Wednesday, May 21, 2025

World Day for Cultural Diversity
Exploring Food Diversity

Today is a beautiful day to celebrate the many cultural foods that make up American Cuisine. The diversity can be seen as we travel across the country. There are regional differences and the influences of immigrants from all over the world.






New England is known for seafood, particularly lobster and creamy clam chowder. The Southern states are known for collard greens (leafy greens), chicken and dumplings, black-eyed peas, and cornbread. Grits is a popular breakfast dish in the South. The Midwest has traditionally been a beef and grain-producing area, so meats, potatoes, and bread are foods found there. Fresh salmon is a specialty in the Pacific Northwest, and the Mexican influence can be seen in the Southwest. California and Hawaii are known for growing many different fruits, and Alaska is known for its fish and King Crab.

As a nation of immigrants, our foods have expanded to include worldwide cuisines, traditions, and religious influences. Many ethnic dishes are joining the American food culture and are seeing an incredible boost in familiarity, approval, and consumption.



Foods from All Over the World

Healthy Choices
Table of Cuisines (from Menu Solutions)

Cuisine
Healthier Choices
Limit
Delicatessen Selections
Extra-lean corned beef, pastrami, roast beef, beef brisket, and turkey breast are best. Whole wheat or multi-grain bread; chicken or tuna salad; chopped herring; chef salad; fresh fruit plate with cottage cheese; dry bagel; borscht or broth soup; tossed salad, sliced tomatoes, beet salad, or carrot raisin salad.
High-fat meats (regular corn beef, hot pastrami, beef bologna, hot dogs, knockwurst, liverwurst, and salami); potato salad; mayonnaise-based salads; combo sandwiches (Reuben); smoked fish (lox); creamy coleslaw; chopped liver; excess cream cheese and cheese spreads; sauerkraut (high in sodium).
Pizza Parlor Selections
You cannot go wrong by ordering extra toppings such as onions, peppers, mushrooms, tomato slices, broccoli, and spinach. Other possibilities include chicken, crab meat, or shrimp.  
Fat starts with the basic cheese, so avoid extra cheese, particularly mozzarella. Other culprits include bacon, meatballs, pepperoni, sausage, prosciutto, and anchovies.
Sandwich Shop Selections
Both 100% whole wheat and pita bread are great choices. Good sandwich fillers are grilled chicken breast, ham, roast beef, and turkey breast. Instruct the server not to add butter, margarine, or mayonnaise to the bread and substitute with ketchup, mustard, or horseradish. Good salad choices include chef, garden, or Greek salads, but remember to ask for low-calorie dressings on the side and to omit egg or cheese. Broth-type soups such as barley, beef, chicken, lentils, split peas, and vegetable noodles are tasty.
Avoid croissants, cheese, excess mayonnaise, egg, and creamy soups. Beware of "diet plates" with big burgers and scoops of cottage cheese, which have loads of saturated fat. Omit cheeseburgers, cheese sandwiches, or grilled cheese "melts" over chicken and seafood salads and cold cuts. Combo sandwiches with meat and cheese and club sandwiches are best avoided due to the large portion size. Remember that salad combos such as tuna, chicken, and crab meat have lots of mayonnaise. Avoid creamy soups such as chowders or cream of "anything."
Submarine Shop Selections
Order the smaller size roll or pita bread. Turkey, smoked turkey, ham, and roast beef are acceptable. Ask the server to go light on the meats, omit the mayonnaise or oil, and generously load up on the shredded lettuce, onion, peppers, pickles, and sliced tomatoes. Choose salads as alternatives, such as chef or tossed salads with perhaps a scoop of tuna, chicken, or seafood served with Italian or pita bread. 
Omit meats like bologna, Italian cold cuts, salami (hard or Genoa), and sausages. Stay away from cheeses and steak and cheese. Other items to omit include antipasto salads, fried eggplant, and chicken cutlets.
Chinese Selections
Order plain steamed rice, boiled, steamed, or stir-fried vegetables (ask for little oil), moderate fish and shellfish, non-fried tofu, skinless poultry, or egg rolls (insides only).
Anything fried (rice or crispy noodles), or with sweet and sour sauce; egg dishes or soups; salty soups; avoid duck and limit beef, pork, and pickled foods; excess soy sauce; ask the chef to leave out MSG and cut down the use of commonly used corn starch, sugar, and salt.
Indian Selections
Order chutney (except mango); curry sauce (yogurt-based); fish (omit butter basting); yogurt with shredded vegetables; basmati rice. Biryani (vegetable dish); chapatti or papadum bread; tandoori chicken; lentil or mulligatawny soups
Creamy or high-salt soups; clarified butter (ghee); deep-fried meats; poori or paratha bread; fried samosa or pakora; ask to prepare dishes without excess salt and to omit coconut milk, if possible; omit garnishes with nuts or dried fruit.
Italian Selections
Order antipasto (no oil or excess meats); crusty bread (no oil or butter); broiled or grilled fish, seafood, chicken, and meats; garlic; plain or vegetable pasta; fresh unsalted mozzarella cheese; steamed leafy vegetables (kale and broccoli); salads; fresh tomatoes; zucchini; ices.
Garlic bread, stuffed pasta (ravioli and lasagna), fried eggplant, meatballs or sausage, sauces with butter, cream, oil, and wine base, pesto sauce, cheese-filled or parmesan-style dishes, spumoni or tortoni ice cream. Beware of risotto rice, polenta, high-fat, high-sodium prosciutto ham and pancetta, veal cutlets, and Caesar salads.
Japanese Selections
Order rice; steamed fish; sushi; sashimi; miso soup; raw vegetables; tofu; sukiyaki (stir-fried); yakimono (broiled fish).
Tempura and other deep-fried food; excess peanut and teriyaki sauce; pickled foods; excess salt and sugar in sauces; excess salt in soy marinades and sauces.
Mediterranean (Middle East) Selections
You can order couscous, bulgar, pita bread, and legumes such as chickpeas, fava beans, lentils, hummus, grape leaves, and yogurt.
Phyllo dough dishes are used for sweet desserts such as baklava, feta, and kasseri cheese, excess anchovies, and olives, high-sodium foods, feta, olives, and sausage, appetizers in general, except salads, and excess fat from butter, olive oil, omelets, and tahini.
Mexican Selections
Order soft-shell tacos; burritos; fajitas; salsa; chicken enchilada; black beans or Mexican rice; grilled fish or chicken; salads without chips or shells; moderate corn or flour tortilla, using minimal oil; ceviche (marinated fish); gazpacho; chile con carne soup, with no cheese. Acceptable items include shredded lettuce, spicy meats, diced tomatoes, salsa verde, picante or tomato sauce, and Mexican salads as appetizers, with salsa as the dressing.
Chips, nachos, super nachos, chili con queso, fried taco or tortilla shells, guacamole, sour cream, cheese, refried beans, beef and pork dishes, olives, and items such as chilies rellenos, chimichangas, chorizo (sausage), and flautas.
Thai Selections
You can order steamed rice, broth-based soups (tom yum koang and pok taek), non-fried proteins such as chicken, seafood, and tofu, vegetables, satay, or steamed mussels, or salads with light dressings made with Thai spices.
Excess sodium, soy sauce, sugar, MSG, coconut milk, coconut oil, cream dishes, high milk, sodium soups, fried appetizers, curry or curry sauce, fried eggplant, cashew and peanut toppings.

