August 2018 - Neighborhood Connections

Today’s Lesson:
School Lunch Safety
Students across Manatee
County are headed back to
school, and lunch safety is
today’s lesson. Here are
some smart lunch tips to
move you to the front of the
class:
· A clean start. Before
prepping, wash hands,
surfaces and utensils
with warm, soapy water
to stop bacterial
contamination.
· Contain items
properly. Make
lunches the night before
and stash them in the
refrigerator. Insulated
lunch bags, when paired
with a frozen juice box,
are a cool way to keep
food chilled until eaten.
· Go for the good
stuff. Add healthy
snacks such as fruit,
nuts, sliced vegetables
and raisins for a
nutritious boost.
For more lunch safety tips,
visit the Partnership for
Food Safety Education’s
website at
www.fightbac.org.
It’s not too late to vaccinate
August 2018
August is Vaccination Awareness Month, and it’s time we take a few moments to
recognize the amazing health benefits provided by immunizations. Diseases
which used to strike terror into people’s hearts by their mere names alone —
smallpox, polio and diphtheria—have been eliminated from North America or
even the world.
But, we can’t let our guard down. Recently, highly-contagious measles cases
have been happening where people are deciding to decline vaccinations for their
children, and those children are suffering—or even dying—from those decisions.
Vaccines have been proven safe in study after study. Not only are you protecting
yourself and your child, but you are also
protecting immunocompromised people who
may be undergoing chemotherapy and cannot
benefit from the vaccine.
Don’t take any chances. Be sure your
immunizations are up to date. Learn the facts
about vaccines at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/
index.html.
Breastfeeding awareness in August
August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, and aims to raise
awareness of the importance of breastfeeding. Research shows that breastfed
infants have a decreased risk of infection, childhood obesity, diabetes, and
sudden infant death syndrome.
In Manatee County, overall breastfeeding initiation has increased substantially
to 77 percent as of May 2018. What was once an important tradition is now the
norm for raising children today, and gives babies the best start possible in life.
DOH-Manatee’s Women, Infant and Children
(WIC) program seeks to encourage breastfeeding
and ensure moms and their children get proper
nutrition to promote their health. Learn more at
manatee.floridahealth.gov/programs-andservices/clinical-and-nutrition-services/
wic/index.html
Live Well is a monthly publication created by the Florida Department of Health in Manatee County
To request additional copies, please call: 941-708-8446 * manatee.floridahealth.gov
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