three years employment in the heavy-duty truck manufacturin

Critics point out that the government's efforts to improve the public's eating habits may not go far enough because many of its former recommendations remain unchanged. While warnings against excessive consumption of certain nutrients, like sodium, fat and sugar, have been included in the guidelines in the past, many of the most fundamental dietary problems are still not being addressed.

For instance, the typical diet of Americans continues to be heavy on meat products and refined grains. While the recommendations single out whole grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy products and even seafood as desirable choices of which Americans should eat more, foods that are high in saturated fat, sodium and refined grains are not mentioned by name at all. Yet these are the ones American consumers buy the most: Hamburgers, steaks, pizza, white breads and pastries.

Furthermore, many of the government recommendations are plainly at odds with its existing agricultural policies. Tax-payer-funded subsidies for corn- and soy production are as high as ever, while small organic farms receive no financial help from the government at all. Consequently, high-quality food products remain expensive, while affordable foods lack important nutritional benefits. Or, as one commentator put it: Rich farmers produce junk food for the poor while poor farmers grow healthy food for the rich.

The government itself is stuck in an impossible position. The U.S.D.A. has two missions to fulfill that are hard to reconcile with one another. On the one hand, the agency is responsible for the expansion of agricultural markets, which means promoting the products it subsidizes, like corn, soy and sugar. On the other hand, it is entrusted with the nutritional health education of the public, which includes advising us to reduce our consumption of these very same items. It is an almost schizophrenic scenario.

The more important question, of course, will be whether and how the American people will respond to the government's recommendations. Some like to say that it is foolish to believe that messages from the government will impact our eating habits on a large scale. Food choices, they argue, are too personal to be controlled by outside influences, never mind how well-meaning they may be.

I don't think that's a valid point, though. If it worked with tobacco, it can work with sodas and junk food. Government may not be able to directly impact the behavior of individuals, but it surely can regulate what suppliers can put on the market, starting with imposing restrictions on advertising to minors.

I think the biggest challenges are availability and affordability of healthy food items. Most people would probably choose to eat better if they had the funds. Grocery prices, especially for fresh produce, have risen so dramatically in recent years that the kind of food people can afford has almost become an issue of class distinction. Obesity is most widespread among the poor, not because they eat too much, but because they are forced to survive on the cheapest foods available.

Giving supermarkets incentives to set up shop in low-income neighborhoods, a.k.a. "food deserts," subsidizing small organic farms instead of agricultural industry giants, and investing more in public health education, including cooking classes in all public schools, would build a much better platform for the government's efforts to turn our current health crisis around. Maybe in five years from now we will know better.
Columbia, SC (WLTX) -- One in five kids don't get the proper dental care, according to Columbia's Small Smiles Dental Clinic. They are working to change that by providing free screenings for kids.

"Okay Jordan, open big buddy, I just want to count your teeth, ok?" Dr. Terrence Vandiver says to his patient.

"Jordan has never had a check-up or anything like that, or seen a dentist," Necole Tucker says of her son, Jordan.

At just two-years old, Jordan Tucker is opening wide for the first time.

"I know how important it is for his teeth since he's so young," Necole says.

"First time here, so we'd love to establish his as his dental home because a dental home is important," Vandiver says.

Wednesday's free dental exams at Small Smiles Clinic in Columbia helped Mom out.

"A lot, cause you know you gotta do and all that other stuff that's expensive so once you hear, like I said, the word free, you gotta take advantage of it when you can," Necole says.

"My background is not much different from the kids I see everyday and so a couple bounces of the ball in any direction and i could be right here as a small smiles patient myself or I could have been as a kid," Vandiver says.

Vandiver happily checks teeth free of charge.

"It's well-documented that our patient population is an under-served population and so truly we do exist to make sure that we can fill a void in the community that's very much needed," he says.

"I think he's already done got used to it putting the toothbrush in his mouth so I think the visit helped," Necole says.

The free screenings were to celebrate Children's Day of Dental Health Month. Small Smiles is deciding if they'll have more free screenings later in the month.
Today, the majority of adults and one in three children in America are overweight or obese. This is a crisis we can no longer ignore.

In President Obama's recent State of the Union address, he called on our nation to build an economy that is growing and working for all Americans by out-innovating, out-educating and out-building the rest of the world.

But our workers and leaders will never out-innovate or out-build competitors if they are unhealthy or home sick. And our children won't get a first rate education if they can't focus in class because they aren't eating right, or are teased because of their weight.
Click here to find out more!

