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Tuesday, 25 August 2015

Fresh Sheet: August 26, 2015

Share the Harvest!
Join us WEDNESDAY in the Terwillegar Recreation Center Parking Lot from 4:00-7:30

With back to school right around the corner, our thoughts are turning to good books, good company and the best produce of the harvest season! This week is our August Harvest Festival, where the Food Bank will be on site to collect donations of garden-fresh produce. Be sure to read below to find out how to share this bountiful time of year with all Edmontonians, and ensure that every child heading back to school has fresh, local fruit and vegetables to eat.

Join us here on the "Market Fresh Sheet" every Tuesday to see what's fresh and happening at your favourite farmers' market! For market shopping tips, be sure to check out this page to ensure your market visit is everything it should be. And remember, please leave Fido at home- no dogs are allowed where food is being served!  


This week is our first Harvest Festival of the 2015 season! We are proud to partner with the Edmonton Food Bank's Plant a Row, Grow a Row program where Edmontonians can plant an extra row in their garden in the spring to donate fresh vegetables in the fall. Volunteers from the Food Bank will be on-site this week to collect your donations of fresh fruit and vegetables, so be sure to pick a few healthy items from your garden to share with those who need it. 

For guests who don't have a garden, you can purchase fruit and vegetables from SWEFM vendors to donate on site! We will have shopping lists for the best items to donate at the info booth. Items like carrots, potatoes, beets, lettuce, tomatoes, beans, cucumbers and onions are all great choices.

For more information on the Plant a Row, Grow a Row program and what to bring to market on Wednesday, click here.


  

The Sprouts Program for kids continues this week! Children between 4-12 will receive a $2 token every week to spend with our fruit and vegetable vendors. This week, our Sprouts recipe is Polka Dot Pancakes. You can pick up your copy of the recipe at the Sprouts table when you check in! For more information on the Sprouts Program, click here. 

Starting August 26, all kids from 4-12 can enter in a Colouring Contest with Simply Supper! All kids have to do is pick up a fruit and veggie-themed colouring sheet from SWEFM or Simply Supper until September 4, colour away and enter to win a $150 Gift Card from Simply Supper. We will be featuring some of the sheets on our social media, so stay tuned for some great colouring!

Simply Supper is a sponsor of the Sprouts program and a great community partner that helps families get kids cooking in the kitchen.

This week, the bouncy castle will be on site and No Excuses will be leading a family Zumba class between 6:00 and 6:45 (weather permitting).


The Southwest Edmonton Farmers' Market aims to enhance and support our vibrant community. Check out how to engage with your neighbours this week! 

The Edmonton Food Bank will be on site collecting fresh food donations as part of the Plant a Row, Grow a Row program. Please bring your fruit, vegetables and other food items to donate this week. You can also purchase fresh produce from our vendors to share the SWEFM goodness!

Nutrition Tours will be available this week, courtesy of our wonderful nutrition student volunteers from the University of Alberta. Volunteers will be on site to answer your nutritional questions, take you on tours of the market and walk you through some of the topics that are explored in our Grab-and-Go nutritional pamphlets. When you're done, you can take home the pamphlet to help you eat healthier every day and quiz your friends on the things you've learned! The Grab-and-Go pamphlets are always available at the information tent for those who are looking for a quick fix of easy-to-read nutrition information, perfectly suited for farmers' market shopping!
 
AIG Produce will be bringing their fresh fruit including Gala, McIntosh, and Honeycrisp apples, as well as Bartlett pears. 
Red Apple B.C. Fruit will be bringing an assortment of fresh B.C. fruits, including berries, apples, and delicious stone fruits. 
Steve and Dan's Fresh B.C. Fruit will be bringing a variety of fresh fruits from B.C. as well as their dehydrated apples and sparkling apple juice. 


 
Dargatz Family Farm has a variety of fresh produce, including kale, potatoes, patty pan squash and hot peppers. They also have some wonderful herb plants for sale.
Holden Colony will be bringing a variety of vegetables, eggs and preserves.
Riverbend Gardens will be back at market this week with cauliflower, kale, potatoes, beets, carrots, dill, fennel, broccoli and corn!
S4 Greenhouses will be bringing tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and lettuce. Stop by to take a peek at this week's veggie mascots!

