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).

Prepared by
http://www.dietitians-online.com/
http://www.weighing-success.com/
Wellness News (www.weighing-success.com/WellnessNews.html)
Sandra Frank, Ed.D, RDN, FAND
Jake Frank

March 20, Great American Meatout Day

About Meatout

Meatout is an international event exposing the public to the benefits of plant-based foods while promoting the availability and selection of alternatives to meat and dairy in mainstream grocery stores, restaurants, and catering operations. Meatout was launched in 1985 and is coordinated yearly by FARM, a national nonprofit and public interest organization. FARM advocates plant-based (vegan) diets to save animals, protect the environment, and improve health.

Recipe: Hummus with Peppers and Cucumbers Wrap

Meatout TV Ad

Meatout has grown to become the world's “largest annual grassroots diet education campaign”. Participants are asked to "kick the meat habit on March 20 (first day of spring) and explore a wholesome, diet of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

Meatout Facts:
•Over 30 million Americans have explored a meat-free diet.
•One in five teens thinks vegetarianism is "cool."
•National beef and veal consumption have dropped by 25 and 70%, respectively.
•Major manufacturers and retailers are marketing meat-free and dairy-free meals.
•Several national fast-food chains are offering veggie burgers and several major baseball parks are selling veggie dogs.

Meatout Mondays
Meatout Mondays were developed to keep the spirit of Meatout alive throughout the year. Those who sign up for Meatout Mondays pledge to eat compassionate plant-based foods every Monday. 

Paul McCartney sings the "Meat Free Monday Song."
Not one of his best, but a great message.

The Benefits of Meatout
"Kicking the meat habit" holds lasting benefits for consumer health, world hunger, resource conservation, environmental quality, and animal protection.

Kicking the meat habit reduces our risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, and other chronic diseases that cripple and kill nearly 1.4 million Americans annually.

Kicking the meat habit raises our energy level, lowers our food budget, and simplifies food preparation and cleanup.

Kicking the meat habit preserves our topsoil, water, and other food production resources vital to the survival of our children and their children.

Kicking the meat habit protects our forests, grasslands, and other wildlife habitats.

Kicking the meat habit saves animals from caging, crowding, deprivation, drugging, mutilation, manhandling, and agonizing slaughter. Each person who adopts a plant-based diet saves over 80 innocent animals each year. Over a lifetime, an individual can save more than 6,000 animals just by going vegan.

Resources
1. To learn more, visit the Meatout website.
2. The Vegan R.D.
3. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group
4. The Vegetarian Resource Group Blog 

Artichoke Adventures. Unlock the secrets of artichokes:

Artichoke Adventures. Unlock the secrets of artichokes.

A study conducted by the USDA shows artichokes contain a large amount of antioxidants, in the form of phytonutrients. Among the most powerful phytonutrients are Cynarin and Silymarin, which have strong positive effects on the liver. 

Artichoke Harvest

Serving an Artichoke

Resources:

Ocean Mist Farms. Since 1924, Ocean Mist Farms has provided multiple generations of customers with Artichokes and vegetables and is still family-owned. Called the California Artichoke and Vegetable Growers Corporation until 1995, Ocean Mist Farms is headquartered in Castroville, California - “The Artichoke Capital of the World” and home of the annual Castroville Artichoke Festival.

Artichoke Basics

International Women's Day

"Each year, International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8. Thousands of events occur not just on this day but throughout March to mark women's economic, political, and social achievements. Organizations, governments, charities, educational institutions, women's groups, corporations, and the media celebrate the day. Many groups worldwide choose different themes each year that are relevant to global and local gender issues.

2025 Theme: “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.”

This year’s theme calls for action to unlock equal rights, power, and opportunities for all and a feminist future where no one is left behind. Central to this vision is empowering the next generation—youth, particularly young women and adolescent girls—as catalysts for lasting change.

Imagine a gender-equal world.
A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination.
A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
A world where difference is valued and celebrated.
Together, we can forge women's equality.
Collectively, we can all #BreakTheBias.
Celebrate women's achievements. Raise awareness against bias. 

International Women’s Day

Almonds: A Super Seed

Almonds: A Super Seed
Health Benefits of Almonds
 

Nutrition

Portion Control

Almond Safety

Almond pasteurization became mandatory for the California almond industry on September 1, 2007, and was implemented on a voluntary basis over the previous two years. All almonds must be pasteurized before being sold to consumers in North America.

