Thursday, September 5, 2024
September 5, National Cheese Pizza Day
Garden Pizza with Mozzarella, Asparagus,
Peppers, Tomatoes, Mixed Greens
Garden Pizza with Mozzarella, Asparagus,
Peppers, Tomatoes, Mixed Greens
Wednesday, September 4, 2024
International Day of Charity and Hunger Action Month
The prime purpose of the International Day of Charity is to raise awareness and provide a common platform for charity-related activities all over the world for individuals, charitable, philanthropic, and volunteer organizations for their own purposes on the local, national, regional, and international level.
The following is a summary of the information found on the Feeding America Website.
Feeding America is a nationwide network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs that provide food and services to people each year. Together, we are the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief organization. Our network serves virtually every community in all 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico.
The process of getting food to hungry Americans requires a dynamic infrastructure and sophisticated management. Feeding America secures donations from national food and grocery manufacturers, retailers, shippers, packers and growers and from government agencies and other organizations. Feeding America then moves donated food and grocery product to member food banks.
The food banks, in turn, distribute food and grocery items through food pantries and meal programs that serve families, children, seniors, and others at risk of hunger. Last year alone, the Feeding America network distributed more than 3 billion meals to people in need.
Feeding America nationwide network of food banks also supports programs that improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses, and government all have a role in ending hunger.
Hunger can affect anyone. Feeding America has identified groups at risk, including young children, hunger in the suburbs, rural hunger, senior hunger, and the working poor.
Special on Childhood Hunger
Kate is a fictional character who represents the very situation in which many children find themselves when their parents lose their jobs. Find out how you can help this Hunger Action Month http://hungeractionmonth.org/
Hunger Action Month http://hungeractionmonth.org/
Macadamia Nuts: From Farm to Table
Macadamia nuts are a rich source of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), such as oleic acid and palmitoleic acids. Studies suggest eating macadamia nuts as part of a healthy meal plan seems to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and to raise high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.
Compared to other common edible seeds such as almonds and cashews, macadamias are high in fat and low in protein. Macadamia nuts have sweet taste. One ounce of nuts provide about 200 calories/1 ounce.
They contain numerous nutrients, minerals, antioxidants and vitamins that are essential for optimum health and wellness.
One ounce (28.3 g) of macadamia provides 2 g or 8% of daily-recommended levels of dietary fiber. Additionally, they are a very good source of phytosterols such as β-sitosterol. Macadamia nuts contain no cholesterol.
Macadamia nuts are free from gluten, it is a popular ingredient in the preparation of gluten-free foods. This provides a healthy alternative in people with wheat gluten allergy and celiac disease.
Macadamia Nut Side Effects & Safety
Macadamia nuts are safe as food. They can cause an allergic reaction, but this is unusual.
Special Precautions & Warnings
Macadamia nuts are toxic to dogs.
2. Eating Well, Tropical Popcorn Balls with Macadamia Nuts
2. Nutrition and You, Macadamia Nuts
3. Livestrong, Are Macadamia Nuts Healthy?
Tuesday, September 3, 2024
National Welsh Rarebit Day
Monday, September 2, 2024
National Nutrition Week in India - The Indian Cuisine
Vision
To achieve optimal nutrition of vulnerable segments of the population such as women of reproductive age, children, adolescent girls, and the elderly.
Mission
To enable food and nutrition security conducive to good health, growth & development and increase productivity through dedicated research, so as to achieve the national nutrition goals set by the government of India in the national nutrition policy.
Dietary Guidelines of Indians
2. Indian Cuisine, Wikipedia - Spices at a grocery shop in India
Sunday, September 1, 2024
World Coconut Day - Coconut Products
Coconut Flour
Coconut flour is gluten-free flour made from de-fatted dried and ground coconut meat. The high fiber content is nutritionally beneficial, but it can sometimes make it difficult to bake with. Coconut flour is a great way to add coconut flavor to baked goods. Coconut flour is popular with special diets, like Paleo and Keto
recipe from Sara Moulton‘s cookbook Home Cooking 101
2. What Is Coconut Meat, and Does It Have Benefits? Lauren Panoff #RDN
Labor Day Picnic Ideas - Food Safety
USDA Joins Grill Sergeants For Safe BBQ Advice
1. Eating Outdoors, Handling #FoodSafely #FDA http://bit.ly/2PlRids
Wednesday, August 28, 2024
National Sandwich Day - Endless Possibilities
August 29, More Herbs, Less Salt Day and
National Lemon Juice Day
National Lemon Juice Day
and/or vinegar to enhance the taste of your food.