Resources

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Celebrate Quiche Lorraine Day with Mexican Quiche


Mexican Quiche

Ingredients
1 refrigerated pie crust
6 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded
1 (10-ounce) can tomatoes and green chilies, drained
1 (4 ounces) can diced green chilies, drained
2 ounces diced black olives (canned)
3 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1⁄2 teaspoon chili powder
1⁄2 teaspoon paprika
1⁄4 teaspoon cumin
1⁄8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1⁄8 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions
1. Arrange the pie crust in a pie plate.
2. Sprinkle shredded cheddar evenly over the bottom of the crust.
3. Spread drained tomatoes/chilis and green chilis over cheese. Sprinkle olives over top.
4. Mix eggs, sour cream, chili powder, paprika, cumin, cayenne, and garlic powder until well mixed. Pour over mixture in pie crust.
5. Bake at 375 for 50 minutes, until firmly set. Allow to sit 5 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Information

Serving size: 1 slice (1/8 pie): 273 calories; 14 g fat (6 g sat); 3 g fiber; 26 g carbohydrates; 11 g protein; 113 mg cholesterol; 5 g sugars; 0 g added sugars; 120 mg calcium; 3 mg iron; 335 mg sodium




Sunday, May 18, 2025

The Journey of the Monarch Butterfly: Monarch Maternity Center

May 18, 2025. Monarch miracle! This week: 3 butterflies emerged, 7 chrysalises formed, 16 new caterpillars were born in the Monarch Maternity Center. Watch the magic as a butterfly emerges from its chrysalis! #MonarchButterfly 25/05/16🦋






National Museum Day
A Look at Food Museums in the United States

Each year, the International Council of Museums (ICOM) Advisory Committee proposes a theme that can be interpreted by museums to promote their issues within society. Due to Covid19, some of the museums may be closed or have limited hours. Check with the ICOM website to view virtual museums.