Pasteurization

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), along with a technical review panel comprised of almond scientific experts, is responsible for evaluating and approving the treatment processes that demonstrate effectiveness in achieving a reduction of possible contamination in almonds while not impacting their quality and sensory attributes. To date, FDA has approved oil roasting, dry roasting, blanching, steam processing, and propylene oxide (PPO) processes as acceptable forms of pasteurization for almonds. Organic almonds will be pasteurized using treatments, such as steam pasteurization, that meet the USDA Organic Program’s national standards. Other forms of pasteurization continue to be researched, evaluated and tested. ABC worked over several years with leading experts and weighed all perspectives and issues in developing this industry-wide pasteurization plan.

Recipe: Strawberry-Spinach-Almond Salad
Recipe by Southern Living
Nutrition Profile by @DietitianOnline 

Resources

Almond Board of California

Almonds, From Wikipedia

World Cancer Day

WHAT IS WORLD CANCER DAY?
World Cancer Day takes place every year on February 4 and is the singular initiative under which the entire world can unite together in the fight against the global cancer epidemic. 

World Cancer Day is an initiative of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), through which the aim is to help save millions of preventable deaths each year by raising awareness and education about cancer and pressing governments and individuals across the world to take action against the disease. 

World Cancer Day is a chance to improve general knowledge around cancer and dismissing misconceptions about the disease. From a global level, the message focuses on the following four myths.

Myth 1: Cancer is just a health issue.
Truth: Cancer is not just a health issue. It has wide-reaching social, economic, development, and human rights implications.

Myth 2: Cancer is a disease of the wealthy, elderly and developed countries.
Truth: Cancer is a global epidemic It affects all ages and socioeconomic groups, with developing countries bearing a disproportionate burden.

Myth 3: Cancer is a death sentence.
Truth: Many cancers that were once considered a death sentence can now be cured and for many more people, their cancer can now be treated effectively.

Myth 4: Cancer is my fate.
Truth: With the right strategies, a third of the most common cancers can be prevented.

World Cancer Day

A global event taking place every year on 4 February, World Cancer Day unites the world’s population in the fight against cancer. Taking place under the tagline ‘We Can. I Can.’, World Cancer Day 2016-2018 will explore how everyone – as a collective or as individuals – can do their part to reduce the global burden of cancer. Read more about World Cancer Day and how to get involved on www.worldcancerday.org.

A truly global event, World Cancer Day unites the world’s population in the fight against cancer.

Taking place under the tagline ‘We Can. I Can.’, World Cancer Day 2016-2018 will explore how everyone – as a collective or as individuals – can do their part to reduce the global burden of cancer.

Read more about World Cancer Day and how to get involved here.

Did you know that each year, over 12.7 million people receive a cancer diagnosis and 8.2 million people die from the disease? If no action is taken, the worldwide cancer burden is expected to reach 26 million new diagnoses and 17 million deaths by the year 2030, with the most rapid increases occurring in low- and middle-income countries. 

It’s not all bad news as 30-40% of cancers can be prevented, and one-third of cancers can be cured through early diagnosis and treatment. UICC aims to help people understand how to take steps to prevent cancer and live a healthier and longer life.

A Healthy Diet and Physical Activity

A healthy diet and regular adequate physical activity are of major importance to preventing cancer and maintaining good health throughout life.

*Be as lean as possible without becoming underweight.
*Be physically active for at least 30 minutes every day.
*Avoid sugary drinks. Limit consumption of energy-dense foods. (particularly processed foods high in added sugar, or low in fiber, or high in fat). 
*Eat more of a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and beans.
*Limit consumption of red meats (such as beef, pork and lamb) and avoid processed meats. 
*If consumed at all, limit alcoholic drinks to 2 for men and 1 for women a day. 
*Limit consumption of salty foods and foods processed with salt (sodium). 
*Don’t use supplements to protect against cancer.

Quit Tobacco 
Tobacco kills more than 5 million people a year, an average of one person every six seconds. You can prevent cancer when you stop smoking, chewing, and sniffing tobacco. Try to avoid exposure to passive smoke to further reduce your risk. 

Sun Exposure 
Excessive exposure to UV radiation (either from the sun or from artificial sources such as sun beds) is associated with accelerated skin aging and different types of skin cancer. Stop using sun beds and avoid excessive sun exposure. Remember to use sunscreens and protective clothing as an effective cancer prevention method.

For additional preventative measures, visit World Cancer Day – Union for International Cancer Control (UICC).

National Handwashing Awareness Month Resources

A Guide to Handwashing

Will Sawyer, MD, is a Family Physician and the creator of the Henry the Hand Foundation and Henry the Hand Champion Handwasher.