Jerky Jerky will be bringing a variety of dried jerky products. They always have samples to try, so be sure to say hello! 
Sunworks Farm, a certified organic and certified humane farm, will have their fresh chicken – wholes and all cuts along with their beef and pork cuts.  They will also have their wide variety of sausages (gluten, filler and chemical free) with a market special of purchase 9 get the 10th package free.  All meats are raised and processed on Sunworks' farm.


Celebrate, Gluten Free is the perfect option for those with gluten sensitivities. She always has a special treat available, so be sure to stop by!
Confetti Sweets is our resident specialty cookie vendor at SWEFM and will be serving up their delicious varieties this week.  
European Cakes 
Prairie Mill Baking Co. makes all of his bread right in our neck of the woods!
Whether you're looking for a fantastic cinnamon bun or the best sourdough in Edmonton, Owen has a loaf of bread with your name on it!
Sweet Stuff will be bringing delicious s'more cupcakes, along with her other delicious treats including "Oreo" cookie sandwiches!
Sweet Molodih Madness will have a variety of gourmet cupcakes and her yummy organic salty soft pretzels.
 
Cafe Bel-Air will be bringing fresh, handmade popsicles to market, including Mango Lassi, Honeydew Raspberry Coulis, Strawberry Lemonade, Arnold Palmer, Pineapple Mango Chili, Saskatoon Hibiscus and Avocado Coconut Lime. All of Cafe Bel-Air's popsicles are free of gluten and tree nuts, and they have vegan options available as well!
Chef India Catering will be joining us again this week with his fantastic Indian wings, kebabs and dips. 
Cravings Gelato will be bringing their handmade gelato in malted chocolate, hazelnut, coconut, mango and strawberry mint as well as their choc/peanut butter gelato pies.
Melodi's Kitchen is our favourite Turkish food vendor and will be bringing all of their popular dishes for you to try. 
Mini Kitchen specializes in delicious Indian and Thai food. Their samosas and butter chicken are absolutely delicious!
Sweet and Spicy is back this week with their hand-blended spice mixes, sauces, salsas and jellies. 
Square 1 Coffee will be serving up fresh cold brew and selling bags of coffee beans from craft roasters around Western Canada and United States. 
Theo's Greek Kouzina bringing their well-loved greek dips and treats to market this week.
Wilmar Farms will be at market with their hemp products. This week, their fabulous super-concentrated Hemp Face Cream is on sale. They will have samples for you to try!
 
Bully Food Truck will be serving up drool-worthy comfort food using fresh and local ingredients. The Bully Mac is a favourite among SWEFM Volunteers!
Fat Franks will be ready to serve you their delicious hot dogs and smokies with all the fixings!
Knosh Food Truck will be serving up their fantastic UK comfort food. 
Lemon Grass Grill will be joining us this week with their fantastic vermicelli and Vietnamese food. 

Original Canadian Kettle Corn, a farmers' market staple, will be here this week satisfying all of your cravings for this summer favourite!
The Pink Kernel will be at market for all of you who can't turn down childhood favourites like mini doughnuts, cotton candy and snow cones. 
Yellowbird Cafe Truck will be back at SWEFM this week with their friendly smiles and delicious Asian fusion cuisine. 
Ada's Soap Shop will be back with us this week with his luxurious handmade bath and body products. 
Carmen's Jewelry is joining us again this week with her leather handmade jewelry.  
Cheeky, The Cloth Diaper Company will be bringing their Edmonton designed and made cloth diapers, wet bags and baby accessories. 
Dazzling Designs is back with her beautiful handsewn clothing and hand-painted jewelry. 
Kirk's Moccasins is bringing their handmade leather goods and moccasins this week!
Raven's Hollow will be back at market with her wonderful hand-made jewelry. This week, she is bringing many new wish bracelets and a new line of lavender necklaces!
See you at market!
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Sunday, 23 August 2015

Studious Sunday: Are Campus Food Bank Hampers Healthy?

