Wednesday, March 22, 2023

March 23 Nutrition Related Topics of the Day

National Chia Day
Chia seeds are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acid and fiber; and contains protein and minerals including iron, calcium, magnesium and zinc.

#NationalChiaDay What Are Chia Seeds? Eat raw or prepared in a number of dishes. Sprinkle chia seeds on cereal, rice, yogurt or vegetables http://bit.ly/2pyf8se #NationalNutritionMonth #Chia #eatright




National Melba Toast Day


#NationalMelbaToastDay - Melba toast is a dry, crisp and thinly sliced toast often served with soup and salad or topped with various foods.


Melba toast is made by lightly toasting slices of bread under a grill, on both sides. The resulting toast is then sliced laterally. The thin slices are then returned to the grill with the untoasted sides towards the heat source, resulting in toast half the normal thickness. Melba toast is also available commercially.







Chip and Dip Day - Looking for healthy alternatives for chips?




Resources
1. Cooking Light, Healthy Dips  
2. Lauren Swann, Pinterest: Healthy Chip Board on Pinterest
3. Lauren Swann, Pinterest: Healthy Dips board


Whole Grain Sampling Day




Whole Grain Sampling Day The Whole Grains Council is holding a Whole Grain Sampling Day. The goal is to have people try new foods with whole grains. Stop by the Whole Grains Council to learn more and meet some of the companies participating. 

Identifying Whole Grains
Whole Grain Stamps


There are three different varieties of the Whole Grain Stamp: the 100% Stamp, the 50%+ Stamp, and the Basic Stamp.

  • If a product bears the 100% Stamp (left image above), then all its grain ingredients are whole grain. There is a minimum requirement of 16g (16 grams) – a full serving – of whole grain per labeled serving, for products using the 100% Stamp.
  • If a product bears the 50%+ Stamp (middle image), then at least half of its grain ingredients are whole grain. There is a minimum requirement of 8g (8 grams) – a half serving – of whole grain per labeled serving, for products using the 50%+ Stamp. The 50%+ Stamp was added to the Whole Grain Stamps in January of 2017 and will begin appearing on products in the spring and summer of 2017.
  • If a product bears the Basic Stamp (right image), it contains at least 8g (8 grams) – a half serving – of whole grain, but may also contain some refined grain.

Examples of Whole Grains
Read the label and look for the following
whole grains as the first ingredient:

Amaranth 
Barley 
Brown Rice 
Buckwheat
Bulgur (Cracked Wheat)
Corn (Polenta, Tortillas, Whole Grain Corn/Corn Meal) 
Farro 
Kamut® 
Millet 
Oats, Whole Oats, Oatmeal 
Quinoa 
Rye, Whole Rye 
Sorghum 
Spelt 
Teff 
Triticale Wild Rice
Whole Wheat Flour



Recipe: Quinoa Stuffed Acorn Squash





United Nations World Water Day


Many UN entities work on water issues - distributing drinking water during disasters, protecting ecosystems, making sure that water is of sufficient quality, ensuring that our cities have enough water infrastructure, measuring the progress of access to sanitation, and looking at how we will have enough water to make food. The list is long. Many organizations around the world also work on these issues. To be as strong, as effective, and to have as big of an impact as possible, these organizations come together to work through UN-Water.

UN-Water coordinates the UN's work on water and sanitation for a better world. Through UN-Water, UN entities and international partners work together to place water and sanitation as top issues and 21st Century essential knowledge. World Water Day is one of UN-Water's campaigns that aim to inform, engage and inspire action.

International World Water Day is held annually on 22 March. The United Nations General Assembly designated 22 March 1993 as the first World Water Day. Each year, World Water Day highlights a specific aspect of water.

Do you value the water in your food chain?


People are left behind without safe water for many different reasons. The following are some of the ‘grounds for discrimination' that cause certain people to be particularly disadvantaged when it comes to accessing water:

Sex and gender, race, ethnicity, religion, birth, caste, language, and nationality; Disability, age, and health status
Property, tenure, residence, economic and social status.

Other factors, such as environmental degradation, climate change, population growth, conflict, forced displacement, and migration flows can also disproportionately affect marginalized groups through impacts on water.