The museum is an institution for preserving and communicating the past, yet it is grounded in the present. It is a link between the generations, as it allows present and future generations to better comprehend their origins and history.


Resources.

A Look at Food Museums
in the United States




is a non-profit museum based in New Orleans, Louisiana with a mission to explore the culinary history of the American Southern states, to explain the roots of Southern food and drinks. Their exhibits focus on every aspect of food in the South, from the cultural traditions to the basic recipes and communities formed through food. The museum includes a full-service restaurant, a children's gallery, a culinary innovation center, an exhibit for every southern state, and a culinary library. While based in New Orleans, the Museum examines and celebrates all the cultures that have come together through the centuries to create the South’s unique culinary heritage. It brings all races and ethnicity to the table to tell the tale, from the farmer and the homemaker to the line cook and the celebrity chef. The Southern Food and Beverage Museum celebrates, interprets, investigates, entertains, and preserves. A collaboration of many, the Museum allows food lovers from all areas – Southerners and non-Southerners, locals and tourists, academics and food industry insiders - to pull up their chairs and dig into the food and drink of the South. And although based in New Orleans, they bring a message about the entire South to the world through exhibits, a collection of oral histories and videos, and other research. Address: 1504 Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70113



is an open-air museum in the state park system of California, USA, interpreting the historic cultural landscape of the citrus industry. The park preserves some of the rapidly vanishing cultural landscape of the citrus industry and tells the story of the industry's role in the history and development of California. The park recaptures the time when "Citrus was King" in California, recognizing the importance of the citrus industry in southern California. Park address: 9400 Dufferin Ave., Riverside, CA 92504









The company's Wilbur Chocolate Factory in Lititz sells an assortment of Wilbur chocolates and other candy and features the free Candy Americana Museum that tells the history of the company and how their chocolate is made. The exhibits include antique chocolate molds, tins, and boxes, as well as hand-painted European and Oriental antique porcelain chocolate pots. The museum was created by Penny Buzzard, wife of former Wilbur president John Buzzard, and opened in 1972. Wilbur Chocolate Company, 48 North Broad Street, Lititz, PA 17543




is a museum devoted to the potato, located in Blackfoot, Idaho. The rich graphics showcasing the history of the potato will lead you through the revolution of the potato industry. From the original potato planted in Idaho to the largest potato crisp made by the Pringle’s Company in Jackson, TN. The Museum represents significant ties between the railroad and the potato industry and was built in 1912. The Potato Museum provides information on potato history, the growing and harvesting process, nutrition, trivia, and educational potato facts. The museum is located in downtown Blackfoot, Idaho at 130 NW Main St.  



is a museum in Le Roy, New York dedicated to exhibits about Jell-O, operated by the Le Roy Historical Society. JELL-O Gallery is located at 23 E Main St, Le Roy, NY 14482. The Jell-O Gallery has a large new exhibit that reflects Bill Cosby's influence over thirty years. Also, listen to entertainers, such as Kate Smith, Jack Benny, Lucile Ball as they promote the Jell-O product over the radio airwaves. See television personalities Andy Griffith and Gomer Pyle along with Bill Cosby as they pitch about Jell-O.



was established in 1986 to preserve and interpret the maritime history and heritage of Biloxi and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. It accomplishes this mission through an array of exhibits on shrimping, oystering, recreational fishing, wetlands, managing marine resources, charter boats, marine blacksmithing, wooden boat building, net-making, catboats/Biloxi skiff, shrimp peeling machine, and numerous historic photographs and objects. In August 2005, the Museum was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. The museum reopened in 2014. 