Welcome to another edition of Studious Sundays where we break down an academic study every second week to learn more about diet, farming, the environment and other topics surrounding the food we eat. We know it's hard, if not impossible, to keep up with studies and news about food while leading a busy lifestyle, so we are making it a little bit easier to stay informed and make simple, meaningful changes in your life. This week, we're looking at a study that investigates the relationship between children's video games and computer time with quality of diet. 

The Study: Nutritional Quality and Price of Food Hampers Distributed by a Campus Food Bank: A Canadian Experience, Jessri et al., 2014.

The Breakdown: Food insecurity is the inability of a household or individual to access healthy, nutritious and culturally appropriate food at all times. Unsurprisingly, post-secondary students, especially those relying on financial aid, are at a high risk to become food insecure. Food banks both on campus and off-campus exist to provide immediate assistance to those experiencing hunger or food insecurity. 

This study investigates the Campus Food Bank (CFB) at the University of Edmonton to determine whether the hampers distributed meet the requirements for a healthy diet. The CFB provides various sizes of hampers for different sizes of households, each which are meant to provide food for four days. All hampers are similar, except eggs are provided for four-person hampers, and only one litre of milk (as opposed to two litres) is provided for hampers for fewer than three people. Hampers for children include peanut butter and yogurt if possible. The main factors that determine the "menus" for hampers are available items from donations, the four-day volume requirement, and cost. 

The study evaluated the contents of five sizes of hampers over three years to determine whether the hampers met daily nutritional guidelines for an adult male, as well as to compare the quality of the hampers that contained perishable and non-perishable food items. The dietary indicators reviewed included total caloric intake, fat, protein, carbohydrate, fibre, as well as vitamins and minerals.

The Results: Data from 1024 unique CFB clients were analysed. 60% of users were female, 40% male, and over 91% were full-time students at the University of Alberta. Both undergraduate and graduate students made frequent use of the CFB, and 7% of users were University of Alberta staff. 

 The study found significant positive changes in the hampers provided between 2006 and 2011, with more perishable food items, like fresh vegetables, fruit and milk, being included in hampers of all sizes. 

 The dietary quality of the hampers varied based on the size of hamper provided: the single-person hamper provided between 2668-3251 calories per day, but while this per-person caloric value remained the same for two and three-person hampers, it decreased for larger sizes. Hampers for one to three people met the requirements of all four food groups, with an over-supply of grain products once non-perishable items were included. For hampers for four to five individuals, the milk & milk alternative food requirement was not met. 

All hampers were deficient in vitamin A and zinc, and vitamin C and folate were borderline insufficient for hamper recipients. While caloric needs were met from the hampers, the researchers discussed the oversupply of calories from carbohydrates and the lack of dietary fat provided by the hampers, as well as the lack of animal protein. 

While the addition of perishable food items created a significant improvement in hamper quality, they were only available through donations. 

How You Can Make a Change: While our thoughts go from summer vacations to back to school, it's important to remember that food insecurity impacts thousands of families in Edmonton, especially during times of increased expenses (like September!). 

The Campus Food Bank needs donations of fresh food (and non-perishable food) for food-insecure University of Alberta students, faculty, and staff. You can learn more about donating here.  

Donating to the Food Bank is also a meaningful way to help those families in need, and what better way to ring in the new school year by helping Edmonton students (both young and grown) fuel their studies healthfully! The Food Bank always accepts donations of fresh food at their warehouse at 11508-120 Street. 

Donate Fresh Food at SWEFM: Twice a year, SWEFM hosts the Food Bank for our Harvest Festival, where you can donate fresh produce to families in need. It's a great way to celebrate the harvest season and share local, fresh, healthy food with all Edmontonians. Our first Harvest Festival is on August 26 and there are two ways to donate: 

 1. Bring Your Garden Fresh Veggies! The Food Bank runs a wonderful program called Plant a Row, Grow a Row where you plant a row of vegetables in the springtime and donate them in the fall. The Food Bank volunteers will love your garden fresh vegetables this Wednesday! To find out what types of veggies they love, read our post about PARGAR here.

