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03-04-14 REPLY IN SUPPORT OF MOTION FOR PEREMPTORY WRIT OF MANDATE

EXCERPTS FROM THE BRIEF:

   …. the “wholesale disqualification” of a party’s experts violates due process as a matter of law, ….

the exclusion of a “credible and substantial” expert report violates due process. 

…the Commission violated due process by its wholesale disqualification of Drakes Bay’s expert testimony, which included credible and substantial expert reports. [the commission] never…

It's National Nutrition Month - this year Registered Dietitians encourage YOU to make sure you are eating the recommended amounts of fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods and dairy each and every day.

Visit ChooseMyPlate.org to find out more and read on for tips on local opportunities for purchasing or growing your own healthy, fresh foods. 

Make 1/2 your plate fruits & vegetables

Become a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) member. Genesis Growers delivers fresh and organic vegetables, fruits, eggs & chickens  weekly (spring-fall) in Blue Island. Read about Genesis Growers and Farmer Vicki. 

Lease a community garden plot at C alifornia Gardens Community Garden or Memorial Park & grow your own.

Make at least 1/2 your grains whole

Shop local Healthy HotSpots (La Unica & Hidalgo Meat Market) for whole grain, low-fat dairy and fresh fruits & vegetables. 

More 'Simple Tips for Getting Your Plate in Shape'

Last week, USDA announced new meal requirements that will raise standards for the 1st time in more than 15 years and improve the health and nutrition of nearly 32 million kids that participate in school meal programs every school day. The healthier meal requirements are a key component of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which was championed by the First Lady as part of her Let’s Move! campaign and signed into law by President Obama. 

The final standards make the same kinds of practical changes that many parents are already encouraging at home, including:

Offering both fruits and vegetables every day of the week; 

Substantially increasing offerings of whole grain-rich foods;

Offering only fat-free or low-fat milk varieties;

Serving proper portion sizes based on the age of children; &

Increasing the focus on reducing the amounts of saturated fat, trans fats and sodium.

Cook County Department of Public health launched the "Rethink Your Drink" Campaign on January 2nd. "Rethink your Drink" is part of a county-wide effort to reduce the consumption of sugar-loaded beverages. Sugar-loaded beverages (i.e., sodas, energy drinks, sports drinks) are the single greatest source of calories in the American diet, providing approximately 10% of the total average calories per day. The large increase in the amount of sugary drinks people consume, or drink, relates to the dramatic rise in adult and childhood obesity.

The new campaign aims to educate Cook County residents about the harmful effects of sugar-loaded drinks through print and transit advertisements as well as radio and television commercials. Cook County joins several other health departments from across the US to promote healthy drinking habits.

Shop Local for January's Fruit of the Month: Dried Fruit

Dried Fruit is fruit where the majority of the original water content has been removed either naturally, thru sun drying, or through the use of specialized dehydrators.

It has a long traditon of use dating back to the fourth millennium B.C. and is prized becuase of its sweet taste, wrinkly texture, nutritive value and long shelf life.  Some of the most popular dried fruits include; raisens, figs, dates, prunes, apricots, peaches, apples, and pears. These are refered to as "traditional dried fruits."

Many other dried fruits such as cherries, cranberries, blueberries, strawberries, and mangoes are infused with sweetner before drying.  Some products sold as dried fruit like pineapple and papaya are actually "candied fruit".

Dried fruits contain most of nutritional value as fresh fruit. In general, all dried fruits provide essential nutrients and are valuable tools in both increasing diet quality and reducing chronic disease.

Shop Blue Island's Healthy Hot Spot locations, La Unica and Hidalgo Meats for the ingredients for this healthy snack receipe.

Health for the Holidays: Share We're Not Buying It 

Help the kids in your life become more media literate this holiday break, and engage them in standing up for health. Watch and share We're Not Buying It, a 2-minute video that highlights the role of industry in shaping the foods kids eat. 

Health for the Holidays: Share We're Not Buying It 

Help the kids in your life become more media literate this holiday break, and engage them in standing up for health. Watch and share We're Not Buying It, a 2-minute video that highlights the role of industry in shaping the foods kids eat.