Siting

        New site: Check out www.intense-workout.com for an extensive menu of tips, techniques and information on weightlifting and fitness. The site

Tips

        Safer snow: A few simple precautions can help eliminate many of the ouches that come with winter sports, say the experts at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

        Their advice:

        • Make sure ski equipment fits properly and suits the skier's ability. Equipment that is outdated or the wrong size can contribute to injuries, experts say. Ski instructors and ski shop technicians can help fit skis, boots, poles and helmets properly.

        • Sledding may cause head injuries in young children. Other injuries can include contusions, abrasions and abdominal injuries. Sled in designated areas that are free from trees and other immobile objects. Avoid ice. Children should wear helmets. Parental supervision is suggested.

        • Snowboarding is hard on wrists, which can be injured during falls. Wrist guards (the kind recommended for rollerblading), good boots and helmets can help cut down on injuries.

        • Make sure you're prepared for winter sports by dressing in loose layers, remaining well-hydrated and looking out for signs of hypothermia and/or altitude sickness (if you're skiing, sledding or snowboarding). Check out the academy's Web site at www.aaos.org for more information on injury prevention. ;

Shelf help

        The long run: Marathon: You Can Do It (Shelter Publications; $14.95) by Jeff Galloway is a good resource for beginning marathoners. The book includes six-month training programs and advice on motivation, rest days and equipment.

Research

        Brown bag: Cutting the size of the entree in school lunches will leave kids more room for fruits and vegetables, say researchers at Columbus Children's Hospital.

        The study, led by registered dietitian Kristina L. Houser, found that students participating in the National School Lunch Program ate 67 percent of the meal, regardless of the entree (chicken nuggets, pizza burgers, etc.).

        Making the entree smaller would encourage children to eat more fruits and vegetables, Ms. Houser says. Children in the United States eat less than 15 percent of the recommended daily servings of fruit and less than 20 percent of the recommended daily servings of vegetables.

        Since the school lunch program potentially supplies a third of a child's nutritional needs, it's an important cornerstone for healthy eating, Ms. Houser says.

        “We realize entree choice is key to encouraging students to participate in the NSLP,” she says. “We're not suggesting omitting popular entree choices from the menu, simply decreasing the size of those entrees.”

        The researchers will further test their theory that smaller entrees will balance students' eating habits.

        Childhood obesity is linked to numerous health hazards in adult life, including Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and hypertension, some forms of cancer and musculoskeletal disorders.

        The researchers' findings were presented in October at the American Academy of Pediatrics' annual meeting.

        Contact Peggy O'Farrell by phone: 768-8510; fax, 768-8330; email, pofarrell@enquirer.com.

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