2. Buy Your Favourite Market Produce! Don't have a garden? No problem! You can purchase your favourite vegetables from SWEFM vendors and donate them to the Food Bank on-site. It's a great way to share the delicious local gems at our market with food-insecure families in Edmonton!

Thank you for joining us for Studious Sunday! If you have any comments or stories about sedentary activity and diet, please tweet us @SWEFM_YEG or post on our Facebook page at facebook.com/swefm.ca. You can find this week's study online here.

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Tuesday, 18 August 2015

Fresh Sheet: August 19, 2015

It's the Perfect Time to Pickle!
Join us WEDNESDAY in the Terwillegar Recreation Center Parking Lot from 4:00-7:30

Part of eating seasonally is preserving the best of the harvest for those cold, dark days in the middle of winter! There's nothing like biting into a preserved cucumber or sweet apricot jam when the snow flies. Our market is full of delicious produce to preserve, from pickling cucumbers, to tomatoes, peaches and berries. Some items are best pickled and fermented, like cucumber and carrots, while other items are best to freeze, like romanesco cauliflower and broccoli. This week, ask your farmers what their favourite items are to preserve and for some tips on how to do it. You'll thank them for the taste of summer in the dark days of January!

Join us here on the "Market Fresh Sheet" every Tuesday to see what's fresh and happening at your favourite farmers' market! For market shopping tips, be sure to check out this page to ensure your market visit is everything it should be. And remember, please leave Fido at home- no dogs are allowed where food is being served!  

  

The Sprouts Program for kids continues this week! Children between 4-12 will receive a $2 token every week to spend with our fruit and vegetable vendors. This week, our Sprouts recipe is Green Trees 'N Cheese. You can pick up your copy of the recipe at the Sprouts table when you check in! For more information on the Sprouts Program, click here. 

This week, the bouncy castle will be on site and No Excuses will be leading a family Zumba class between 6:00 and 6:45 (weather permitting).


The Southwest Edmonton Farmers' Market aims to enhance and support our vibrant community. Check out how to engage with your neighbours this week! 

The Boys and Girls Club will be on site this week, providing information about their Boys and Girls Club program and how to support the work they do.

Servus Credit Union,an ongoing sponsor of the Southwest Edmonton Farmers’ Market will be on site this week. Servus will have their ‘Crazy Can’ game at the tent.  Test your throwing skills and see how well you can aim.  Knock all of the cans down and you will WIN a prize! On top of all the fun, there will be an entry box prize for a chance to win (4) four Telus World of Science tickets! Come by the Servus tent to try out your luck!

Nutrition Tours will be available this week, courtesy of our wonderful nutrition student volunteers from the University of Alberta. Volunteers will be on site to answer your nutritional questions, take you on tours of the market and walk you through some of the topics that are explored in our Grab-and-Go nutritional pamphlets. When you're done, you can take home the pamphlet to help you eat healthier every day and quiz your friends on the things you've learned! The Grab-and-Go pamphlets are always available at the information tent for those who are looking for a quick fix of easy-to-read nutrition information, perfectly suited for farmers' market shopping!
 
AIG Produce will be bringing their fresh fruit, trucked from B.C. on market day, including yellow watermelons and cantaloupes straight from the fields this week!
Red Apple B.C. Fruit will be bringing an assortment of fresh B.C. fruits. They will continue to have Glo Haven free-stone peaches, as well as nectarines. Come check out this season's Sunrise and McIntosh apples!
Steve and Dan's Fresh B.C. Fruit will be bringing a variety of fresh fruits from B.C. as well as their dehydrated apples and sparkling apple juice. 


