National Pumpkin Cheesecake

Pumpkin Cheesecake
Food Network

Autumn is the perfect time to add pumpkin to one of America’s favorite desserts. Cheesecake is a sweet dessert with a mixture of fresh soft cheese, cream cheese or cottage cheese, eggs, and sugar on a crust made from crushed graham crackers, crushed cookies, pastry, or sponge cake. Cheesecakes can be prepared baked or unbaked, flavored, and are often served topped with fruit, fruit sauce, chocolate, or whipped cream.

Global Iodine Deficiency Day

Global Iodine Deficiency Disorder Day

Iodine Deficiency - Interview
with Prof. Zimmermann (Zürich}

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Iodine is an essential element for healthy neurological and endocrine development. A lack of iodine in the diet may lead to mental challenges, goiter, or thyroid disease. Dependent upon the severity of the deficiency, a lack of iodine can cause a significant delay in mental development, something that can be particularly detrimental if it occurs in childhood. According to the World Health Organization in 2007, almost 2 billion people worldwide were suffering from a lack of iodine in their diets, a third of which were children and young people. Iodine deficiency is a relatively simple affliction to correct, however much of the population continues to go untreated.


Function

Iodine is needed for the normal metabolism of cells. Metabolism is the process of converting food into energy. Humans need iodine for normal thyroid function and for the production of thyroid hormones.

Food Sources

• Iodized salt is table salt with iodine added. It is the main food source of iodine.
• Seafood is naturally rich in iodine. Cod, sea bass, haddock, and perch are good sources.
• Kelp is the most common vegetable seafood that is a rich source of iodine.
• Dairy products also contain iodine.
• Other good sources are plants grown in iodine-rich soil.

Recommendations
The best way to get the daily requirement of essential vitamins is to eat a balanced diet that contains a variety of foods from the food guide plate.

A 1/4 teaspoon of iodized table salt provides 95 micrograms of iodine. A 6-ounce portion of ocean fish provides 650 micrograms of iodine. Most people are able to meet the daily recommendations by eating seafood, iodized salt, and plants grown in iodine-rich soil. When buying salt, make sure it is labeled "iodized."

The Food and Nutrition Board at the Institute of Medicine recommends the following dietary intake for iodine:

Infants
0 - 6 months: 110 micrograms per day (mcg/day)
7 - 12 months: 130 mcg/day

Children
1 - 3 years: 90 mcg/day
4 - 8 years: 90 mcg/day
9 - 13 years: 120 mcg/day

Adolescents and Adults
Males age 14 and older: 150 mcg/day
Females age 14 and older: 150 mcg/day

Specific recommendations depend on age, gender, and other factors (such as pregnancy). Women who are pregnant or producing breast milk (lactating) need higher amounts. Ask your healthcare provider which amount is best for you.

Resource
Global Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) Prevention Day, World Health Organization.

October 20 World Osteoporosis Day Protect Your Bones Throughout Your Life

The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) is the leading consumer and community-focused health organization dedicated to the prevention of osteoporosis and broken bones, the promotion of strong bones for life and the reduction of human suffering through programs of public and clinician awareness, education, advocacy, and research. Established in 1984, NOF is the nation's leading voluntary health organization solely dedicated to osteoporosis and bone health.

Osteoporosis is a major public health threat for an estimated 44 million Americans. Of the 10 million Americans estimated to already have osteoporosis, eight million are women and two million are men. 

What can you do to protect your bones?
Osteoporosis and the broken bones it can cause are not part of normal aging. Osteoporosis prevention should begin in childhood and continue throughout life.
1. Get enough calcium and vitamin D and eat a well-balanced diet.
2. Engage in regular exercise.
3. Eat foods that are good for bone health, such as fruits and vegetables.
4. Avoid smoking and limit alcohol to 2-3 drinks per day.

What Women Need to Know

Females are at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis and broken bones. 

• Of the estimated 10 million Americans with osteoporosis, about eight million or 80% are women.

• Approximately one in two women over age 50 will break a bone because of osteoporosis.

• A woman's risk of breaking a hip is equal to her combined risk of breast, uterine and ovarian cancer.

There are multiple reasons why women are more like to get osteoporosis than men, including:

• Women tend to have smaller, thinner bones than men.

• Estrogen, a hormone in women decreases sharply when women reach menopause, which can cause bone loss. This is why the chance of developing osteoporosis increases as women reach menopause.

Are You at Risk for Developing Osteoporosis?

