October Mission: Good Nutrition Focuses on Healthy Holiday Treats, Food Makeovers and the Updated Government Food Pyramid

The tenth episode of Mission: Good Nutrition, a 29-minute TV program sponsored by Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation promoting healthy living, will begin running Thursday, October 4, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. on PCTV Channel 27 and is scheduled to air at the same time each subsequent Thursday in October.

“This month’s show focuses on how to make your favorite comfort foods healthy,” comments Dave Kraybill, executive director, Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation. “You’ll learn how easy it is to substitute foods without sacrificing taste. Plus, we are once again focusing on healthy party treats for kids during the upcoming holidays. Finally, the Food Pyramid has received a makeover by the U.S. government. This episode will review how the new Pyramid is both easy to understand and customizable for every individual.”

In the first segment, Jo-an Rechtin, a freelance food writer and cooking instructor from Spring City, informs parents how they can celebrate holidays and other special times by incorporating healthier treats, cutting down on the amount of candy children consume and centering the celebration or party around fun activities instead of food. She will offer some very neat ideas on how to get young ones involved in creating their own special treats too.

The second segment features Amy Deahl-Greenlaw, a registered dietician with the Food Trust, a non-profit organization that promotes access to affordable, nutritious food. Amy will review the updated Pyramid food groups in detail and inform viewers how the measurements for these groups have changed. She will also explain how to go to the web site www.mypyramid.gov and personalize a Pyramid plan to fit your individual needs.

Finally, Larry Fortunato, culinary arts instructor at Pottstown High School, will show you how to make over some family dinner favorites to make them lighter and healthier without sacrificing a lot of the taste. You’ll learn how easy it is to make over Macaroni & Cheese, a Mexican casserole and finally lasagna.

This month’s “Fitness Minute” will inform you how to avoid a fitness blunder. Learn how to prevent injuries through warming up and stretching before jumping into your exercise routine full force.

About the Program Mission: Good Nutrition - In support of the Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation’s goal to promote healthy living and healthy lifestyles, the Foundation sponsors the Mission: Good Nutrition program, which airs every Thursday at 7:00 p.m. on PCTV Channel 27. Area residents, particularly parents with school-age children, can discover practical, fun, easy and convenient ideas to use immediately and benefit from every day. The “fitness minute” in each episode complements the nutritional focus and reinforces that better eating habits plus improved fitness are keys to enjoying a healthier quality of life. All episodes feature interviews and discussions with health and nutrition experts, plus hands-on cooking demonstrations by local chefs and culinary professionals.

Visit www.pottstownfoundation.org and click on “Mission: Good Nutrition” for an array of interesting information—recipes featured on the program, video clips, and quizzes, as well as how to contact show host Beth Trapani, former communications director and spokeswoman for Pennsylvania Advocates for Nutrition and Activity. Mission: Good Nutrition was developed by The Anderson Group and is being produced by Dayton Communications.

About the Foundation - The Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation’s mission is to enhance the health and wellness of area residents, providing education, funding and programs that motivate people to adopt healthy lifestyles.