 
Dargatz Family Farm has a variety of fresh produce, including kale, potatoes and tomatoes. They also have some wonderful tomato and herb plants for sale.
Holden Colony will be bringing a variety of vegetables, eggs and preserves.
Riverbend Gardens will be back at market this week with cauliflower, kale, potatoes, beets, carrots, dill, fennel, broccoli and corn!
S4 Greenhouses will be bringing tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and lettuce. Stop by to take a peek at this week's veggie mascots!

Jerky Jerky will be bringing a variety of dried jerky products. They always have samples to try, so be sure to say hello! 
Sunworks Farm, a certified organic and certified humane farm, will have their fresh chicken – wholes and all cuts along with their beef and pork cuts.  They will also have their wide variety of sausages (gluten, filler and chemical free) with a market special of purchase 9 get the 10th package free.  All meats are raised and processed on Sunworks' farm.


Celebrate, Gluten Free is the perfect option for those with gluten sensitivities. She always has a special treat available, so be sure to stop by!
Confetti Sweets is our resident specialty cookie vendor at SWEFM and will be serving up their delicious varieties this week. 
Prairie Mill Baking Co. makes all of his bread right in our neck of the woods!
Whether you're looking for a fantastic cinnamon bun or the best sourdough in Edmonton, Owen has a loaf of bread with your name on it!
Sweet Stuff will be bringing delicious s'more cupcakes, along with her other delicious treats including "Oreo" cookie sandwiches!
Sweet Molodih Madness will have a variety of gourmet cupcakes and her yummy organic salty soft pretzels.
Treats Baked by Stephanie will be back this week. She will have her famous Honey Beer Bread, Banana Bread, Carrot Cake, Peach Streusel Muffins and Raspberry Streusel Muffins. 


 
Cafe Bel-Air will be bringing fresh, handmade popsicles to market, including Mango Lassi, Honeydew Raspberry Coulis, Strawberry Lemonade, Arnold Palmer, Pineapple Mango Chili, Saskatoon Hibiscus and Avocado Coconut Lime. All of Cafe Bel-Air's popsicles are free of gluten and tree nuts, and they have vegan options available as well!
Cravings Gelato will be bringing their handmade gelato in malted chocolate, hazelnut, coconut, mango and strawberry mint as well as their choc/peanut butter gelato pies.
Melodi's Kitchen is our favourite Turkish food vendor and will be bringing all of their popular dishes for you to try. 
Mini Kitchen specializes in delicious Indian and Thai food. Their samosas and butter chicken are absolutely delicious!
Pink Taffeta Catering will be offering Sweet Curry Chicken, Island Shrimp, Chicken Scampi, Sweet Sour n Spicy meatballs, Vegetable Lasagna, Mild Italian Sausages with Rapini and Olives and their signature Pink Taffeta Tiramisu!
Shady Lanes Estates will be joining us with their wonderful fruit wines and alpaca goods.
Tamiri Bites will be back this week with their delicious raw vegan treats. 
Theo's Greek Kouzina bringing their well-loved greek dips and treats to market this week.
Bully Food Truck will be serving up drool-worthy comfort food using fresh and local ingredients. The Bully Mac is a favourite among SWEFM Volunteers!
Dedo's Food Truck will be on site serving their homestyle schwarma and fries. 
Fat Franks will be ready to serve you their delicious hot dogs and smokies with all the fixings!
Knosh Food Truck will be serving up their fantastic UK comfort food. 

Original Canadian Kettle Corn, a farmers' market staple, will be here this week satisfying all of your cravings for this summer favourite!
The Pink Kernel will be at market for all of you who can't turn down childhood favourites like mini doughnuts, cotton candy and snow cones. 
Yellowbird Cafe Truck will be back at SWEFM this week with their friendly smiles and delicious Asian fusion cuisine. 
A Bark Above is bringing her dog treat delights this week, all hand-baked with natural ingredients!
Ada's Soap Shop will be back with us this week with his luxurious handmade bath and body products. 
Carmen's Jewelry is joining us again this week with her leather handmade jewelry. 
Evidence Design is back at SWEFM this week, bringing their beautiful handmade jewelry and cuffs made from recycled materials.
Kirk's Moccasins is bringing their handmade leather goods and moccasins this week!
Raven's Hollow will be back at market with her wonderful hand-made jewelry. This week, she is bringing many new wish bracelets and a new line of lavender necklaces!
See you at market!
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Tuesday, 11 August 2015