Environmental damage, together with climate change, is driving the water-related crises we see around the world. Floods, drought, and water pollution are all made worse by degraded vegetation, soil, rivers, and lakes.

When we neglect our ecosystems, we make it harder to provide everyone with the water we need to survive and thrive.

Nature-based solutions have the potential to solve many of our water challenges. We need to do so much more with ‘green’ infrastructure and harmonize it with ‘grey’ infrastructure wherever possible. Planting new forests, reconnecting rivers to floodplains, and restoring wetlands will rebalance the water cycle and improve human health and livelihoods.




Water, Energy, Food



"A THIRSTY WORLD"





Resource
World Water Day




Monday, March 20, 2023

Try Healthy Yellow and Orange Foods

Yellow and Orange Foods



Yellow Foods: Apricots, Bananas, Corn, Garbanzo Beans, Golden Apples, Golden Flax Seed, Golden Raisins, Grapefruit, Honey, Lemon, Lemongrass, Pears, Pineapple, Saffron, Spaghetti Squash, Squash Blossoms, Sweet Corn, Yellow Beans, Yellow Lentils, Yellow Peppers, Yellow Summer Squash, Yellow Wax Beans

Orange Foods: Butternut Squash, Cantaloupe, Carrots, Cheddar Cheese, Citrus Fruits, Clementine, Creamsicle, Mandarin Oranges, Mangoes, Nectarines, Orange Jello, Orange Peppers, Orange Tomatoes, Oranges, Papaya, Peaches, Pumpkin, Rutabagas, Salmon, Sweet Potatoes, Tangerines, Whole Grains, Yams


Do you know any other Yellow or Orange foods?
About Yellow and Orange Foods
Most orange and yellow fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants, such as vitamin C and the phytonutrients carotenoids and bioflavonoids. The foods are also rich in fiber and many vitamins and minerals.

Carotenoids give fruits and vegetables their color and are converted into vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A is needed for vision, new cell growth, healthy skin and tissues, and night vision. Carrots and sweet potatoes are rich in beta carotene.

Citrus fruits, mangoes, nectarines, peaches, peppers, and sweet corn contain beta cryptoxanthin, a carotenoid that may help maintain the respiratory tract and reduce the risk of lung cancer. Hesperidin is a bioflavonoid found in citrus fruits and juices and may lower the risk of heart disease.

Vitamin C is in citrus fruits and helps maintain healthy teeth and gums; improves circulation; enhances iron absorption and helps resist infection.

Salmon is a great source of omega 3 fatty acids and may help reduce the risk of heart disease.

Yellow lentils are high in fiber, folate, and other B vitamins. Fiber helps prevent constipation. Folate is important in producing healthy red blood cells, preventing birth defects, and reducing the risk of strokes, heart disease, and some cancers.


Recipe



Ways to Increase Yellow and Orange Food Intake:
• Add apricot, bananas, oranges, peaches, and/or papaya to cereals or salads. They will bright up your morning.
• For snacks or food on the go, choose any of the rich yellow and orange fruits and vegetables, for example, apricots, bananas, golden apples, golden raisins, pears, pineapple, carrots, oranges, mangoes, nectarines, papaya, peaches and/or tangerines.
• Add carrots and/or diced peppers (yellow or orange) to salads or main courses.
• Use sweet potatoes instead of white potatoes for a change in color
• Eat grilled salmon at least once a week.
• Prepare a butternut squash soup.




Wellness News employs young adults with "Special Needs" (Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Down Syndrome, Muscular Dystrophy). My staff started the project in September 2010. Over the next five months, we would take over 600 photographs of colorful foods in order to create the March presentation for NNM. Many of the photographs are available for purchase with the proceeds going to special needs young adults. Contact Dr. Sandra Frank for additional information (recipenews@gmail.com).

Prepared by
Sandra Frank, Ed.D, RD, LDN, FAND
Jake Frank
Jonathan Cruz


Saturday, March 18, 2023

Explore Eat Right with Colors - Taste the Rainbow

"Eat Right with Colors"  explores the health benefits associated with eating foods of many colors. "Eating a rainbow" includes color diversity in your meals and food choices, so as to enhance your intake of a wide range of nutrients. 