The health benefits are life-long.
Herbs and Spices
Susan Bowerman, MS, RD, CSSD
Reading Labels
When you buy prepared and packaged foods, read the labels. You can tell the sodium content by looking at the Nutrition Facts panel of a food. Listed are the amount for sodium, in milligrams (mg), and the “% Daily Value.” Also read the ingredient list to watch for the words "soda" (referring to sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda), "sodium" and the symbol "Na" to see if the product contains sodium.
Salt and/or Sodium Descriptors
- Salt-Free: Meets requirements for "sodium-free."
- Sodium Free: Fewer than 5 milligrams sodium per serving.
- Very Low Sodium: 35 milligrams or less sodium per serving.
- Low Sodium: 140 milligrams or less per serving
- Reduced Sodium: At least 25 percent less sodium per serving.
- Unsalted: Has no salt added during processing. To use this term, the product it resembles must normally be processed with salt and the label must note that the food is not a sodium-free food if it does not meet the requirements for "sodium-free".
The FDA and USDA state an individual food that has the claim "healthy" must not exceed 480 mg sodium per reference amount. "Meal type" products must not exceed 600 mg sodium per labeled serving size.
Sodium and Hypertension.
In order for a food to make an Allowable Health Claim, it must contain a defined amount of nutrients. In relationship to sodium and Hypertension, the amount is 140 milligrams or less sodium per serving.
American Heart Association (AHA)
The American Heart Association recommends you choose and prepare foods with little or no salt to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Aim to eat less than 1,500 mg of sodium per day (less than 3/4 teaspoon of salt).
The AHA is working with federal agencies to identify ways to reduce the amount of sodium in the food supply. The association is encouraging food manufacturers and restaurants to reduce the amount of sodium in foods by 50 percent over a 10-year period. AHA will help Americans lower the amount of sodium they consume by the following strategies:
1. Reduce the amount of sodium in the food supply,
2. Make more healthy foods available (e.g., more fruits and vegetables); and
3. Provide consumers with education and decision-making tools to make better choices.
Tips for reducing sodium in the diet
1. Choose fresh, frozen or canned food items without added salts.
2. Select unsalted nuts or seeds, dried beans, peas, and lentils.
3. Limit salty snacks like chips and pretzels.
4. Avoid adding salt and canned vegetables to homemade dishes.
5. Select unsalted, lower sodium, fat-free broths, bouillons or soups.
6. Select fat-free or low-fat milk, low-sodium, low-fat cheeses, and low-fat yogurt.
7. Use spices and herbs to enhance the taste of your food.
8. Add fresh lemon juice instead of salt to fish and vegetables.
9. When dining out, ask for your dish to be prepared without salt.
10. Don’t use the salt shaker.
Monday, August 26, 2024
August 27, Banana Lovers Day: Nutrition, Selection, Storage, and Recipes
Dole explains the growing and planting of bananas.
Saturday, August 24, 2024
August 25, National Banana Split Day - Fruit Festival
Ingredients
1 Banana, split in half
1 Kiwifruit, peeled and sliced
4 Strawberries, sliced
1/4 cup Cherries, sliced
1/2 cup Orange Segments
1/2 cup Low Fat Ice Cream, optional
Wednesday, August 14, 2024
Preparing Safe Lunches
While children rely on teachers for daily lessons, making safe lunches falls squarely on caregivers. Unlike cafeteria workers who regularly take food safety training, most parents preparing lunch for their kids at home or taking it to school haven’t received any formal food safety instruction. Nutrition counts, too. The lunch you’re making satisfies the hunger pangs of busy kids and fuels their cognitive abilities. Studies have shown that proper nutrition improves students’ scores, memory capacities, motor skills, social skills, and language skills. Keep them well-fed and safe with the four steps to food safety – Clean, Separate, Cook, and Chill.
- Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
- Rub your hands together with soap. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
- Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
- Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
- Dry your hands using a clean towel.
Separate: Prevent cross-contamination by keeping raw meat and poultry away from ready-to-eat foods. When preparing perishable foods that require cutting (for example, raw bacon and raw chicken you plan to cook for salad), separate these items from fruits, vegetables, cheeses, and other foods to avoid cross-contamination.