Fresh Sheet: August 12, 2015

Bring Your Sunscreen!
Join us WEDNESDAY in the Terwillegar Recreation Center Parking Lot from 4:00-7:30

The weather for this week's market is looking hot and sunny (knock on wood!), so it's the perfect time to visit your community farmers' market for great music, activities, food and crafts! We love how our market becomes full of laughter, dancing, jumping and running when the heat comes out, but remember to protect your family from the sun and heat by bringing sunscreen and a big water bottle! If you forget, the info tent always has sunscreen, water and first aid supplies on hand for guests who need them, which gives you one more reason to stop by and say hello to our fabulous volunteers before grabbing your local groceries! 

Join us here on the "Market Fresh Sheet" every Tuesday to see what's fresh and happening at your favourite farmers' market! For market shopping tips, be sure to check out this page to ensure your market visit is everything it should be. And remember, please leave Fido at home- no dogs are allowed where food is being served!  

  

The Sprouts Program for kids continues this week! Children between 4-12 will receive a $2 token every week to spend with our fruit and vegetable vendors. This week, our Sprouts recipe is Ants on a Log. You can pick up your copy of the recipe at the Sprouts table when you check in! For more information on the Sprouts Program, click here. 

This week, the bouncy castle will be on site and No Excuses will be leading a family Zumba class between 6:00 and 6:45 (weather permitting).


The Southwest Edmonton Farmers' Market aims to enhance and support our vibrant community. Check out how to engage with your neighbours this week! 

Parkinson Alberta will be joining us in the Community Tent this week, providing information about Parkinsons, as well as resources for those affected by the condition.

Nutrition Tours will be available this week, courtesy of our wonderful nutrition student volunteers from the University of Alberta. Volunteers will be on site to answer your nutritional questions, take you on tours of the market and walk you through some of the topics that are explored in our Grab-and-Go nutritional pamphlets. When you're done, you can take home the pamphlet to help you eat healthier every day and quiz your friends on the things you've learned! The Grab-and-Go pamphlets are always available at the information tent for those who are looking for a quick fix of easy-to-read nutrition information, perfectly suited for farmers' market shopping!
 
AIG Produce will be bringing their fresh fruit, trucked from B.C. on market day, including yellow watermelons and cantaloupes straight from the fields this week!
Red Apple B.C. Fruit will be bringing an assortment of fresh B.C. fruits. They will continue to have Glo Haven free-stone peaches, as well as nectarines. Come check out this season's Sunrise and McIntosh apples!
Steve and Dan's Fresh B.C. Fruit will be bringing a variety of fresh fruits from B.C. as well as their dehydrated apples and sparkling apple juice. 


 
Dargatz Family Farm has a variety of fresh produce, including kale, potatoes and tomatoes. They also have some wonderful tomato and herb plants for sale.
Holden Colony will be bringing a variety of vegetables, eggs and preserves.
Riverbend Gardens will be back at market this week with cauliflower, kale, potatoes, beets, carrots, dill, fennel, broccoli and more!
S4 Greenhouses will be bringing tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and lettuce. Stop by to take a peek at this week's veggie mascots!

Jerky Jerky will be bringing a variety of dried jerky products. They always have samples to try, so be sure to say hello! 
Sunworks Farm, a certified organic and certified humane farm, will have their fresh chicken – wholes and all cuts along with their beef and pork cuts.  They will also have their wide variety of sausages (gluten, filler and chemical free) with a market special of purchase 9 get the 10th package free.  All meats are raised and processed on Sunworks' farm.


