Happy 2014!

Last year, more than 250,000 Iowans participated in a Live Healthy Iowa Challenge and adopted healthier lifestyles through physical activity and smart nutrition choices.  This year, join the fun and register with your family, friends, or coworkers for the 10 Week Wellness Challenge.  It's a simple, affordable way to help motivate you towards achieving your New Year's Resolutions.  Visit www.livehealthyiowa.org to register.  The Challenge begins January 27 and you can win great prizes.  Join fellow Iowans in making this the healthiest state in the nation.

Download the Cerro Gordo Smart Dining app to your smart phone or tablet to identify healthier entrées when dining out in Cerro Gordo County. You can download the app at Google Play or I-tunes by searching Cerro Gordo Smart Dining.

In this month's Public Health Communicator, we discuss the mystery behind the causes and symptoms of pink eye. We also include an article that highlights the importance of child safety through appropriate car seat use.  With the new year here, most of us like to focus on eating healthy, so we provide tips to eat healthier on a budget. As always, we include the "Day in the Life of" column and the Wellness Corner. Enjoy!

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to stay up-to-date on all the current information surrounding the Health Department. Make sure to check out the left side of our newsletter, which features our Quick Response (QR) Code. Scan it with your smartphone to get directly to our website.

Best wishes,  

Nola Aigner

Public Information Officer

Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health 

Protect Your Child!

 In 2010, over 1,200 children ages 14 years and younger died in motor vehicle accidents and about 171,000 were injured.  Parents, guardians and caregivers, know  it is essential to make sure your child, no matter the age rides safely in the vehicle. It is our responsibility to make sure they are buckled in with size-appropriate car seats, booster seats or seat belts. Child seats reduce the risk of death in car crashes by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers ages one to four. Booster seats reduce the risk for serious injury by 45% for children ages 4 to 8 years. All children aged 12 and under should ride in the back seat because airbags can kill young children riding in the front seat. Use a seat belt on every trip, no matter how short.

Below are the following stages and ages to ensure children are traveling safely:

Birth up to Age 2 - Rear-facing car seat. For the best possible protection, infants and children should be kept in a rear-facing car seat, in the back seat buckled with the seat's harness, until they reach the upper weight or height limits of their particular seat. Check the seat's owner's manual for weight and height limits.

Age 2 up to at least Age 5 - Forward-facing car seat. When children outgrow their rear-facing seats they should ride in forward-facing car seats, in the back seat buckled with the seat's harness, until they reach the upper weight or height limit of their particular seat. Check the seat's owner's manual for weight and height limits.

Age 5 up to at least Age 9 - Booster seat. Once children outgrow their forward-facing seats (by reaching the upper height and weight limits of their seat), they should ride in belt positioning booster seats. Remember to keep children in the back seat for the best possible protection.

Once Seat Belts Fit Properly - Seat belts. Children should use booster seats until adult seat belts fit them properly. Seat belts fit properly when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs (not the stomach) and the shoulder belt fits across the chest (not the neck). The recommended height for proper seat belt fit is 57 inches tall or 4 feet, 9 inches. For the best possible protection, keep children in the back seat and use lap-and-shoulder belts.

*Information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

 Eating Healthy on a Budget

With the new year here, one of our biggest resolutions may be to eat healthier.  We often think it will be expensive to eat healthily. New research indicates that it is actually inexpensive to eat healthy on a budget. Here are ten tips from the United States Department of Agriculture to help you:

Plan: Before you head to the grocery store, plan your meals for the week. Include meals like stews, casseroles, or stir-fries, which "stretch" expensive items into more portions. Check to see what foods you already have and make a list for what you need to buy.

Get the best price: Check the local newspaper, online, and at the store for sales and coupons. Ask about a loyalty card for extra savings at stores where you shop. Look for specials or sales on meat and seafood-often the most expensive items on your list.

Compare and contrast: Locate the "Unit Price" on the shelf directly below the product. Use it to compare different brands and different sizes of the same brand to determine which is cheaper.

Buy in bulk: It is almost always cheaper to buy foods in bulk. Smart choices are family packs of chicken, steak, or fish and larger bags of potatoes and frozen vegetables.  Before you shop, remember to check if you have enough freezer space.

Buy in season: Buying fruits and vegetables in season can lower the cost and add to the freshness! If you are not going to use them all right away, buy some that still need time to ripen.

Convenience costs...go back to the basics: Convenience foods like frozen dinners, pre-cut vegetables, and instant rice, oatmeal, or grits will cost you more than if you were to make them from scratch. Take the time to prepare your own-and save!

Easy on your wallet: Certain foods are typically low-cost options all year round. Try beans for a less expensive protein food. For vegetables, buy carrots, greens, or potatoes. As for fruits, apples and bananas are good choices.

Cook once...eat all week: Prepare a large batch of favorite recipes on your day off (double or triple the recipe). Freeze in individual containers. Use them throughout the week and you won't have to spend money on take-out meals.

Get your creative juices flowing: Spice up your leftovers-use them in new ways. For example, try leftover chicken in a stir-fry or over a garden salad, or to make chicken chili. Remember, throwing away food is throwing away your money!

Eating out: Restaurants can be expensive. Save money by getting the early bird special, going out for lunch instead of dinner, or looking for "2 for 1" deals. Stick to water instead of ordering other beverages, which add to the bill.

*Information provided by United States Department of Agriculture

  

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 Our Mission Statement:   

The Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health works to

optimize the health of all people in Cerro Gordo County.