HEALTH TIP OF THE MONTH

September 2009-Baby Safety Month

TIP of the Month:

FREE Car Safety Seat Inspections -sponsored by Safer New Mexico. Consult with a car safety seat expertabout proper selection and installation of car safety seats at http://www.safernm.org/education/stations.html#stations

Accidents are the leading cause of death for children. Most of these deaths could easily be prevented and it is therefore important to keep your child's safety in mind at all times. Here are some tips to keep your infant safe:

INFANT SAFETY TIPS

• Make sure the crib is safe: have no more than 2 3/8 inches between the bars; the mattress should be firm and fit snugly within the crib; place it away from windows and drafts; avoid placing fluffy blankets, stuffed animals, or pillows in the crib as they can cause smothering; remove bumpers once your child is able to stand. Lower the mattress to the lowest level once your baby can sit up.
• Make sure that used or hand-me-down equipment, such as car seats, strollers, toys and cribs, etc., haven't been recalled for safety reasons. Call the manufacturer or the Consumer Product Safety Commission for an up-to-date list of recalled products (800-638-2772 or www.cpsc.gov).
• Back To Sleep: put your baby to sleep on his back (sleeping on his side is not as safe, especially if he can roll over onto his stomach) to prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and never put them down alone on a waterbed, bean bag, or soft blanket that can cover their face and cause choking. Also make sure that daycare personal or baby-sitters also know to put your baby to sleep on his back.
• Prevent falls by not leaving your baby alone on a bed or changing table.
• Maintain smoke free environments for your baby.
• Avoid exposing your baby to too much sun (use sunscreen after your baby is six months old). Dress baby in long sleeves and pants.
• Correctly use harness when seated in a high chair.
• If using a bicycle-mounted child seat or a bicycle-towed child trailer, keep in mind that although they are generally thought to be safe, injuries do occur, especially to the child's head and face. Injuries usually occur from collisions with a car or other bike, falls, or contact with things outside the seat or trailer, especially the bicycle wheel. To be safe, have your child wear a helmet, instruct him to keep his hands inside the seat or trailer, use a seat belt, and to prevent foot injuries, use a foot well or spoke guard.
• If you must have a gun in the house, keep it and the bullets in a separate locked place. Place keys in a safe place.  Instruct children never to touch or play with the gun.  Teach kids to tell an adult if they see a gun at a friend’s house.

Click here for more information about car seat safety, child proofing your home, baby walkers, pet safety, lead poisoning, water and bath safety and much more.

HEALTHY RECIPE OF THE MONTH

SEPTEMBER Healthy Recipe of the Month: BBQ Baked Beans & Chicken Sausage

You can turn baked beans turn into an easy main dish by adding chicken sausage and collard greens. Serve with: Coleslaw and cornbread.

Makes 4 servings, about 11/3 cups each

ACTIVE TIME: 30 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 30 minutes

EASE OF PREPARATION: Easy

1/2 cup prepared barbecue sauce (see Shopping Tip)
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon molasses
1/8 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground pepper to taste
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 medium onion, chopped
4 cups chopped collard greens (about 10 ounces), tough stems removed
9 ounces cooked chicken sausage links (about 3 links), halved lengthwise and sliced
2 15-ounce cans great northern or navy beans, rinsed (see Note)

1. Whisk barbecue sauce, water, tomato paste, molasses, salt and pepper in a medium bowl.
2. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and collard greens and cook, stirring occasionally, until the collards are wilted, 3 to 5 minutes. Add sausage and cook, stirring, until beginning to brown, about 3 minutes more.
3. Reduce heat to medium-low; add beans and the sauce mixture to the pan. Gently stir to combine, cover and cook until heated through, about 3 minutes.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 444 calories; 8 g fat (1 g sat, 2 g mono); 45 mg cholesterol; 66 g carbohydrate; 28 g protein; 14 g fiber; 653 mg sodium; 987 mg potassium.
Nutrition bonus: Folate (61% daily value), Vitamin A (50% dv), Vitamin C (35% dv), Magnesium (33% dv), Iron (23% dv).
3 1/2 Carbohydrate Servings
Exchanges: 3 starch , 2 vegetable, 1 lean meat, 2 plant-based protein

TIP: Shopping tip: Check the sodium of your favorite barbecue sauce—some can be quite high. This recipe was developed with a sauce containing 240 mg sodium per 2-tablespoon serving.

Note: While we love the convenience of canned beans, they tend to be high in sodium. Give them a good rinse before adding to a recipe to rid them of some of their sodium (up to 35 percent) or opt for low-sodium or no-salt-added varieties. (These recipes are analyzed with rinsed, regular canned beans.) Or, if you have the time, cook your own beans from scratch.