Celebrate, Gluten Free is the perfect option for those with gluten sensitivities. She always has a special treat available, so be sure to stop by!
Confetti Sweets is our resident specialty cookie vendor at SWEFM and will be serving up their delicious varieties this week. 
Prairie Mill Baking Co. makes all of his bread right in our neck of the woods!
Whether you're looking for a fantastic cinnamon bun or the best sourdough in Edmonton, Owen has a loaf of bread with your name on it!
Sweet Stuff will be bringing delicious s'more cupcakes, along with her other delicious treats including "Oreo" cookie sandwiches!
Sweet Molodih Madness will have a variety of gourmet cupcakes and her yummy organic salty soft pretzels.
 
Cafe Bel-Air will be bringing fresh, handmade popsicles to market, including Mango Lassi, Peach & Cream, Confetti Sweets Cookies N’ Cream, Strawberry Lemonade, Arnold Palmer, Banana Chocolate Hempsicle and Avocado Coconut Lime. All of Cafe Bel-Air's popsicles are free of gluten and tree nuts, and they have vegan options available as well!
Cravings Gelato will be bringing their handmade gelato in malted chocolate, hazelnut, coconut, mango and strawberry mint as well as their choc/peanut butter gelato pies.
Melodi's Kitchen is our favourite Turkish food vendor and will be bringing all of their popular dishes for you to try. 
Mini Kitchen specializes in delicious Indian and Thai food. Their samosas and butter chicken are absolutely delicious!
Pink Taffeta Catering will be bringing Sweet curry chicken, Chicken Parmigana, Island Shrimp and Rice and Rigatoni with Braised Beef and Mushrooms

Sweet and Spicy will be at SWEFM again this week with their hand-blended spice mixes and barbeque rubs, mustard and ketchup.    
Wilmar Farms will be at market, with this week's featured product: 1 lb bags of seasoned hemp hearts on sale for 3/$40! Hemp hearts contain all the essential amino acids and essential fatty acids necessary for the promotion of healthy human life. Try their all natural Sea Salt 'n Garlic, Tex Mex, and Sweet 'n Cinnamon.
Theo's Greek Kouzina bringing their well-loved greek dips and treats to market this week.
Bully Food Truck will be serving up drool-worthy comfort food using fresh and local ingredients. The Bully Mac is a favourite among SWEFM Volunteers!
Fat Franks will be ready to serve you their delicious hot dogs and smokies with all the fixings!
Knosh Food Truck will be serving up their fantastic UK comfort food. 
La Poutine is back at market this week with their authentic Quebec poutine and hand-cut fries. 

Original Canadian Kettle Corn, a farmers' market staple, will be here this week satisfying all of your cravings for this summer favourite!
The Pink Kernel will be at market for all of you who can't turn down childhood favourites like mini doughnuts, cotton candy and snow cones. 
Yellowbird Cafe Truck will be back at SWEFM this week with their friendly smiles and delicious Asian fusion cuisine. 
A Bark Above is bringing her dog treat delights this week, all hand-baked with natural ingredients!
Ada's Soap Shop will be back with us this week with his luxurious handmade bath and body products. 
Cheeky, The Cloth Diaper Company will be at market with their beautiful Edmonton designed-and-made diapers, wetbags and baby accessories!
Experimental Design is a new vendor at SWEFM this week, bringing their beautiful handmade jewelry and cuffs made from recycled materials.
Kirk's Moccasins is bringing their handmade leather goods and moccasins this week!
Raven's Hollow will be back at market with her wonderful hand-made jewelry. This week, she is bringing many new wish bracelets and a new line of lavender necklaces!
The Playful Apron will be joining us with her adorable plushies, aprons and other sewed gems!
See you at market!
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Sunday, 9 August 2015

Studious Sunday: Video Games and Junk Food- Oh My!

Welcome to another edition of Studious Sundays where we break down an academic study every week to learn more about diet, farming, the environment and other topics surrounding the food we eat. We know it's hard, if not impossible, to keep up with studies and news about food while leading a busy lifestyle, so we are making it a little bit easier to stay informed and make simple, meaningful changes in your life. This week, we're looking at a study that investigates the relationship between children's video games and computer time with quality of diet. 

