Got a minute? How many times has someone asked you that? Of course, they never really take just a minute, because a minute is really so little time to get anything done. Except, in a minute, three people in this country will be diagnosed with diabetes. Those minutes add up; today, 24 million Americans have diabetes. While that’s a huge number, consider this – the CDC estimates that one-fourth to one-third of those people don’t even know they have the disease. The statistics go on and on:  some minority populations (American Indians, African Americans, and Hispanics) are twice as likely as Caucasians to develop diabetes.  One-third of U.S. children born in 2000 could develop this disease during their lifetime.  And an estimated 57 million Americans have a high risk for developing type 2 diabetes with a condition known as pre-diabetes, or blood sugar levels that are higher than normal, but lower than the diabetes range.

You might wonder how someone could have such a prevalent disease and not know it.  But as the second leading cause of death in the U.S., and a major cause of kidney failure, heart disease, and stroke, it certainly affects the health and wellness of Americans in a significant way.  The American Diabetes Association has used November, designated as American Diabetes Month®, to raise awareness of this disease for a number of years.  This year, given the grim statistics, they are taking bolder action with their Stop Diabetes movement. 

There is some good news in all of this.  And American Diabetes Month® is a good time to share it.  People at risk for diabetes or those who already have pre-diabetes can take steps now to delay or prevent type 2 diabetes from ever developing.  These steps include medical, nutritional, and lifestyle changes to combat the disease.  At Sodexo, we feel a responsibility to help by providing healthful meals and educating about diabetes, given the millions of meals we serve daily. 

So, what can you do?  Know the signs and symptoms of diabetes.  Ask your doctor about risk factors for the disease.  Find out what you can do to minimize your risk for the disease, or minimize the effects on your health if you already have diabetes.  And encourage your family, friends and co-workers to do the same – you could just help them find out something they don’t already know.

Imagine a country in such dire straits that half of its children wouldn’t get meals without government help. You may immediately have thought of some Third World country, but the startling fact is that almost half of the children in this country will be on food stamps at some point in their childhood. The number is even more shocking when you focus on African American children: 90 percent of them will be on food stamps at one point. Last week, a study was released that looked at 30 years of national data and warned that these numbers could get pushed even higher if the recession continues.

The study also cautioned pediatricians that they need to be on the lookout for illnesses related to malnutrition. That warning extends even to pediatricians in so-called “nice” neighborhoods, because the economic downturn has broadened the types of people who have had to turn to food stamps to feed their families. We know from a study funded by our foundation that children who eat breakfast perform in school better and have fewer hunger-related problems such as dizziness, lethargy, stomachaches and earaches. It’s not a stretch to say that pediatricians might start seeing an increase in these symptoms in a broader spectrum of their patients as economic woes spread.

In this type of economic climate, food banks play a crucial role in filling the gaps. This is why Sodexo founded and continues to sponsor our Helping Hands Across America program, a  month-long effort that encourages our employees and customers to collect non-perishable food items to fight hunger in their own communities. The effort culminates today – November 12 – when we all try to set a new world record for the “largest food drive by a non-charitable organization in a 24-hour period.” The Guinness Book of World Records will determine whether we set the record, but the current record to beat is 510,000 pounds of food collected.

The challenge to beat the record is a fun one, but the intent behind it is much more serious – to bring attention to the problem of hunger in this country, and to engage as many people as possible in trying to stop it

You can follow our progress or get involved by becoming a fan on Facebook or following @STOPhungerNov12 on twitter.

And, of course, you can help by bringing nonperishable food to your community food bank!

It happens every year about this time – the requests to the Sodexo dietitians start pouring in: “How can my family and I avoid weight gain during the holidays?” Years ago, this time period meant the five weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. Because of treat-rich Halloween, this holiday time period has increased, pounding both kids and parents with three full months of “sweet” opportunities. You thought costumes, cobwebs and the tricks were the biggest part of Halloween? Well, think again – it’s the treats! According to an estimate by the National Retail Federation, Americans spent almost two billion dollars on Halloween candy last year. 

While no one wants to be a bad apple, consider that childhood obesity has nearly tripled since 1980. Is there any doubt that candy can contribute to weight gain in children, or that additional pounds can negatively impact their health? Several studies indicate that being overweight contributes to more than 20 chronic diseases that are now manifesting in children and teenagers. These are serious, lifelong illnesses like type 2 diabetes, previously seen only in adults. Because they require additional health care, these diseases raise medical costs, taking their toll on not just the health of the individual, but also the U.S. economy.

