November, Sweet Potato Awareness Month: Stuffed Sweet Potato with Cranberry-Walnut Relish

Recipe: Stuffed Sweet Potato with Cranberry-Walnut Relish,
 serves 2
1 medium Sweet Potato
1 tablespoon Brown Sugar 
2 teaspoons Unsalted Margarine or Butter, room temperature 
1/8 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon 
Dash Ground Nutmeg 
1/4 cup Cranberry-Walnut Relish
2, 1 oz slice Raisin Bread
2 teaspoon Honey

Preheat oven to 400° F. Pierce the sweet potato several times with a fork.   Place sweet potato on baking sheet lined with foil. Bake for about 45 minutes or until soft. 

Cut the sweet potato in half lengthwise. Scoop out potato and place in a small bowl. Leave the potato skin intact. Add unsalted butter or margarine and the spices to the sweet potato and mash. 

Divide the mashed sweet potato in two and add back to the potato skins. Place on baking sheet and heat for about 10 minutes or until browned. Top each stuffed sweet potato half with 1 to 2 tablespoons of cranberry-walnut relish.

Nutrition Information

Sweet Potatoes are high in vitamin A, high in vitamin C, good source of dietary fiber and potassium. They are naturally fat-free; saturated fat free; low sodium; and cholesterol free.

Resources

1. Fruits and Veggies, More Matters: Sweet Potatoes

2. EatingWell, Healthy Sweet Potato Recipes

World Olive Tree Day

The history of olive trees is deeply rooted in ancient civilizations, tracing back thousands of years. Originating in the Mediterranean region, mainly present-day Greece and Syria, the olive tree symbolized peace, wisdom, and prosperity.

There are numerous varieties of olives worldwide, each with a unique flavor profile, size, and color. The exact number can be challenging to determine due to regional variations, local cultivars, and ongoing developments in olive cultivation. However, here are some popular olive varieties:

Arbequina: Small and brown, these olives are known for their mild, fruity flavor. They are commonly used to produce high-quality olive oil.


Kalamata: Large, dark purple to black olives with a distinctive almond shape. Hailing from Greece, they are often brine-cured and used in salads and Mediterranean dishes.


Manzanilla: Originating from Spain, these small, green olives taste slightly nutty and briny. They are frequently found in tapenades and as table olives.

Picual: A common variety in Spain, these olives are known for their high oil content and peppery flavor. They are often used to produce extra virgin olive oil.

Picholine: Originating from France, these green olives are elongated and have a mild, slightly sweet taste. They are often used as table olives or in cocktails.

Gordal: Hailing from Spain, these large, green olives are often stuffed with ingredients like pimento or garlic. They have a meaty texture and mild taste.

Nyon: Small, black olives from France, often used to produce high-quality olive oil. They have a rich, fruity flavor.

Hojiblanca: Another Spanish variety, these olives are medium-sized and round. They are often used to produce oil and table olives, known for their fruity taste.

Cerignola: In Italian, these large, bright green olives have a mild, sweet taste. They are often served as a snack or appetizer.

Mission: These black olives are famous in the United States, often found in cans or jars. They have a mild, slightly sweet flavor.

These are just a few examples, and many more local and regional varieties exist, each contributing to the rich tapestry of flavors in the world of olives.

National Leftover Day Do you have Thanksgiving leftovers?

Leftovers

Recipe: Thanksgiving Turkey Leftover Sandwich 

Ingredients
3 ounces Roasted Turkey, sliced
3 Tablespoons Cranberry Sauce
3 Tablespoons Homemade Stuffing
2 slices Whole Grain Bread

Leftovers
Refrigerate or freeze leftovers within two hours. Keep your freezer at 0°F and the fridge below 40°F. Foods held at temperatures above 40 °F for more than 2 hours should not be consumed. Use an appliance thermometer to monitor temperatures.

Use the chart below as a guide.

To learn more about food safety, visit http://www.homefoodsafety.org/

For the Refrigerator Door

Food Safety Musical - Don't Be a Gambler

National Cashew Day: Nutrition, Serving Ideas, and Recipes

Cashews are a good source of protein, copper, magnesium, phytonutrients, antioxidants, and heart-friendly unsaturated fats.

Nutrition Information

Recipes and Serving Suggestions

1. Eating Well, Healthy Cashew Recipes

2. Snack: eat alone; mix with other nuts and/or dried fruits
3. Add cashews to sauteed vegetables or salad greens
4. Sauté cashews with shrimp, beef or chicken
5. Add to hot cereals
6. Roast cashews
7. Use cashew butter to make a sauce for fish, vegetables, tofu, or rice.