Recipe: Rainbow Veggie Flatbread Pizza
@gimmesomeoven 
Nutrition Profile by @DietitianOnline


Red and Pink Foods

Apples, Beets, Cayenne, Cherries, Cranberries, Guava, Kidney Beans, Papaya, Pink Beans, Pink/Red Grapefruit, Pomegranates, Radicchio, Radishes, Raspberries, Red Bell Peppers, Red Cabbages, Red Chili Peppers, Red Corn, Red Currants, Red Grapes, Red Onions, Red Pears, Red Peppers, Red Plums, Red Potatoes, Red Tomatoes, Rhubarb, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Watermelons

Green Foods

Alfalfa, Artichokes, Arugula, Asparagus, Avocado, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccoli rabe, Brussels Sprouts, Celery, Chives, Collard Greens, Cucumbers, Dandelion Greens, Edamame, Endive, Fennel, Green apples, Green Beans, Green Cabbage, Green Grapes, Green Olives, Green Onion, Green Pears, Green Peas, Green Pepper, Green Tomatoes, Honeydew, Kale, Kiwi, Leeks, Lettuce, Limes, Mint, Okra, Oregano, Parsley, Pistachios, Snow Peas, Spinach, Sugar snap peas, Swiss Chard, Tarragon, Tomatillo, Wasabi, Watercress, Zucchini

Blue and Purple Foods

Blue Grapes, Blue and Purple Potatoes, Blueberries, Dried Plums, Plums, Eggplant, Pomegranates, Elderberries, Juniper Berries, Kelp (Seaweed), Purple Belgian Endive, Purple Cabbage, Purple Figs

Yellow and Orange Foods

Apricots, Bananas, Butternut Squash, Cantaloupe, Carrots, Cheddar Cheese, Citrus Fruits, Clementines, Corn, Creamsicle, Garbanzo Beans, Golden Apples, Golden Flax Seed, Golden Raisins, Grapefruit, Honey, Lemon, Lemongrass, Mandarin Oranges, Mangoes, Nectarines, Orange Jello, Orange Peppers, Orange Tomatoes, Oranges, Papaya, Parsnips, Peaches, Pears, Persimmons, Pineapple, Pumpkin, Rutabagas, Saffron, Salmon, Spaghetti Squash, Squash Blossoms, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potatoes, Tangerines, Whole Grains, Yams, Yellow Apples, Yellow Beans, Yellow Peppers, Yellow Summer Squash, Yellow Wax Beans

White and Black Foods

White: Cauliflower, Coconut, Garlic, Ginger, Green Onions, Scallions, Horseradish, Jicama, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Millet, Mushrooms, Onions, Parsnips, Quinoa, Shallots, Soy Products, Sunflower Seeds, Tofu, Turnips, White Beans, White Corn, White Sesame Seeds

Black: Black Beans, Black Cherries, Black Currants, Black Mushrooms, Black Olives, Black Quinoa, Black Raspberry, Black Rice, Black Sesame Seeds, Black Soybeans, Blackberries, Boysenberries, Prunes, Raisins, Seaweeds, Tamari (Soy Sauce)


Wellness News employs young adults with "Special Needs" (Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Down Syndrome, Muscular Dystrophy). My staff started the project in September 2010. Over the next five months, we would take over 600 photographs of colorful foods in order to create the March presentation for NNM. Many of the photographs are available for purchase with the proceeds going to special need young adults. Contact Dr. Sandra Frank for additional information (recipenews@gmail.com).

Try Healthy White and Black Foods

White and Black Foods

Food Sources
White: Cauliflower, Coconut, Garlic, Ginger, Green Onions, Scallions, Horseradish, Jicama, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Millet, Mushrooms, Onions, Parsnips, Quinoa, Shallots, Soy Products, Sunflower Seeds, Tofu, Turnips, White Beans, White Corn, White Sesame Seeds, Milk, Eggs

Do you know any other WHITE foods?

