Following the successful launch of the International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation and Monkeysee.com’s first cooperative project—the expert demonstration video “How to Tell if Your Food Has Gone Bad”—IFIC Foundation and Monkeysee.com have partnered again on five additional expert video demos and interviews. Two of these new additions provide information on timely food safety topics for consumers: safe food preparation using a microwave oven and food allergy basics. The other three videos address common consumer questions about nutrition: how to help your diet survive the office; how to eat more than you think and lose weight; and how to eat right to feel great. All videos are available on IFIC Foundation’s Ask An Expert Web page.
The video, “How to Safely Prepare Food Using a Microwave Oven” features food safety expert Dr. Sue Snider, from the Department of Animal and Food Sciences at the University of Delaware. In the video, Dr. Snider discusses the basics of preparing food safely in a microwave oven and demonstrates key food safety practices, including proper use of a food thermometer and practical food safety tips for children, teens, and college students. This demo promises to be a fitting educational tool for consumers, as the recently released IFIC Foundation 2008 Food and Health Survey found that while a majority of Americans (79 percent) are confident in their ability to understand and follow microwave meal cooking instructions, only 15 percent check the microwave wattage, and even fewer Americans (seven percent) use a food thermometer when preparing microwave foods. These two consumer food safety “disconnects” provide key insights for the development of consumer-friendly food safety educational tools, such as this demo video.
The “Ask an Expert” video collection also features an interview with food safety expert Dr. Robert Gravani, from the Department of Food Science at Cornell University. In this interview, Dr. Gravani provides answers to common food allergy questions. This video is also a timely production with a continued emphasis on the importance of food allergy education and management. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 12 million Americans are currently living with food allergies; this expert interview can reach large online audiences and provide education on food allergy prevention in a convenient, user-friendly format. Topics such as the Big Eight food allergens, common food allergy symptoms, food allergy management, and the difference between food allergy and food intolerance are discussed in this expert interview.
The IFIC Foundation’s “Ask an Expert” nutrition-related video collection features IFIC Foundation registered dietitian and weight management specialist Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, MS, RD. In this video series, Reinhardt Kapsak offers step-by-step advice on “How to Help Your Diet Survive the Office” by addressing questions like “how do I get started on a smart diet plan?” and “what do you do if your work schedule is unpredictable?” Other topics include time management, establishing goals with a buddy, and making the diet a top priority. This accomplished dietitian brings the issue of maintaining a healthful diet straight to the consumer by acknowledging barriers such as the availability of food in an office environment. She also helps consumers keep a positive attitude by characterizing each food temptation as a possibility to make a healthful decision and explaining how to include favorite foods by practicing moderation.
Another nutrition video series features an interview with IFIC Foundation staff member Elizabeth Rahavi, RD as she answers the age-old question of “How to Eat More Than You Think and Lose Weight.” The 2008 Food and Health Survey shows that 75 percent of consumers are concerned about their weight status and more than half, or 57 percent, say they are trying to lose weight. This informative “how-to” segment speaks directly to consumers as Rahavi guides them through discussions about weight loss, small changes that can have big results, balancing meals throughout the day, and the benefits of breakfast, among other topics. Rahavi provides an abundance of real-life examples and tips to help the consumer translate knowledge into action and encourages small changes to get started on the road to success.
The video, “How to Eat Right and Feel Great,” features IFIC staff member Sarah Alligood, MPH, RD answering a variety of consumer questions about food and an overall healthful lifestyle. The 2008 Food & Health Survey finds that 67 percent of consumers are trying to improve the healthfulness of their diet and 69 percent of those say they are doing so to improve their overall wellbeing. In this video series, Alligood gives a dietitian’s insights on how to do just that by addressing topics like body weight, physical activity, a healthful eating plan, meal quantities, dietary fats, carbohydrates, and foods with added health benefits. Each segment includes positive, practical information for the consumer with simple tips on how to incorporate healthful behaviors into everyday life.