Uncontrollable Risk Factors

•           Being over age 50.

•           Being Female.

•           Menopause.

•           Family History.

•           Low Body Weight/Being Small and Thin.

•           Broken Bones or Height Loss.

Controllable Risk Factors

•           Not Getting Enough Calcium and Vitamin D.

•           Not Eating Enough Fruits and Vegetables.

•           Getting Too Much Protein, Sodium, and Caffeine.

•           Having an Inactive Lifestyle.

•           Smoking.

•           Drinking too much alcohol.

•           Losing Weight.

There are also medications and diseases that can cause bone loss and increase your risk of osteoporosis.

Calcium and Vitamin D 
Getting enough calcium and vitamin D are essential to building stronger, denser bones early in life and to keep bones strong and healthy later in life. Calcium and vitamin D are the two most important nutrients for bone health.

Calcium-Rich Food Sources 
Dairy products, such as low-fat and non-fat milk, yogurt and cheese are high in calcium. Certain green vegetables and other foods contain calcium in smaller amounts. Some juices, breakfast foods, soymilk, cereals, snacks, and bread have calcium that has been added. 

Vitamin D Sources
There are three ways to get vitamin D:
• Sunlight 
• Food 
• Supplements 

Three Steps to Unbreakable Bones

You’re never too young or too old to improve the health of your bones. Osteoporosis prevention should begin in childhood. But it shouldn't stop there. Whatever your age, the habits you adopt now can affect your bone health for the rest of your life. Now is the time to take action.

Resources and References. To learn more about Osteoporosis, please visit the following Foundations.
World Osteoporosis Day
International Osteoporosis Foundation 

Understanding Osteoporosis, Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics 

Shrimp Bisque, Lighterside

Shrimp Bisque

Yields: Make 3 cups
Servings: 6 (3/4 cup)
Makes 3 cups

Ingredients
1 small onion, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 cup water
1/2 cup light whipping cream
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 teaspoons sodium-free chicken bouillon granules
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 pound uncooked medium shrimp, peeled and deveined,
   washed and drained
1/2 cup low-fat sour cream
Fresh cilantro, optional


Directions

1. In a small saucepan, saute onion in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. 
2. Stir in flour until blended. Stir in the water, cream, chili powder, bouillon, cumin, and coriander; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 5 minutes.
3. Cut shrimp into bite-size pieces; add to soup. 
4. Simmer for 5 minutes longer or until shrimp turns pink.
5. Gradually stir 1/2 cup hot soup into sour cream; return all to the pan, stirring constantly. 
6. Heat through (do not boil). Garnish with cilantro, if desired.

 

National Mammography Day - Remind a friend to have a Mammogram

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Today is National Mammography Day.
Remind a friend to have a Mammogram. Pass it Along.

Information obtained from the

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Understanding Mammograms

A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast used to look for early signs of breast cancer. Regular mammograms are the best tests doctors have to find breast cancer early. When breast cancer is found early, many women go on to live long and healthy lives.

Women should have mammograms every two years from age 50 to 74 years, and more often if breast cancer runs in the family or you have any symptoms or changes in your breast.

The CDC has provided the following resources to find out where you can get a mammogram.

1. If you have a regular doctor, talk to him or her. 

2. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a program called the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, which works with health departments and other groups to provide low-cost or free mammograms to women who qualify. 

World Menopause Day How to Avoid Menopausal Weight Gain

Every woman will go through the “change of life,” around 50 years of age plus or minus. This is the time of her last period (or menstruation). Symptoms of menopause vary with every woman. Common symptoms include hot flashes; night sweats; sleep irregularity; mood changes; and possible weight gain around the middle. Some women go through menopause without symptoms.

Due to a decrease in hormone levels and the aging process, many women find themselves gaining weight in their forties and fifties. There is a loss of muscle, which decreases metabolism, and a gain of fat, mainly in the belly area. Lifestyle factors will play an important role in how you handle menopause. Menopausal women tend to be less active and eat more calories than they need.