At Sodexo, we have a commitment to health and well-being for our employees, clients and customers. We serve and promote healthy food options, and we also encourage regular physical activity, not only for children but for all age groups. 

While the causes of childhood obesity are numerous and complicated, perhaps its widespread emergence indicates that it is time to rethink holiday snacks, starting with Halloween. Buying the smaller “fun size” candy can be an easy introduction to portion control. In addition, there is an emerging trend towards giving children healthier treats, such as raisins, granola bars or pretzels. Some people are even handing out non-food treats like small games, puzzles and stickers. In addition, parents can place limits on their children’s Halloween stashes, like keeping five favorites and giving away or discarding the rest.

It can be very simple actions that keep the sweet spirit of the holidays alive, without turning them sour.

Since the Marine Corps Marathon began in 1976, the race has been a symbol of endurance and hope. The course takes runners on a historic tour of our nation’s capitol, passing landmarks that speak to the bravery and sacrifice made by our armed forces in their continuing commitment to ensure America’s freedom.  One of the most inspirational of these monuments marks the race’s end: the Iwo Jima Memorial.

This famous statue, which honors Marine Corps members killed in battle, depicts an incident during World War II.  Five intrepid Marines and a Navy corpsman heroically raised an American flag on the small island of Iwo Jima, near Tokyo. The statue shows the men leaning into the task together, working as a team.

This kind of support and cooperation is everywhere you look at the Marine Corps Marathon, nicknamed “The People’s Marathon.” This year’s three-day event, October 23-25, is expected to draw about 30,000 runners in three races, the 26.2 mile marathon, a new 10K race, and the MCM Healthy Kids Fun Run.

During the race, as athletes push themselves past exhaustion, supporters gather along the routes to cheer them on.  Along with the many Marines who are present, these spectators inspire and support runners.  They encourage them to find and tap reserves of energy to reach the finish line.

For the second year in a row, Sodexo proudly serves as the official food service provider for the MCM, feeding more than 700 VIP's, and providing 30,000 bags filled with healthy snacks for the runners. In addition, Sodexo’s registered dietitian, Tina Reddington, talks about sensible nutrition and running at the MCM Health and Fitness Expo on Friday, October 23.  And finally, Sodexo also proudly sponsors the affiliated MCM Healthy Kids Fun Run, scheduled for Saturday, October 24.

News stories often show triumphant runners who have successfully completed their races. But for additional inspiration, I recommend coming to cheer on the littlest athletes at Saturday’s Healthy Kids Fun Run.  The race has grown to attract about 3,000 kids, ages 6-13.  They run in the one-mile event just for fun.  At the finish line, they get a t-shirt, a medal and snacks provided by Sodexo.

Last year, I remember one little girl in particular. She had physical challenges, but she was determined to finish the race. By the end, she had a whole crowd of Marines running alongside her cheering her on. At the finish line, her father hugged her, and then scooped her up onto his shoulders. I will never forget the look of triumph on that little girl’s face.

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Happy National School Lunch Week! Perhaps there are no holiday cards to honor this event, but in the world of Sodexo School Services and our thousands of clients and customers, this is a BIG deal and worthy of talking about. Each year, 5.2 billion school lunches are served in 99,000 schools. That makes about 31 million meals a day, and Sodexo serves more than 2.5 million of those nutritious meals each day to students and teachers across the country. Our customers have come to expect the best food, the best quality and the best choices in their school cafeterias. To us, providing breakfast, lunch, after school snacks and yes, sometimes even dinner to our customers is our mission as well as our job. There is no arguing the link between good nutrition and student achievement; the facts are in and it’s indisputable.

Are you feeling guilty about not packing a brownbag lunch for your child? Don’t! Here’s what school lunch can do for your child:

1. Lunch keeps kids powered up throughout the day. Because the average meal takes no more than about four to five hours to digest, skipping lunch can cause a student to suffer from afternoon sluggishness. Your brain and working muscles need quality fuel every four to five hours with a mixture of carbohydrates, protein and healthy fats in the right portions. The school lunch program is designed to help students get the right mix of foods and nutrients to keep them shining all day long.

2. Eating lunch helps with weight maintenance. Some students may think they will skip lunch to conserve calories and hopefully lose weight. This technique usually backfires for many reasons. One, students tend to be ravenous later and then overeat calories later in the day. Two, the body becomes more efficient at storing body fat because it perceives it is being starved. Three, both mental and physical energy can suffer. This could mean that performance on the big exam or during the big game could be seriously compromised by skipping meals. It’s not worth it to skip.

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