Fat American Pose A Threat to National Security

Increasing rates of obesity among young Americans could undermine the future of the US military, with potential recruits increasingly too fat to serve. "Obesity rates threaten the overall health of America and the future strength of our military," generals John Shalikashvili and Hugh Shelton, both former chairs of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, wrote in a commentary.

Obesity disqualified more potential recruits for military service than any other medical factor, so the two generals urged Congress to adopt legislation that would ensure better nutrition in schools, offering children more vegetables, fruits and whole grains while cutting back on foods with high sugar, sodium and fat content.

"We consider this problem so serious from a national security perspective that we have joined more than 130 other retired generals, admirals and senior military in a non-profit group called "Mission: Readiness."

The US military faces a problem with troops already serving who are overweight, with some soldiers losing out on promotions because of their failure to meet fitness standards. The two retired generals endorsed a plan by President Barack Obama's administration to increase funding by one billion dollars a year over ten years for child nutrition programs. Investing in nutrition made sense as the country was already spending 75 billion dollars a year on medical costs associated with obesity, they said. .

"We must act, as we did after World War II, to ensure that our children can one day defend our country, if need be.

Recipes for Diabetes

In 2007, 23.6 million children and adults were diagnosed with diabetes. That's 7.8% of the U.S. population. People with diabetes are at risk for high blood pressure, heart disease and many other health complications. We did some research and found some of the tastiest foods that are heart healthy and great for the whole family.


Meat and Cheese Subs
1 14 1/2-ounce (435 g) loaf of Italian or Parisian style crusty bread, sliced in half lengthwise with soft inside discarded leaving 3/4-inch (1.9 cm) shell intact
6 ounces (180 g) roasted turkey breast, shaved thin
6 ounces (180 g) low salt, low fat ham, shaved thin
4 ounces (120 g) skim milk Swiss cheese, sliced thin
1 large firm ripe tomato, 1/2 pound (240 g), thinly sliced
1/2 cucumber, 4 ounces (120 g) peeled and thinly sliced
2 cups (110 g) shredded iceberg lettuce

Line the bottom half of the bread with turkey, ham, and cheese. Top with tomato and cucumber slices. Spread the lettuce over the top.
Top with the second bread half and tightly wrap in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Chill for at least 2 hours or overnight.
When ready to serve, slice off and discard the bread ends. Cut the remaining sub into 6 portions.

Quick Lemon Bread
1 cup Granulated SugarLike

1/2 cup ButterLike Baking Butter, softened

1/2 cup large egg whites, lightly beaten

1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup skim milk

1 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel

Lemon Glaze:

1/3 cup Granulated SugarLike

4 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

In a large bowl, mix SugarLike, ButterLike, and egg whites until smooth. Add remaining muffin ingredients and mix until flour is incorporated into batter. Pour batter into a vegetable sprayed and floured 5- X 9-inch loaf pan.
Bake in a 350°F oven 45 to 50 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
As soon as bread is done, prepare glaze. Leaving loaf in pan, use a long slender skewer to poke numerous holes all the way to bottom of loaf.
In a small pan, combine SugarLike and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until SugarLike is dissolved. Remove from heat. Slowly drizzle over top of loaf so that glaze soaks into bread. Let bread cool in pan on rack for 15 minutes, then turn out onto rack to cool completely.



More ideas next week? We think so! Look for Part Two

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