Nutrition, Eating and
Wellness Guidelines for Menopause

1. Maintain a healthy weight; it will decrease your risk of heart disease and other problems. 
2. Meet your calcium and vitamin D needs. This is important to maintain healthy bones and prevent bone loss that may occur after menopause. Good food sources of calcium include dairy products, such as milk, yogurt and cheese; fortified soy and rice beverages; fortified juices; and canned fish with bones. Good food sources of vitamin D include milk, fortified soy and rice beverages, fortified juices, and fatty fish. 
3. Be physically active every day. Physical activity helps maintain a healthy weight, keep bones strong and energy levels up, and decrease the risk of heart disease and other age-related complications.
4. Some women will try soy and flax in food to help relieve the side effects of menopause. Currently, studies have not proven that soy and flax help.
5. Wear lightweight and layered clothes. Body temperature fluctuates from hot to cold.
6. Keep a cold glass of water by your side. Due to hot flashes and excessive sweating, it is important to stay hydrated.
7. Relax.
8. Take time to laugh.

How to Avoid Menopausal Weight Gain

You don't have to gain weight as a result of menopause.
Elizabeth Somer, RD explains how to avoid weight gain after menopause.

The Menopause Blues

I Will Not Age

Is It Hot In Here, Or Is It Me?

Resources and References

The Menopause Diet Plan: A Natural Guide to Managing Hormones,
Health, and Happiness, by Elizabeth Ward, Hillary Wright

The International Menopause Society (IMS), in collaboration with the World Health Organization, has designated October 18 as World Menopause Day. To celebrate World Menopause Day, IMS is launching a new campaign to create awareness of understanding weight gain at menopause and the implications it can have on the future health of women in the post-menopausal period. 

For women aged 55–65 years, weight gain is one of their major health concerns, and many are not aware of the health implications of excessive weight gain, particularly around the abdomen, which is associated with a heightened risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disease and also impacts adversely on health-related quality of life and sexual function.
An educational toolkit of materials has been developed to support local country initiatives throughout the month of October to raise awareness of this potential health issue, and many have been translated into key languages to ensure the campaign has a truly international perspective.

The IMS hopes that national societies will take the opportunity of World Menopause Day to highlight the increasing importance of menopausal health issues by contacting the women of their country to encourage them to talk to their doctors about menopause and its long-term effects.

Pasta Perfect Twists

Pasta Perfect Twists

Pasta is a type of noodle and commonly referred to as a variety of pasta dishes. It is a staple food of traditional Italian cuisine. Usually, pasta is made from an unleavened dough of durum wheat flour mixed with water and formed into sheets or various shapes, then cooked and served in any number of dishes. It can be made with flour from other cereals or grains, and eggs may be used instead of water. Kinds of pasta are divided into two broad categories, dried (pasta secca) and fresh (pasta fresca). 

Both dried and fresh pasta come in a number of shapes and varieties. Common forms of pasta include long shapes, short shapes, tubes, flat shapes, and sheets, filled or stuffed, and decorative shapes.

Making Pasta with Children

Shapes

Recipe: Whole Wheat Spaghetti with Diced Tomatoes
Serves One

Ingredients
2 oz Whole Wheat Spaghetti (1 cup cooked)
2 tsp Olive Oil
1 Garlic Clove
1 large Tomato, diced (3/4 cup)
1/2 tsp Oregano, dried
1 Tbsp Parmesan Cheese

Directions
1. Prepare spaghetti as per the manufacturer’s directions.
2. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes.
3. Add tomatoes and oregano; simmer, uncovered, 10 to 15 minutes.
4. Add spaghetti to skillet; toss to coat with tomatoes.
5. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese before serving.

Nutritional Information

Resources and References

1. Wikipedia: Pasta   This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License
2. Walder Wellness: Pasta Recipes

October 16, World Food Day - Grow, Nourish, Sustain. Together

 World Food Day

Either we build a future for all, or
there will be no acceptable future for anyone.

World Food Day

World Food Day was established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in November 1979. FAO celebrates World Food Day each year on October 16th, the day on which the Organization was founded in 1945.

The official World Food Day theme is announced by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The goal is to focus on World Food Day observances and raise awareness and understanding of approaches to ending hunger. 

The 2024 theme, "Right to food for a better life and a better future  is a Human Right." 

World Food Day

 

Food is the essence of life and the bedrock of our cultures and communities. Preserving access to safe and nutritious food is and will continue to be an essential part of the response to, particularly for, poor and vulnerable communities.

In a moment like this, it is more important than ever to recognize the need to support our food heroes - farmers and workers throughout the food system - who ensure that food makes its way from farm to fork, even amid disruptions.

Achieving food security for all is at the heart of FAO's efforts—making sure people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. 

The three main goals are the eradication of hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition; the elimination of poverty and the driving forward of economic and social progress for all; and, the sustainable management and utilization of natural resources, including land, water, air, climate and genetic resources for the benefit of present and future generations.