Nutritional Analysis Services

Ensure accurate and cost effective nutritional analysis for your recipes utilizing an extensive research database and 25 years experience. A great service for the Recipe Bloggers, Media, Cookbook Publishers, Writers, Chefs, and Recipe Websites. Your readers will enjoy and benefit from the Nutrition information.

For more information, visit Dietitians-Online Nutritional Analysis Services

contact:
Sandra Frank, Ed.D, RDN, FAND
recipenews@gmail.com
954-294-6300

National Sundae Day - Frozen Vanilla Greek Yogurt with a Variety of Fruit

Ingredients
1/2 cup (102 g) Frozen Vanilla Greek Yogurt
Variety of Fresh Fruits. 1 Tablespoon of each: Orange, Strawberries, Blueberries, Kiwi, Raspberries, & Mango

Happy Birthday Sesame Street Super Healthy Heroes

Sesame Street premiered on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) stations on November 10, 1969. 

Sesame Street: Healthy Habits with Grover PSA| #CaringForEachOther

To celebrate Sesame Street's commitment and dedication to children's education we created our Sesame Street Friends out of nutritious foods. Can you find the Artichoke Leaves, Blackberries, Blueberries, Broccoli, Celery, Corn, Cottage Cheese, Eggs, Figs, Grapefruits, Green Beans, Guavas, Mushrooms, Onions, Orange, Parsley, Prunes, Raisins, Raspberries, Red Peppers, Strawberries, Tomatoes, and Watermelon?

The Sesame Street sign is made from cottage cheese,
spinach, corn, and white beans.

Do you know other foods that are Green?

Can you name the foods that match
the letters in Happy Birthday?

To learn more about the Sesame Workshop, visit http://www.sesameworkshop.org/. Sesame Street is a production of Sesame Workshop, a nonprofit educational organization making a meaningful difference in the lives of children worldwide by developing innovative and engaging educational content delivered in various ways.

National Family Caregivers Month

National Family Caregivers Month celebrates caregivers everywhere. What caregivers do every day requires superpowers, and though we may not tell them often enough – the care they give matters to all of us.

We know you're focused on the health and well-being of others, but it's important to remember to take care of you. Caring for yourself isn't selfish; it's an essential part of making sure you can give your best every day.

Staying strong as a caregiver

*Stay healthy with proper nutrition

*Eating healthy is the best way to maintain your strength, energy, stamina, and immune system. It's also one of the most powerful things you can do to stay positive.

*Good nutrition for your care receiver helps make care easier

*Up to half of all older adults are at risk for malnutrition; that's why it's important to make sure those you care for have a healthy diet. It helps prevent muscle loss and supports Rest. Recharge. Respite.

*Make sure to take some time away to re-energize or ask for help. Caregiving can be stressful, and taking a breather ensures that you'll be ready to take on the challenges Find out if you and your care receiver are getting the right amount of nutrients. Complete this nutrition assessment and see how you are doing.

10 Tips for Family Caregivers

1. Seek support from other caregivers.  You are not alone!
2. Take care of your own health to be strong enough to care for your loved one.
3. Accept offers of help and suggest specific things people can do to help you.
4. Learn how to communicate effectively with doctors.
5. Caregiving is hard work so take respite breaks often.
6. Watch out for signs of depression, and don't delay getting professional help when needed.
7. Be open to new technologies to help you care for your loved one.
8. Organize medical information so it's up-to-date and easy to find.
9. Make sure legal documents are in order.
10. Give yourself credit for doing the best you can in one of the toughest jobs there is!

nutritionDay - Improve Patient Safety and Quality of Care

The mission of nutritionDay is to improve patient safety and quality of care by raising awareness and increasing knowledge about disease-related malnutrition.

Malnutrition - Another Weight Problem

nutritionDay 
Mission: To improve patient safety and quality of care by raising awareness and increasing knowledge about disease-related malnutrition.

Vision: To provide the healthcare community, including acute care facilities, rehabilitation facilities, home healthcare, and nursing homes, with a full spectrum of resources to assess and ultimately minimize healthcare-related malnutrition.

To learn more about nutritionDay in the U.S. 

Website: www.nutritionDayUS.org  

The worldwide website for nutritionDay is at http://www.nutritionday.org/

The websites contain valuable resources to improve patient safety and quality of care.