Goal: To improve health by making us more aware of our hands' role in spreading disease.

Mission: To propagate Henry the Hand's 4 Principles of Hand Awareness throughout the United States and the world!
1. WASH your hands when they are dirty and BEFORE eating.
2. DO NOT cough into your hands.
3. DO NOT sneeze into your hands.
4. Above all, DO NOT put your fingers into your eyes, nose, or mouth!

Henry the Hand Champion
Handwashing School Visit

Dr. Will has created a wonderful website for children and educators. The site contains posters, coloring books, school programs, tips on Food Safety, and a lot more. Visit Henry the Handwashing Champion.

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, cutting deaths from diarrhea by almost half and deaths from acute respiratory infections by one-quarter. A vast change in handwashing behavior is critical to meeting the Millennium Development Goal of reducing deaths among children under 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 also 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

It's In Your Hands

Resources and References

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

2. Global Handwashing Day

3. Partnership for Food Safety Education, Fight BAC!

4. The Scrub Club is a fun, interactive, and educational Website that teaches children how to wash their hands properly. The site contains interactive games, academic music, downloadable activities for kids, educational materials for teachers, and program information for parents.

5. Healthy Schools, Healthy People is a joint initiative between the American Cleaning Institute (ACI) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) dedicated to supporting school systems nationwide with tools to help reinforce hand hygiene and cleaning practices to prevent the spread of infectious disease and reduce related absenteeism.

   

updated 12/9/2024

December Health, Nutrition, and Food Events

Current News, Resources, and Events in Nutrition, Food, Health, Environment, Safety, and Disability Rights. Encourages awareness and inspires ideas for Journalists, Educators, Consumers and Health Professionals. Wellness News is up-dated daily. To view the entire Newsletter online click here .

December Highlights

December Produce

A Happy & Healthy Holiday from

All of Us at Dietitians-Online and Wellness News

Thank you for your support.

Have a happy, healthy, and safe holiday.

Sandra and Jake.

Prepared by
http://www.dietitians-online.com/
http://www.weighing-success.com/
Sandra Frank, Ed.D, RDN, LN
Jake Frank

World Kindness Day Health Benefits of Kindness

Random Act of Kindness: A selfless act performed by a person or persons wishing to either assist or cheer up an individual or, in some cases, an animal. There is no reason other than to make people smile or be happier. Random acts of kindness are encouraged by various communities, either spontaneous or planned in advance.

Health Benefits of Kindness

The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation

Established in 1995 as a nonprofit organization, The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation is a resource for people committed to spreading kindness. The Random Acts of Kindness™ Foundation inspires people to practice kindness and to “pass it on” to others. They provide a wide variety of materials on their website, including activity ideas, lesson plans, project plans, teacher’s guide, project planning guide, publicity guide and workplace resources - all free of charge. 

The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation is the United States delegate to the World Kindness Movement, an organization that includes various nations. People in these countries promote kindness within their countries’ borders and are creating a global network of kindness and compassion. As people from different cultures and from all walks of life are joining to spread kindness, they are creating a powerful, synergistic action throughout the world.

Reach Out and Touch Somebody's Hand

Studies have shown acts of kindness can result in physical and mental health benefits.
• Kindness can bring a sense of richness and fulfillment to our lives, and promote good health and longevity.
• Helping others can decrease the effect of diseases.
• After performing an act of kindness, many experience a feeling of euphoria followed by a period of calm.
• Acts of kindness have been shown to reduce feelings of stress, depression, loneliness, overeating, etc.
• Helping others increases self-worth, happiness, and optimism.
• A person feels more energetic after performing an act of kindness
• A more optimistic and happier outlook on life

Kindness benefits us and has a positive effect on the community.

Try Some Kindness (The Letter K Song)

As people tap into their own generous human spirit and share kindness with one another, they discover for themselves the power of kindness to effect positive change in their lives and the lives around them. When kindness is expressed, healthy relationships are created, community connections are nourished, and people are inspired to pass kindness on.

Wild Food Day October 28

For thousands of years, people have been eating foods grown in the wild; such as wild greens, mushrooms, roots, fruits, berries, vegetables, and flowers.

11 Edible Mushrooms in the U.S.
Can you tell which Mushrooms are Safe to Eat?

AZ of Bushcraft (E for Edible wild food)

How to identify and eat wild plants and
how to cook Fish over an open fire.

Today, the gathering of wild foods has become increasingly popular.  People consider wild foods healthier and eco-friendly.

Resources:
1. Edible Wild Food
2. How to Find Wild Edible Plants