The objectives of World Food Day are to:
    Don’t waste water.

    Diversify your diet.
    Keep fish populations afloat.
    Keep soils and water clean.
    Buy organic
    Energy-efficient is best
    Use solar panels or other green energy systems
    Buy only what you need
    Pick ugly fruits and vegetables
    Don’t let labels fool you
    Limit your plastic
    Recycle paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum
    Store food wisely
    Love your leftovers
    Make plant food
    Be rubbish-savvy
    Make cities greener
    Shop local.
    Protect forests and save paper.
    Bike, walk, or use public transport
    Be a conscientious consumer
    Keep up to date on climate change
    Be an advocate!

*Encourage attention to agricultural food production and to stimulate national, bilateral, multilateral, and non-governmental efforts to this end;

*Encourage economic and technical cooperation among developing countries;

*Encourage the participation of rural people, particularly women and the least privileged categories, in decisions and activities influencing their living conditions;

*Heighten public awareness of the problem of hunger in the world;

*Promote the transfer of technologies to the developing world; and

*Strengthen international and national solidarity in the struggle against hunger, malnutrition, and poverty and draw attention to achievements in food and agricultural development.

To learn more about World Food Day, visit the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

October 15, Global Handwashing Day

Global Handwashing Day will involve millions of people in over 100 countries around the world. Global Handwashing Day (GHD) was created to:
• Foster and support a global culture of handwashing with soap.
• Shine a spotlight on the state of handwashing in every country.
• Raise awareness about the benefits of handwashing with soap.

Why Handwashing with Soap?

Handwashing with soap is the most effective and inexpensive way to prevent diarrheal and acute respiratory infections, which take the lives of millions of children in developing countries every year. Together, they are responsible for the majority of all child deaths. Yet, despite its lifesaving potential, handwashing with soap is seldom practiced and difficult to promote.

Turning handwashing with soap before eating and after using the toilet into a habit could save more lives than any single vaccine or medical intervention. It could cut diarrhea deaths by almost half and acute respiratory infection deaths by one-quarter. A vast change in handwashing behavior is critical to meeting the Millennium Development Goal of reducing deaths among children under the age of five by two-thirds by 2015.

Global Handwashing Day focuses on children because they suffer the most from diarrheal and respiratory diseases and deaths. Still, research shows that children can be powerful agents for changing behaviors like handwashing with soap in their communities.

When should you wash your hands?
·         Before, during, and after preparing food
·         Before eating food
·         Before and after caring for someone who is sick
·         Before and after treating a cut or wound
·         After using the toilet
·         After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
·         After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
·         After touching an animal or animal waste
·         After touching garbage
 

For more information on handwashing with soap, including research, tools, and news, visit www.globalhandwashing.org.

It’s In Your Hands

Resources and References

1. CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Handwashing: Clean Hands Save Lives

2. Partnership for Food Safety Education, Fight BAC!

3. The Scrub Club is a fun, interactive, and educational website that teaches children the proper way to wash their hands. The site contains interactive games, educational music, downloadable activities for kids, educational materials for teachers, and program information for parents.

4. Healthy Schools, Healthy People, It’s a SNAP! (School Network for Absenteeism Prevention) The program is a joint initiative of the CDC and the American Cleaning Institute. It seeks to improve hand hygiene habits to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases and reduce related absenteeism. This grassroots, education-based effort can help improve health by making hand cleaning an integral part of the school day. Without proper hand cleaning, a single infection can quickly spread among students, teachers, family, and friends.

National Mushroom Day

Growing Your Own Mushrooms

Top 8 Ways to Enjoy Mushrooms,
Fruits & Veggies More Matters.org

1. Sauté. Easy as 1, 2, 3! Brush pan lightly with oil and heat on high. Add a single layer of mushrooms. Turn once mushrooms become reddish-brown on one side [after a few minutes]. Cook until the other side turns the same color, remove from heat. Add to any dish!

2. Grill and Broil [best for larger capped mushrooms, such as Portabellas]. Lightly brush caps and stems with oil and season as desired. Grill or broil 4 to 6 inches from heat source for 4 to 6 minutes on each side, brushing once or twice. Tip: Make these savory mushrooms the "main stage" of the meal.

3. Roast for Flavor. Roasting mushrooms is perfect for multitasking cooks. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Brush mushrooms with oil [about 1 tablespoon of oil for each 8 ounces of mushrooms]. Place mushrooms on a shallow baking pan in the oven. Stir occasionally until brown [about 20 minutes].