The Study: Exploring the Relationship between Diet and TV, Computer and Video Game Use in a Group of Canadian Children, Tomlin et. al, 2014

The Breakdown: We all know that spending more time being sedentary watching television, using the computer, or playing video games isn't necessarily good for our health. This 2014 Canadian study investigates how the amount of sedentary time, particularly time spent playing video games and using the computer, impacts children's diets.

The majority of research studying the relationship between sedentary activity and diet has been limited to television viewing, where children's hands are free to snack. These studies demonstrated that increased time watching television also increased the probability for a poor diet. Video games and computer time, however, leave less opportunity for snacking and feature fewer food-related advertisements, so the researchers wanted to determine whether increased time spent playing video games and using the computer was related to a poorer diet with more "junk" food. 

The researchers studied the relationship between screen time (both the type of the screen time and the amount of it) and diet indicators, including consumption of calories, fat, vegetables, fruit, and sugar sweetened beverages. The research participants were 1494 school-aged children from British Columbia. The study included a 24-hour dietary recall where the children were asked to report everything they ate the day before, as well as a activity recall of the amount of time spent doing various activities including playing video games and using the computer. 

A statistical analysis followed (multiple linear regression analysis for the diet variables and multiple regression analysis for the activity), where the researchers determined the relationship between sedentary time and dietary variables and the type of sedentary time and dietary variables. 

The Results: Increased television time was correlated with a higher consumption of calories, fat, sugar, and sugar-sweetened beverages, and a lower consumption of vegetables, and fibre. In fact, every additional hour of television could predict an increased intake of 19 mL of sugar sweetened beverages and 4.4 grams of sugar! These results were consistent with previous research demonstrating the relationship between television viewing and poorer diet, but what about those other sedentary activities that don't leave little hands free for munching?
Increased computer time was associated with higher calorie consumption, but the relationship between computer time and other dietary indicators including sugar, fibre, fat and vegetable consumption was insignificant. 

 Video game time, however, was even more strongly associated with increased consumption of calories, sugar and sugar-sweetened beverages than television; one additional hour spent playing video games could predict an increased intake of 38 mL of sugar-sweetened beverages and 6.8 grams of sugar! Video game time was also found to be related to an increased consumption of fat and carbohydrates, as well as a reduced intake of fibre. 

 When activities were pooled into total sedentary time (including sedentary activities other than television, computer and video games) and total screen time, total screen time and total sedentary time predict intake of calories, fat, sugar and sugar-sweetened beverages, and total screen time also predicts the intake of fibre.

How You Can Make a Change: This study demonstrates that when children are more sedentary, especially when they're watching television and playing video games, they are more likely to eat unhealthy food. We learn from this research that there are two ways to help improve children's health: one, to limit time spent playing video games, watching television and being sedentary, and two, to limit snacks consumed during sedentary activities to fruits and vegetables!


Ways to Increase Activity and Reduce Junk Food Intake at SWEFM: Our market knows it can be tough to get kids outside and eating healthy snacks in the summer! That's why we make SWEFM a place for families to get families playing and eating healthy week after week. Here are our top five ways to get kids moving and eating fruits and vegetables at market:

5. Nutrition Tours: We have nutrition students from the University of Alberta on site to help you pick out the best snacks for your family ad answer any nutrition-related questions.
4. Bouncy Castle: There's nothing sedentary about climbing up a giant slide and tumbling down or jumping in a bouncy castle! Our bouncy castles are set up every good-weather day.
3. Hopscotch: We draw an elaborate hopscotch for kids to play on every week at SWEFM, which is a great (free) way to have fun and get moving at market!
2. Sprouts Program for Kids: Having your child choose their own fruit or vegetable snack for their sedentary activities is a great way to empower them to make the right snacking choices.
1. Zumba: There's nothing better than Zumba to get children active and excited to move! No Excuses provides a free Zumba class at market every nice-weather week.

Thank you for joining us for Studious Sunday! If you have any comments or stories about sedentary activity and diet, please tweet us @SWEFM_YEG or post on our Facebook page at facebook.com/swefm.ca. You can find this week's study online here.

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