That is why the release of the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans is so important.

Prepared by USDA with our colleagues at the Department of Health and Human Services, and based on a report by America's foremost experts on nutrition and health, these guidelines give busy individuals, moms and dads the information they need to make thoughtful choices for themselves and their families.

There are no shortages of diet books, plans and programs, and many of them can produce great results. But these guidelines make it simple to stay fit and healthy. They reinforce what folks already know: that a healthy life is built on a foundation of calories consumed, balanced with calories expended through physical activity.

To maintain a healthy weight and avoid the potential health risks of being overweight, calories in should equal calories out. If your goal is to lose weight, then calories out must exceed the calories we consume.

No matter our goals, we all need to eat healthier foods in the right portions. A balanced diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein (including fish), and low-fat dairy. Try to limit sodium, sugar and fat. The guidelines recommend that adults balance healthy eating with regular physical activity for 30 minutes, five times a week, and that children play and run 60 minutes a day.

Our guidelines also offer some simple tips for staying healthy that will make a big difference:

-Enjoy your food, but eat less.

-Avoid oversized portions.

-Make half your plate fruits and vegetables.

-Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1 percent) milk.

-Compare sodium in foods like soup, bread and frozen meals - and choose the foods with lower numbers.

-Drink water instead of sugary drinks.

These guidelines acknowledge that folks don't make choices about eating and physical activity in a vacuum. Where and how Americans live plays a role in their health. That is why we have been working to educate and empower Americans so that they have the tools and information they need to improve their health and nutrition.

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, recently passed by Congress, is improving the quality of the foods served to tens of millions of children in USDA's school lunch and school breakfast program for the first time in decades, and will give parents information about food being served at their kids' schools.

And last year's health-care reform legislation is giving Americans more choices about their health care, helping folks afford the quality medical care they deserve, and ensuring that insurance plans cover recommended preventative services free of charge.

Taken together, these efforts are helping Americans take responsibility for leading healthier lives - and not a moment too soon.

For our nation to remain competitive in the 21st century, we need Americans to make, create, and innovate as they have in past generations. We cannot afford the strain of the extra cost of health care, the difficulty of finding folks fit for service in our all-volunteer military, or workers who play to win - but are prevented because of obesity-related conditions. We face big challenges, and fixing them will require a lot of hard work and sacrifice from everyone. Improving our eating habits and getting more physical activity is not only good for every individual and family, but also for our country.


ABOUT THE WRITER

Tom Vilsack is U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.

This essay is available to McClatchy-Tribune News Service subscribers. McClatchy-Tribune did not subsidize the writing of this column; the opinions are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of McClatchy-Tribune or its editors.
The province will put more money into tobacco-reduction activities, Healthy Living Minister Jim Rondeau announced Jan. 28.

Manitoba will provide $97,500 per year for the next three years to community-based tobacco-reduction activities.

"Smoking is one area that's been proven to be a challenge," Rondeau said. "We haven't gone as far as we need to go, so ... I'm pleased to announce an additional funding amount of $97,500 — for smoking cessation."

Some of the funds will go toward in-school anti-smoking initiatives, such as Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT).

SWAT Program

The SWAT program, which was first launched at West Kildonan Collegiate has high-school students present to middle-school students about the risk of tobacco use.

Grade 12 student Sara Castellano has been a part of SWAT for the past four years, and says it's been a great experience.

"My father was a smoker, and I hated the fact he smoked, and because I couldn't make him stop, I took it upon myself to go and make a change elsewhere and educate other students," she said. "We hear a lot of success stories."

This funding is in addition to the province's annual investment of $765,000 for chronic-disease prevention programs.

"The Province of Manitoba recognizes that prevention of chronic disease is an ongoing issue," Rondeau said. "It requires continued work and funding."

Across the province, 83 communities are participating in the Healthy Together Now chronic-disease prevention initiative, which targets physical inactivity, unhealthy eating and smoking.
The once thriving industry is just a shadow of itself, having seen jobs losses in the thousands in just five years.

“Basically what’s driving this is fact that we losing our industry,” Clement told the Star Wednesday.

He said in just three years employment in the heavy-duty truck manufacturing sector has gone from 4,200 Canadian workers in 2006 to 750 in 2009 while the number of vehicles has dropped from 74,000 to 11,000.

“It’s basically gone to the United States and Mexico,” the minister said, adding “that we don’t even have a profile yet on what the industry looks like.”

Clement said the study will analyze the sector, its suppliers and highlight the industry's strengths, weaknesses and capacity.