4. Steam in the Microwave. Microwaved mushrooms can freshen up lunchtime meals enjoyed at work or home. Place 8 ounces of sliced mushrooms in a microwaveable bowl. Cover and cook on 100% power for 2-3 minutes. Toss onto a hot sandwich, chili, soup or packaged meal.

5. Freshen Up Your Meals. Toss fresh mushrooms in your everyday meals like lasagna or soup to add key nutrients with no fat, little calories and no cholesterol.

6. Sandwich Swap. Cut slices of Portabella mushrooms for your favorite sandwich instead of meat for a healthy inexpensive swap.

7. Save for Later. Sauté fresh mushrooms and store them in the freezer for up to a month. Careful: Fresh, uncooked mushrooms should never be frozen.

8. Bag the Burger. Have a burger craving? Try swapping your burger for a grilled Portabella on a bun with your favorite condiments. Your taste buds will love the meaty texture and your body will appreciate the swap.

Resources
1. Wikipedia, Mushrooms

2. Kitchen Dictionary: Mushroom

National School Lunch Week

"In the long view, no nation is healthier than its children, or more prosperous than its farmers." - President Harry Truman, on signing the 1946 National School Lunch Act. Through the Years The National School Lunch Program was created in 1946 when President Truman signed the National School Lunch Act into law. The National School Lunch Program is a federal nutrition assistance program. Through the years, the program has expanded to include the School Breakfast Program, Snack Program, Child and Adult Care Feeding Program, and the Summer Food Service Program. In 1962, Congress designated the week beginning on the second Sunday in October each year as "National School Lunch Week." The video below looks at the school lunch program from the late 1930s to the present day and includes President Obama signing the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. One can see from the photographs some of the changes in the foods provided. There is an increase in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and low-fat dairy. (Part of the video has clips from a film produced by the USDA in the mid-60s.) School Lunch Resources  Organizations, Associations, and Programs School Nutrition Association “Celebrate NSLW. School Lunch invites creative and fun new menu items while appealing to students in all grade levels. The School Nutrition Association is a national, nonprofit professional organization.  Mission. To advance good nutrition for all children. National Farm to School Month Farm to School is broadly defined as any program that connects schools (K-12) and local farms with the goal of serving healthy meals in school cafeterias, improving student nutrition, providing agriculture, health, nutrition education, and supporting local and regional farmers. Farm to School programs exist in all 50 states, but since Farm to School is a grassroots movement, programs are as diverse as the communities they serve. About the Farm to Preschool program at UEPI, Occidental College The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential childcare institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost, or free lunches to children each school day. The program was established under the National School Lunch Act, signed by President Harry Truman in 1946. Kids Eat Right Kids Eat Right is your source for scientifically-based health and nutrition information you can trust to help your child grow healthy. As a parent or caretaker, you need reliable resources, and you can find them here, backed by the expertise of nutrition professionals. Team Nutrition. Campaign launched by USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to encourage and teach children, parents, and caregivers to eat healthy and be physically active every day.  Choose MyPlate. The website features practical information and tips to help Americans build healthier diets. Elmo Doesn't Fear School Lunch Elmo joins White House, Chef Sam Kass in the White House kitchen to talk about the importance of healthy and delicious school meals.  We Can. The We Can! GO, SLOW, and WHOA Foods fact sheet (pdf) can be posted on the refrigerator or used when grocery shopping. The We Can! Parent Tips - Snack (pdf) 100 Calories or Less tip sheet can help consumers choose vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat (1 percent) milk for healthier snacks. Healthy Children The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and its member pediatricians dedicate their efforts and resources to the health, safety, and well-being of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. Healthy Children - Nutrition; Food Allergies in Children Action for Healthy Kids: we believe there are ways to reduce and prevent childhood obesity and undernourishment. Learn how Action for Healthy Kids is working with schools, families, and communities to help our kids learn to be healthier and be ready to learn. National Dairy Council® (NDC), Child Nutrition Fuel Up sponsored by National Dairy Council and the NFL, in collaboration with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Fuel Up is an in-school program that encourages the availability and consumption of nutrient-rich foods, along with daily physical activity. Fruits and Veggies   Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture, stated: “National School Lunch Week reminds us how important it is that our children be healthy and active, that they do not go hungry, and that they have access to nutritious meals."