- Cut up and prepare your raw ingredients to avoid cross-contamination when handling your ready-to-eat items for salads or other sides.
- Different colored cutting boards are a great reminder to prevent cross-contamination (you can use a green cutting board for fresh produce and another color for meat and poultry).
Cook: Have a food thermometer easily accessible to ensure you’re cooking to recommended safe internal temperatures:
- Cook whole cuts of meat, including beef and pork, to 145 degrees Fahrenheit and allow them to rest for at least 3 minutes before carving.
- Cook ground meats, like burgers and sausages, to 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Cook all chicken and turkey to 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Chill: When preparing lunch ahead of time, remember that perishable foods should not be placed in the Danger Zone—temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit—where bacteria multiply quickly and can make food unsafe.
- Ensure all perishable items are refrigerated within two hours of coming out of the oven or refrigerator.
- Discard food left out for more than two hours to prevent foodborne illness.
- If your child needs to carry their lunch, never pack perishable foods in a brown paper bag because they will be unsafe by lunchtime. Use an insulated, soft-sided lunch bag and add a frozen gel pack and a frozen juice box or bottle of water with the lunch.
These four steps – Clean, Separate, Cook and Chill – give parents and caregivers steps they can use to protect their children from food poisoning. Now that we’ve covered all the basics, you’re ready for the big test – hungry students!
Sunday, August 11, 2024
International Youth Day
Technologies like mobile devices, digital platforms, and emerging innovations like artificial intelligence are crucial in advancing the SDGs. Data generated from every digital interaction is fundamental to digital transformation, enabling evidence-based decision-making. It is estimated that digital technologies and data contribute to at least 70% of the 169 SDG targets, bringing about a profound impact across their economic, social, and environmental dimensions.
While challenges such as the digital divide persist, young people are often considered “digital natives” at the forefront of adopting and innovating with new technologies. They form the largest demographic of users and developers, shaping digital trends globally. As the 2030 deadline for the SDGs approaches, youth remain an essential demographic group in leveraging the transformative power of technologies to address global challenges.
Secretary-General Video Message:
International Youth Day 2024Thursday, August 8, 2024
The Journey of the Passion Fruit from Farm to Table
Cultivation and Farming: Passion fruit is typically grown in tropical and subtropical regions with warm climates. It requires well-drained soil, plenty of sunlight, and regular rainfall. Farming includes planting seeds or seedlings, supporting structures for vines to climb (such as trellises), and maintaining proper irrigation and nutrition.
Flowering and Pollination: Passion fruit vines produce intricate and beautiful flowers. Proper pollination is essential for fruit development. In some regions, native pollinators like bees play a crucial role, while manual pollination might be necessary in others.
Fruit Development and Harvesting: As the flowers are pollinated, they develop into green fruits that gradually mature into distinctive purple or yellow passion fruits. The harvest timing depends on factors like fruit color, size, and desired sweetness. Overripe fruits may fall from the vine and become damaged.
The Nutrition of the Passion Fruit

Harvesting: Passion fruits are harvested by hand. Workers carefully pluck ripe fruits from the vines to avoid damaging them. It's important to handle the fruits gently to prevent bruising.
Post-Harvest Handling: After harvesting, the fruits are sorted to remove damaged or unripe ones. They are then washed and sometimes treated with a mild disinfectant. Proper handling and storage help maintain the quality and extend the shelf life of the fruits.
Packaging and Transportation: Passion fruits are packed into crates or boxes, often lined with protective padding to prevent bruising during transit. Temperature control might be necessary to ensure the fruits arrive at their destination in good condition.
Distribution: Passion fruits are transported from the farm to distribution centers or wholesalers. From there, they are distributed to local markets and grocery stores and potentially even exported to other countries.
Retail and Consumption: Passion fruits are available for purchase in grocery stores, farmers' markets, and other retail outlets. Consumers can select ripe fruits based on appearance and aroma. The fruits can be eaten fresh, juiced, or used in various culinary applications, adding a tangy and tropical flavor to dishes and beverages.
Culinary Use: Passion fruits can be used in various ways, such as making juices, smoothies, desserts, sauces, and jams. The unique flavor profile of passion fruit adds a delightful and refreshing taste to a wide range of recipes.
2. Fresh Passion Fruit Recipes, Insanely Good
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