Lower Your Food Costs
By Staff Writer

A program to lower monthly food costs was announced this week by St. Stephen Presbyterian Church in Chatsworth. Called “Treasure Box”, the program helps families during these tough economic times by providing quality food at drastically reduced prices. For just $30 each month you can purchase a pre-assembled box of fresh frozen groceries retailing for between $65-$100 for your family or a family you know who needs a little help.

The Treasure Box is filled with 21- 25 pounds of nutritious food, including 10-12 pounds of protein, fruit vegetables, side dishes and dessert, enough to feed a family of four lunch and dinner for up to a week. There is also a choice of other boxes: a Quick & Healthy Box, with 10 meals to heat in the microwave or oven. Each meal is low in fat, sodium and cholesterol, ideal for lunchtime at work or for those who live alone. The Hearty Meat and Protein Box provides over 12 pounds of chicken and beef. The Kids Box provides corn dogs, franks, ground beef, mac and cheese: a host of children’s favorites. Each specialty box is $30. There is no limit to the number of boxes ordered, and no income qualifi- cations.

More information, including actual menus, is available by calling St. Stephen Presbyterian Church at 818- 360-7460. You may order one or more Treasure Boxes online at www.thetreasurebox.org or cash orders may be placed at the church, 20121 Devonshire St., Chatsworth (at Winnetka). The order deadline for August is Aug. 15. Orders can be picked up at St. Stephen on Saturday, August 28.

Nutrition Claims: Reading Between The Lines
By Staff Writer

We often see claims such as "zero trans fat" and "reduced in calories" but these eye-catching statements do not tell the whole story. A food free of Trans fat may still be high in Calories. Here are some definitions for claims that may come in handy:

"Low" is always associated with a very small amount. "Low in fat" means the food contains no more than 3g (grams) of fat

"Reduced in calories" means the food contains at least 25% less energy than the food to which it is compared.

"Source of fiber" means the food contains at least 2g of dietary fiber.

"Less" is used to compare one product with another.

The Nutrition Facts Table - What's in it for You?

In the Nutrition Facts you will find the number of Calories and the amounts of 13 nutrients contained in a specific amount of the food. These nutrients will be expressed in grams (g) or milligrams (mg) or as a % Daily Value.

The Daily Values are based on recommendations for a healthy diet. For example, a food that has a % Daily Value of 5% or less for fat, sodium or cholesterol would be low in these nutrients. A food that has a % Daily Value of 15% or more for calcium, vitamin A or fiber would be high in these nutrients. You should look for a higher % Daily Value next to nutrients you are trying to increase in your diet. Look for a lower % Daily Value for nutrients you are trying to decrease. Also remember to compare the specific amount of food listed at the top of the Nutrition Facts to the amount that you eat. If you eat double the amount listed, don't forget to double the values for Calories and nutrients.

Nutrition Labeling - It's the Amount That Counts

The nutrient information in the Nutrition Facts is always based on a specific 'amount' of food measured in household units - such as a cup of milk, or a slice of bread - followed by the metric measurement (g, mL). The amount reflects the quantity people usually eat at one sitting. The key however, is comparing the amount in the Nutrition Facts to the amount you actually eat. -Why? A favorite bowl you use at breakfast might hold anywhere from a 1⁄2 cup to a 2 1⁄2 cup amount of cereal. Having 2 1⁄2 cups of a particular cereal may be five times the amount specified in the Nutrition Facts. If the cereal box label indicates a 1⁄2 cup amount is 120 Calories, this means that, instead of consuming 120
Calories, you have just consumed a 600 Calorie bowl of cereal.

More tips for using the Nutrition Facts:

Remember - the amount of food in the Nutrition Facts is not a recommended serving Nutrition Facts on different brands of the same type of food may be based on different amounts of food. Not all foods are sold 'ready to eat'.

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