About White Foods
The white food category is diverse and includes fruits, vegetables, grains, milk, eggs, and tofu. The fruits and vegetables are a good source of fiber and tofu is relatively high in protein. Eggs and milk are an excellent source of protein and milk is rich in calcium, vitamin D, potassium and magnesium. Potassium is also found in potatoes, which assists in protein synthesis and carbohydrate metabolism and essential for normal heart function.

White fruits and vegetables contain the natural color pigment anthoxanthins; a type of flavonoid, which range in color from white or colorless to yellow and exhibit antioxidant properties. Allicin is a phytonutrient found in garlic and onions. Allicin may help reduce heart disease, lower cholesterol, reduce the risk of some types of cancer, act as an anti-inflammatory and may function as an antioxidant. Quercetin is another anthoxanthin found in onions and shallots. Quercetin may lower the risk of heart disease and act as an anti-inflammatory.


Recipe
by PhoebeLapine


Ways to Increase White Food Intake:
  Add onions, garlic, or shallots to salads, entrees, or soups.
  Snack on sunflower seeds.
  Try tofu in soups or prepare it as a main course.
  Add white beans to salads or season and serve as a side dish.
  Try a glass of low-fat or fat-free milk at bedtime.


Food Sources
Black: Black Beans, Black Cherries, Black Currants, Black Mushrooms, Black Olives, Black Quinoa, Black Raspberry, Black Rice, Black Sesame Seeds, Black Soybeans, Blackberries, Boysenberries, Prunes, Raisins, Seaweeds, Tamari (Soy Sauce)

Do you know other BLACK foods?


About Black Foods
Black-colored foods are rich in antioxidants, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Black Rice contains vitamin E and the antioxidant anthocyanin.  Black Lentils are rich in iron and fiber and may help heal wounds and lower blood cholesterol.  Blackberries are high in the antioxidant polyphenolic, which may reduce inflammation. Blackberries are also a good source of dietary fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, folic acid, and manganese. Black Soybeans are high in fiber and protein.  Raisins and prunes help in the treatment of constipation.  Raisins are a good source of fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, iron, potassium, and calcium. Prunes are a good source of fiber, vitamin A, potassium, and copper.

Ways to Increase Black Food Intake:
  Add raisins to hot cereal or use them as a snack.
  Add blackberries or black raspberries to salads or yogurt, or carry them as a snack.
  Substitute black rice for brown rice.
  Use black sesame seeds on fish or salads.


Wellness News employs young adults with "Special Needs" (Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Down Syndrome, Muscular Dystrophy). My staff started the project in September 2010. Over the next five months, we would take over 600 photographs of colorful foods to create the March presentation for NNM. Many of the photographs are available for purchase, with the proceeds going to special needs young adults. Contact Dr. Sandra Frank for additional information (recipenews@gmail.com).

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Pear Helene, Modiifed

Pear Helene, Modified
Classic French Pear Dessert
4 servings


The dessert was reputably invented by the godfather of haute cuisine, Auguste Escoffier in Paris in the 19th century and purportedly named after the opera, La Belle Helen (the beautiful Helen) by Offenbach.

The ease of preparation and beautiful presentation make this dish a stunning dessert. What is not to love about pears, chocolate, and ice cream. 


Ingredients
2 whole cinnamon sticks
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 1/2 cups water (divided)
4 firm Bosc pears (peeled, cored with stem intact)
1 cup vanilla ice cream, light
4 Tbsp ​chocolate sauce (for drizzling)

Directions
  1. Combine the cinnamon sticks, sugar, and 1/2 cup of water in a medium saucepan.
  2. Bring the mixture to a boil, and then reduce the heat and simmer for 2 to 5 minutes, until it becomes a thick-like syrup and turns golden brown.
  3. Turn the heat to the lowest setting and gently whisk in the remaining 2 cups water, until the syrup is completely incorporated into the water.
  4. Add the peeled pears to the sugar syrup mixture and bring to a gentle simmer for 15 minutes. Test the doneness with a knife by pricking in the thickest part of the fruit; the pears are poached when they are just cooked through, but not completely soft. Be careful not to overcook. 
  5. Allow the pears to cool in the syrup until they are at room temperature. Lift the pears carefully from the pan with a slotted spoon.
  6. Serve with 1/4 cup of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of one tablespoon chocolate sauce.