The shrine promotes the dairy industry and records its history. The National Dairy Shrine's museum contains exhibits about the history of dairying. Dairying objects in its collection include butter churns, milking machines, a treadle, and items used in the Babcock test for the fat content of milk, which was developed nearby at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. National Dairy Shrine brings together dairy producers, scientists, students, educators, marketers, and others who share a desire to preserve our dairy heritage and keep the dairy industry strong. It was founded in 1949. National Dairy Shrine Museum / Hoard Historical Museum, 401 Whitewater Avenue, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538




is a museum in the heart of downtown Middleton, Wisconsin. It boasts a large display of prepared mustards. It is often featured in lists of unusual museums in the United States. 
The museum was conceived and founded by Barry Levenson, former Assistant Attorney General of Wisconsin. It centers on a mustard collection he began in 1986. The initial dozen jars have grown to a collection of more than 5,624 mustards from all 50 states and more than 70 countries. The collection includes exquisite Gibbons Collection of mustard pots to antique tins & jars and vintage advertisements. Address: 7477 Hubbard Avenue, Middleton, WI 53562. 


Saturday, May 17, 2025

Celebrate Walnuts - National Walnut Day

Walnuts are used for food after being processed, either green for pickled walnuts or after full ripening for nutmeat. They are nutrient-dense, with protein and essential fatty acids.



Nutrient Profile


Adding Walnuts to your Diet
1. Walnut meats are available in two forms; in their shells or shelled. The meats may be whole, halved, or in smaller portions due to processing.
2. Walnuts are often candied and may be used as an ingredient in other foodstuffs.
3. Pickled walnuts are the whole fruit that can be savory or sweet depending on the preserving solution.
4. Walnut butter can be homemade or purchased in both raw and roasted forms.
5. All walnuts can be eaten on their own (raw, toasted, or pickled) or as
6. Walnuts can be added to muesli
7. Add to oatmeal
8. Add crunch to a salad
9. Mix into a vegetable stir-fry for extra protein.
10. Popular in brownie recipes

Walnut oil is available commercially and is chiefly used as a food ingredient, particularly in salad dressings. Its low smoke point limits its use for frying.

More than 99% of the walnuts in the U.S. are grown in California’s Central Valley. Internationally, California walnuts supply three-quarters of the world’s walnut trade.

Walnuts positively impact heart health and may also improve cognitive function.


Recipe
Beet, Goat Cheese and Walnut Salad, California Walnut  


References
1. Walnut, Wikipedia  
2. California Walnut, Resources, and Recipes  



National Employee Health and Fitness Month


Employees’ Health And Fitness Programs
Workplace Wellness Programs enhance the
overall health and productivity of your organization.

Benefits For Employers
Increase employee productivity
Improve health care costs
Less illness and injuries
Reduce employee absenteeism

Benefits For Employees
Less stress
Improve physical fitness
Better eating habits or weight control
Increase physical and mental health 


Global Employee Health and Fitness Month™ is administered annually by the National Association for Health and Fitness. NEHF is a national health observance created to promote the benefits of physical activity for individuals through their worksite health promotion activities. Founded in 1989, National Employee Health and Fitness Month has enlisted tens of thousands of participants from employers worldwide.

For More Information on how to Improve Employee Health and Fitness, visit the following links:
Global Employee Health and Fitness Month





National High Blood Pressure Education Month
and World Hypertension Day



The World Hypertension League (WHL) is a division of the International Society of Hypertension (ISH) and is in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO).

Every year, 17 May is dedicated to World Hypertension Day (WHD). World Hypertension Day was established to highlight preventable stroke, heart, and kidney diseases caused by high blood pressure and to communicate to the public information on prevention, detection, and treatment.


What is Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure is the force applied against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood through the body.


Know Your Blood Pressure Number
The first number, systolic blood pressure, measures the maximum pressure exerted as the heart contracts. A measurement over 90 and under 140 is generally considered normal for an adult.

The lower number indicates diastolic pressure is a measurement taken between beats when the heart is at rest. A measurement over 60 and under 90 is generally considered normal for an adult.


High Blood Pressure is a Global Epidemic. Over 1.5 billion people worldwide suffer from high blood pressure (or hypertension).


Lower Your Sodium


Prevention and Control of High Blood Pressure
1. Maintain a Healthy Weight
2. Eat More Fresh Vegetables and Fruits
3. Cut Back on Salt Intake
4. Exercise
5. Check Your Blood Pressure Regularly
6. If you are on medication, take the medication as prescribed.


Resources
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). National High Blood Pressure Education Program

The World Hypertension League (WHL).  The World Hypertension League's (WHL) objectives are to promote the detection, control, and prevention of arterial hypertension in populations.

