeline to successfully managing your diabetes! Right? Or… is that right? There is currently a lot of debate surrounding the effectiveness of carb counting to manage diabetes.

On one side, you have the traditional thinkers who argue that counting carbs is the only way to control your diabetes. It’s simple logic! When you consume carbohydrates, whether simple or complex, your body breaks them down in to sugar. This sugar is then absorbed in to your blood stream causing your blood sugar to rise. In response to this rise in blood sugar, your body releases the hormone insulin. Insulin is used to take the sugar from your blood and move it to your cells. Once in the cells, it can be used as energy to fuel your body. Diabetes is an insulin deficiency in your body. So, it makes sense that if your body struggles to produce insulin, it cannot appropriately manage the sugar in your blood caused by consuming carbohydrates. So, in order to control your diabetes, you must manage the amount of carbs you consume so that your body can manage the blood sugar levels.

On the other side, you have the radical thinkers who say that counting carbs is not a vital part of successfully managing diabetes. Instead, they argue that it is more a combination of the foods you eat and the amount of daily exercise you get that keeps your blood sugar in control.

But, we want to know what you think! How do you find that your diabetes is best controlled? Are you traditional or radical? Please share your thoughts with us… Facebook, Twitter, Email or even comment right here on this blog!