Monday, March 13, 2023

National Walk to Work Day

National Walk to Work Day – get involved! Taking simple steps to improve your health could pay dividends years down the line. Getting involved in National Walk to Work Day could help put you on the right track to a healthier you.


American Heart Association

  • Take the stairs instead of the elevator whenever you can, for at least a floor or two. Once that gets easier, add another floor.
  • Instead of using the breakroom or restroom nearest your workstation, use one farther away, maybe even on another floor – and take the stairs each time you go.
  • Walk to a coworker’s desk or office to talk instead of using email, IM or the phone. The personal interaction is an added bonus!
  • Join or start a recreational sports league at your workplace.
  • Form a walking club or team to walk together at work.
  • Schedule walking meetings for informal discussions and brainstorming. 
  • Get off the bus or train a few blocks early and walk the rest of the way to work or home. If you drive to work, park as far away from the entrance as you can.
  • Walk to a nearby restaurant for lunch instead of driving or ordering in.

MyPlate - Make at least Half of your Grains Whole Grains

MyPlate - Grain Food Group

What foods are in the Grains Group?


Important Nutrients from the Grain Group


Recipe: Quinoa Breakfast Bowl. This savory one-dish whole-grain meal is crowned with a soft-boiled egg. #CookingLight


10 Tips to Help You Eat More Whole Grains


Any food made from wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, barley, or another cereal grain is a grain product. Bread, pasta, oatmeal, breakfast cereals, tortillas, and grits are examples. Grains are divided into two subgroups, whole grains, and refined grains. Whole grains contain the entire grain kernel — the bran, germ, and endosperm. People who eat whole grains as part of a healthy diet have a reduced risk of some chronic diseases.

Make simple switches
To make half your grains whole grains, substitute a whole-grain product for a refined-grain product. For example, eat 100% whole-wheat bread or bagels instead of white bread or bagels, or brown rice instead of white rice.

Whole grains can be healthy snacks
Popcorn, a whole grain, can be a healthy snack. Make it with little or no added salt or butter. Also, try 100% whole-wheat or rye crackers.

Save some time
Cook extra brown rice or whole-wheat pasta when you have time. Refrigerate half to heat and serve later in the week as a quick side dish.

Mix it up with whole grains
Use whole grains in mixed dishes, such as barley in vegetable soups or stews and bulgur wheat in casseroles or stir-fries. Try a quinoa salad or pilaf.

Try whole-wheat versions
For a change, try brown rice or whole-wheat pasta. Try brown rice stuffing in baked green peppers or tomatoes, and whole-wheat macaroni in macaroni and cheese.

Bake up some whole-grain goodness
Experiment by substituting buckwheat, millet, or oat flour for up to half of the flour in your favorite pancake or waffle recipes. To limit saturated fat and added sugars, top with fruit instead of butter and syrup.

Be a good role model for children
Set a good example for children by serving and eating whole grains every day with meals or as snacks.

Check the label for fiber
Use the Nutrition Facts label to check the fiber content of whole-grain foods. Good sources of fiber contain 10% to 19% of the Daily Value; excellent sources contain 20% or more.

Know what to look for on the ingredients list
Read the ingredients list and choose products that name a whole-grain ingredient first on the list. Look for “whole wheat,” “brown rice,” “bulgur,” “buckwheat,” “oatmeal,” “whole-grain cornmeal,” “whole oats,” or “whole rye.”

Be a smart shopper
The color of food is not an indication that it is a whole-grain food. Foods labeled as “multi-grain,” “stone-ground,” “100% wheat,” “cracked wheat,” “seven-grain,” or “bran” are usually not 100% whole-grain products, and may not contain any whole grain.


Food on a Stick Day


Food on a stick is thought to be among the earliest examples of human utensils. The “Kebab” is a dish consisting of small pieces of meat and vegetables threaded onto skewers and grilled. The kebab originated in Persia and later spread to the Middle East and Turkey. The traditional meat for kebab is lamb, but depending on location and traditions, it may be beef, goat, chicken, pork, fish or seafood. Today the kebab is found worldwide. There are numerous variations of foods you can add to a stick and it's not just limited to meats.