Cook Something Bold and Pungent Day - Chili with Gorgonzola Cheese

Chili with Gorgonzola Cheese

Ingredients/Directions
1 cup Chili with Beans
1 Tablespoon Gorgonzola Cheese

Heat chili. Top with cheese.

Nutrition Information

Nutritional Analysis Services

Ensure accurate and cost-effective nutritional analysis for your recipes and menus utilizing an extensive research database. A great service for the Media, Cookbook Publishers, Writers, Chefs, Recipe Websites, and Blogs. Your readers will enjoy and benefit from the Nutrition information.

For more information, visit Dietitians-Online Nutritional Analysis Services
contact:
Sandra Frank, Ed.D, RDN, FAND
recipenews@gmail.com  
954-293-6300

Election Day Sandwich

Ingredients

2 slices thin Sourdough Bread

2 Tbsp Cream Cheese, low fat

7 yogurt-covered Raisins

1/2 cup Blueberries

4 Raspberries

2 Strawberries

Nutrition Information

Nutritional Analysis Services

Ensure accurate and cost effective nutritional analysis for your recipes and menus utilizing an extensive research database. A great service for the Media, Cookbook Publishers, Writers, Chefs, Recipe Websites and Blogs. Your readers will enjoy and benefit from the Nutrition information.

For more information, visit Dietitians-Online Nutrition Analysis Services

contact:
Sandra Frank, Ed.D, RDN, LN
recipenews@gmail.com
954-294-6300

National Candy Day - Tips to Decrease Added Sugars

Cut Back on Your Kid's Sweet Treats

10 tips to decrease added sugars

Limit the amount of foods and beverages with added sugars your kids eat and drink. If you don’t buy them, your kids won’t get them very often. Sweet treats and sugary drinks have a lot of calories but few nutrients. Most added sugars come from sodas, sports drinks, energy drinks, juice drinks, cakes, cookies, ice cream, candy, and other desserts.

1.    Serve small portions. It’s not necessary to get rid of all sweets and desserts. Show kids that a small amount of treats can go a long way. Use smaller bowls and plates for these foods. Have them share a candy bar or split a large cupcake.

2.    Sip smarter. Soda and other sugar-sweetened drinks contain a lot of sugar and are high in calories. Offer water when kids are thirsty.

3.    Use the check-out lane that does not display candy.  Most grocery stores will have a candy-free check-out lane to help moms out. Waiting in a store line makes it easy for children to ask for the candy that is right in front of their faces to tempt them.

4.    Choose not to offer sweets as rewards.  By offering food as a reward for good behavior, children learn to think that some foods are better than other foods. Reward your child with kind words and comforting hugs, or give them non-food items, like stickers, to make them feel special.

5.    Make fruit the everyday dessert.  Serve baked apples, pears, or enjoy a fruit salad. Or, serve yummy frozen juice bars (100% juice) instead of high-calorie desserts.

6.    Make food fun. Sugary foods that are marketed to kids are advertised as “fun foods.” Make nutritious foods fun by preparing them with your child’s help and being creative together. Create a smiley face with sliced bananas and raisins. Cut fruit into fun and easy shapes with cookie cutters.

7.    Encourage kids to invent new snacks. Make your own snack mixes from dry whole-grain cereal, dried fruit, and unsalted nuts or seeds. Provide the ingredients and allow school-aged kids to choose what they want in their “new” snack.

8.    Play detective in the cereal aisle. Show kids how to find the amount of total sugars on the Nutrition facts label in various cereals. Challenge them to compare cereals they like and select the one with the lowest amount of sugar.

9.    Make treats “treats,” not everyday foods. Treats are great once in a while. Just don’t make treat foods an everyday thing. Limit sweet treats to special occasions.

10. If kids don’t eat their meal, they don’t need sweet “extras”. Keep in mind that candy or cookies should not replace foods that are not eaten at meal time.

Celebrate National Farm to School Month

The National Farm to School Network advocated for the creation of National Farm to School Month and now organizes the annual celebration in October. National Farm to School Month was designated by Congress in 2010 to demonstrate the growing importance of farm-to-school programs as a means to improve child nutrition, support local economies and educate children about the origins of food.

The National Farm to School Network has also developed resources and activities to promote Farm to School Month in schools, communities and media outlets. All of these tools are available on farmtoschool.org.

      

Here are some ways you can help us get the word out about Farm to School Month:

   • #F2SMonth - Use this hashtag in your social

Media Messages

   •@FarmtoSchool - follow on Twitter

   • Follow on Facebook

Learn more about the movement throughout October. They will be sharing stories and information on their blog about how farm to school is empowering children and their families to make informed food choices and contributing to their communities. 