Thursday, May 15, 2025

UN International Day of Families

Food brings us together; family keeps us together.



National Family Month is celebrated every year from
Mother's Day through Father's Day.
May 15th is the United Nations International Day of Families. 


2025 Theme: Family-Oriented Policies for  Sustainable Development

The 2025 International Day of Families focuses on “Family-Oriented Policies for Sustainable Development” as a lead-up to the November Second World Summit for Social Development. It highlights how supporting families through national policies is essential for tackling global challenges like poverty, inequality, urbanization, and climate change while advancing the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

International Day of Families, 
The Family Meal, a Tradition Celebrated Worldwide





Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Food Allergy Awareness Week

Food Allergy Awareness Week.  The 9 foods identified by the law are: Milk; Eggs; Fish; Crustacean shellfish; Tree nuts; Peanuts; Wheat; Soybeans; Sesame 



The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) was founded in 1991 and is the world’s largest nonprofit organization that provides information about food allergies to the media, schools, health professionals, the food industry, pharmaceutical companies, government officials, and the food-allergic community.

FAAN’s mission is to raise public awareness, provide advocacy and education, and advance research for all those affected by food allergy and anaphylaxis.

Respect Every Bite


Food Allergy Bullying: It's Not a Joke




In 1997, FAAN created Food Allergy Awareness Week to educate others about food allergies, a potentially life-threatening medical condition.


FAAN’s annual programs include Food Allergy Awareness Week, Food Allergy Conferences, Mariel C. Furlong Awards for Making a Difference, Food Allergy News for Kids Poster Contest, Teen Summit, Trick-or-Treat for Food Allergy, Walk for Food Allergy, and Kids’ Congress on Capitol Hill.

For further information on FAAN, visit:
YouTube Channel: FAANPAL

Contact Information:
The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network
(800) 929-4040 
http://www.foodallergy.org/



Tuesday, May 13, 2025

National Hummus Day - Recipes and Nutrition Profile

Hummus versus Mayonnaise
If you use one Tablespoon of Hummus,
instead of one Tablespoon of Mayonnaise
You will save 74 calories!


Recipes

Hummus with Peppers and Cucumbers Wrap

Camera f/6.3; 1/100; ISO 100; light - natural. Nutrition Info. 131 Calories; 5g Protein; 12g Carbohydrates; 4g Dietary Fiber; 4g Total Sugars; 5g Fat; 0 mg Cholesterol; 446 IU Vitamin A; 96mg Vitamin C; 206mg Sodium





Hummus and Lentil Pizza


Ingredients.‎


1/2 sandwich thin
1 Tbsp Hummus
2 Tbsp Caponata (diced eggplant with sun-dried tomatoes
1/2 oz Goat Cheese
2 Tbsp Lentil Salad

Nutrition Information.
165 Calories; 7 g Protein; 19 g Carbohydrates; 3 g Dietary Fiber; 9 g Fat
6 mg Cholesterol

Perfect for breakfast, snack or a light lunch.



Monday, May 12, 2025

National Women’s Checkup Day, a part of
National Women's Health Week




National Women’s Health Week is organized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health (OWH). The goal is to empower women to make their health a top priority. 

Some women are so busy caring for their families that they neglect to care for themselves. During National Women’s Health Week, remind your wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, and/or girlfriend to take steps to improve their health and prevent disease.

The annual National Women’s Health Week kicks off on Mother’s Day. Dedicate this day to visit or make an appointment with your healthcare professional. Schedule a check-up. Prevention and early detection are crucial to one’s health. To learn more about National Women's Health Week, visit the following links:



Why is it important for women to participate in National Women's Checkup Day?

Women need regular checkups because screening tests, such as mammograms and Pap tests, can find diseases early when they are easier to treat. Some women need specific screening tests earlier, or more often than others. Screenings and routine care can help women lower their risks of many health conditions, including heart disease.





How can women participate in this important event?
Women can participate in National Women’s Checkup Day by:
Contact their current health care professional to schedule a checkup and get important screenings on National Women’s Checkup Day.

Discussing with their health care professionals which screenings and tests are right for them, when they should have them, and how often.

For information about participating in National Women’s Checkup Day and other National Women’s Health Week activities, visit the National Women’s Health Week website at https://www.womenshealth.gov/nwhw/ 

Women's Health Month

The information provided here is from the National Women's Health Information Center (NWHIC)


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