Fun and Nutritious
Food on a stick can be fun and nutritious. Barbara Beery is a kids' cooking instructor. In the following video, Barbara shows how to make healthy foods on a skewer.


State Fairs and Food on a Stick
Putting food on a stick is popular at many state fairs because you can eat and walk at the same time. The food choices go from simple to bizarre and many items are high in calories, fat, sugar, and sodium. The video below shows all of the 59 foods on a stick at the Minnesota State Fair from 2006.


Resources

50+ Brilliant Recipes for Food on a Stick, Taste of Home 




National Poison Prevention Week.


Danger Rangers: Poison



To learn more about Poison Prevention,
visit the following link: 

Earth Hour at 8:30 PM local time



Earth Hour in an uncertain time. Given the unprecedented circumstances, WWF advises participants to join Earth Hour at home or online following CDC guidelines.

People can participate in Earth Hour by turning off their lights for one hour to show solidarity and support for protecting our natural environments.

In the past, millions of people and places have participated. During these challenging times, it’s more important than ever that we take a collective pause and use this time to reflect, evolve and strengthen our relationship with ourselves, with each other, and with nature.

Here are some ideas you might enjoy while reflecting on your personal commitments to fighting climate change and protecting our forests, rivers, oceans, and wildlife. WWF designed these with current social distancing policies in mind.

  • Go ‘green’ in your living space with some indoor gardening projects.
  • Host a virtual in-the-dark dinner party for you and your friends.
  • Play some games.
  • Work up a sweat. Exercise the body and mind by candlelight.
  • Pamper yourself. Self-care is key.
  • Take a collective pause and reflect.
Our connection to Earth and nature is undeniable: Our planet's gain is everyone’s gain.
Biodiversity – the rich variety of life on Earth – continues to decline year on year. We must urgently prioritize our planet’s biodiversity and nature. Earth Hour was created to organize efforts, allowing us to shed light on topics impacting our planet’s well-being.


Get involved by starting conversations, sharing your thoughts, and spreading the word about our connection to this place we call home. 
Around the globe, food production, distribution, management, and waste threaten wildlife, wild places, and the planet itself.
Today, over 8 billion people consume 1.6 times what the earth’s natural resources can supply. By 2050, the world’s population will reach 9 billion and the demand for food will double.
Food production is sufficient to provide for all, but it doesn’t reach everyone who needs it. About 1.3 billion tons of food is wasted each year—four times the amount needed to feed the more than 800+ million people who are malnourished.
By improving efficiency and productivity while reducing waste and shifting consumption patterns, we can produce enough food for everyone by 2050 on roughly the same amount of land we use now. Feeding all sustainably and protecting our natural resources.
WWF works to secure a living planet that will sustain a more affluent population. From refining production and distribution to combating waste and environmental impacts, we want to improve how the world grows, transports and consumes this precious fuel.

Official Earth Hour 2022 Video



Within hours, people in a record 134 countries and territories across the globe will switch off their lights for an hour in a unified show of support for action towards a sustainable future for our planet.


Healthy Diet for a Healthy Planet


About Earth Hour
Earth Hour is a global initiative in partnership with WWF (World Wildlife Fund). Individuals, businesses, governments, and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour to show their support for environmentally sustainable action. In 2010, Earth Hour created history as the largest voluntary action ever witnessed with participation across 128 countries and territories and every continent, including the world’s most recognized man-made marvels and natural wonders in a landmark environmental action.

About WWF
WWF is one of the world's largest and most experienced independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in more than 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

The event will cross the globe over 24 hours, from the first lights being dimmed in Fiji and New Zealand to lights being turned on again in Samoa. The transition will last longest in Russia, where 11 time zones are covered.


UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has pledged his support for Earth Hour saying: “Let us join together to celebrate this shared quest to protect the planet and ensure
human well-being. Let us use 60 minutes of darkness to help the world see the light.”


Resources.
How You Can Help


To learn more about how you can be involved
visit 
Earth Hour


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