The resource database is home to even more information and includes searchable tags for Farm to School Month as well as topics like farm to preschool, school gardens and procurement.

Celebrate National Farm to School Month

Many farm to school programs begin with a small activity generating interest and engages the whole community.

Organizations and Businesses
• Become an official Farm to School Month partner! Partners commit to using their communications channels to spread the word about Farm to School Month. Suggested messaging and weekly updates will be provided by NFSN. Contact: info@farmtoschool.org

   • Show your support for Farm to School Month by becoming an official sponsor! Contact: info@farmtoschool.org

Teachers

   • Plan nutrition education activities, such as Harvest of the Month, featuring a local food product that is in season.

   • Connect instructional school gardens and garden based learning activities to the curriculum.

   • Organize farm tours or trips to the local farmers’ market.

   • Send information about Farm to School Month to parents.

School food service professionals

   • Promote Farm to School Month on the school menu and in the cafeteria. Find logos, posters and more at farmtoschool.org

   • Do a taste test of local products or feature one item for lunch, breakfast or snacks.

   • Create a farm-to-school salad bar using local products.

Farmers

   • Connect with your local school and offer to conduct a classroom session during October or offer to host a visit to your farm.

   • Promote Farm to School Month on your farm or at your farmers’ market booth with posters and other materials, which can be downloaded or ordered from farmtoschool.org.

Families

   • Visit your local farmers’ market. Buy something you’ve never tried before, cook it and share with your family and friends.

   • Cook with seasonal products as much as possible. Find out what products are grown in your region and when. Most State Departments of Agriculture or Buy Fresh Buy Local chapters can provide you with a regional crop calendar.
   • Volunteer at your local school to support a school garden or classroom educational activity.

Resource:
To learn more, visit the National Farm to School website.

Baked Stuffed Apple

Baked Stuffed Apple

Yield 2 servings

Ingredients 
2 medium apples 
1/2 cup bran flakes 
1/4 cup applesauce, unsweetened
1 Tbsp raisins 
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, ground 
1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Directions 
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Core and slightly hollow out the apples with a spoon, leaving the bottom of the apples intact to create a well for the filling. Place the apples in a pan.
3. In a bowl, combine the bran flakes, applesauce, raisins, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice. Fill and top each apple with the cereal mixture.
4. Bake for 40 minutes or until the sides of the apples are soft and easily pierced with a knife.

Nutrition Information

U.S. Apple Association Members

National Apple Day: Health Benefits and Recipes

Health Benefits
Apples are a fruit rich in antioxidants and a good source of fiber. Quercetin, an antioxidant found in apples, may inhibit lung cancer. Pectin, found in apples, helps treat diarrhea and constipation by adding bulk to the stool. Other benefits being studied include treatments for diabetes and heart disease, lowering blood pressure and LDL levels, reducing risks of Alzheimer’s, and decreasing bone fractures.

Apple seeds should never be eaten. They contain the poison cyanide.

Let’s not forget the peel. The apple peel contains ursolic acid, a chemical that may prevent muscle wasting.

There may be some truth to “An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away”.

Apples: From Farm to Table

Recipe: Baked Sliced Apples

Yield: 2 servings

Ingredients
2 Apples, cored and sliced
1 Tbsp Lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon Vanilla
1/2 cup Lemon-Lime Soda, diet
1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon, ground
1/2 cup Bran Flakes
1/2 cup Applesauce, unsweetened

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375°F. In a mixing bowl, combine apples, lemon juice, vanilla, and lemon-lime soda. Toss to combine.
2 Layer sliced apples in a baking pan.
3 Combine cinnamon, bran flakes, and applesauce. Place mixture over apples.
4. Bake for 45 minutes or until apples are tender.
5. Serve with low-fat vanilla yogurt or ice cream.

References and Resources
1. U.S. Apple Association
2. Healthy Apple Recipes to Keep You Warm & Cozy This Fall, EatingWell
 

Nutritional Analysis Services
Ensure accurate and cost-effective nutritional analysis and food nutrition facts labels for your recipes and menus utilizing an extensive research database. A great service for the Media, Cookbook Publishers, Writers, Chefs, Recipe Websites and Blogs. Your readers will enjoy and benefit from the Nutrition information.

For more information, visit Dietitians-Online Nutritional Analysis Services.

Contact:
Sandra Frank, Ed.D, RDN, LN, FAND
recipenews@gmail.com
954-294-6300