Fun Phytochemical Presentation IdeasEducational activities to familiarize clients with foods that contain both lignans and lignins can be fun, AND delicious. They can put a new twist on the ?eat more fiber and consume less fat? message.Evidence that phytoestrogens, found in a variety of plants, may provide protection against some types of cancers and heart disease is mounting. Phytoestrogens are a group of compounds found in plants that can alter estrogen metabolism in humans.Phytoestrogens are divided into two main classes: isoflavones and lignans. While isoflavones, found predominantly in soybeans, have received considerable press in recent years, less has been said about the equally important lignan. These plant compounds are functionally similar to, but weaker than, estrodial and are converted in the intestine to compounds with estrogenic activity.Lignans are found in unrefined grains including barley, oats, rye, and millet; in legumes and vegetables such as soybeans, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and spinach; and in berries. The richest source of lignans is flaxseed. Lignans are not to be confused with lignins, which are related to lignans, but have different physiological effects. Lignins are an insoluble dietary fiber found in plant cell walls and are not digested by the human gastrointestinal tract. Lignins have an equally important role to play as their fiber has numerous health benefits.Supermarket tours are one interactive means for helping clients identify a number of healthy food items. One method that works especially well is a ?Super-Scavenger Hunt?. After a brief review of phytoestrogens, their importance and role in a healthy diet, and what foods they can be found in, clients are given 15 minutes to scavenge the supermarket to find foods that contain lignans and/or lignins. Each person is asked to tell whether the food contains a lignan, lignin or both and how it can be used in healthy meal preparation. The person with the most number of correct food items and descriptions, ?wins?. Prizes can be baskets of food items with phytoestrogen containing foods or a cookbook like The Phytopia Cookbook or Vegetable Desserts. If a supermarket tour is not possible, the same can be achieved by using the food model-pictures available from the National Dairy Council and/or pictures from magazines. At the conclusion of the hunt, clients can try items that they have not tried or are not familiar with.Another activity could be a ?phyto-dining? experience. This is well suited for the ?fast food generation? that eats out often. After a brief discussion of phytoestrogens clients can review menus and identify foods that might possibly be high in lignans and or lignins. This could also be done at a restaurant, especially at a restaurant with a healthy buffet. As the instructor and clients go through the buffet, they can discuss the different food items available and their nutritional benefit. This activity can teach much more than just phytonutrients, it can also help illustrate healthy food choices while eating out.Contests for innovative and tasty ways to use foods with phytonutrients can be held. This approach lends itself well to cooking class series? where an instructor has the opportunity to discuss and demonstrate the different food items, then ask for foods and recipes from the class at a subsequent class. The class can judge the recipe for taste, appeal, color, texture, etc. The person(s) with the winning recipe receive a prize similar to those suggested above. A cookbook of recipes submitted could be assembled for the class participants.Sources: German E Monograph, Canadian Flax Council, Wheat Foods Council.By Sarah Harding Laidlaw, MS, RD, MPA, Private Consultant with her own company, Peak Nutrition Consultants, Glade Park, CO.