National Johnny Appleseed Day

John Chapman (September 26, 1774 – March 18, 1845), called Johnny Appleseed, was an American pioneer nurseryman who introduced apple trees to large parts of Pennsylvania, Ontario, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, as well as the northern counties of present-day West Virginia. He became an American legend while still alive, due to his kind, generous ways, his leadership in conservation, and the symbolic importance he attributed to apples.

The Story of Johnny Appleseed

Johnny Appleseed, Wikipedia 

National Lobster Day - Nutrition and Recipes

Suggestions on how to Eat Lobster to stay
Healthy and Avoid a Mess (or make a mess)

*No Butter and No Cream
*Ask for Lemon, Olive Oil, and Dijon Mustard
and Make Your Own Dressing.

*Wear A Bib

Lobster Facts
From Atlantic Offshore Lobstermen’s Association (AOLA)

The difference between a hard shell and soft shell lobster.  Lobsters will periodically shed their shells as they grow. This can happen as many as 25 times before they are 6-7 years old; then males shed every year and mature, females every two years. When lobsters become very large molting is less frequent. After they shed they have a paper-thin shell, which can take up to two months to harden and are called soft-shell, new shell, or shedders. The debate goes on as to which is most tasty, though the soft-shell is definitely easier to crack!

Lobsters do not have vocal cords. They do not scream when being cooked.

The teeth of the lobster are in its stomach. The stomach is located a very short distance from the mouth, and the food is actually chewed in the stomach between three grinding surfaces that look like molar surfaces, called the "gastric mill".

Besides the greenish-brown colored lobsters, there are also rare blue, yellow, red and white ones. Except for the white ones, they all turn red when cooked.

A 2-pound female lobster usually carries approximately 8000 eggs. A 9-pound female may carry more than 100,000 eggs. The female carries the eggs inside for 9 to 12 months, and then for another 9 to 12 months externally attached to the swimmerets under her tail.

When the eggs hatch, the larvae will float near the surface for 4 to 6 weeks. The few that survive will settle to the bottom and continue to develop as baby lobsters. From every 50,000 eggs, only 2 lobsters are expected to survive to legal size. It takes 5 to 7 years for a lobster to grow to legal size in the ocean. A lobster at legal size will weigh approximately 1 pound.

Lobster Cooking and Eating

The Lobster and the Beer,
A Story of Survival

   

National Cholesterol Education Month - What You Need to Know

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance your body needs. But when you have too much in your blood, it can build up on the walls of your arteries and form blockages. This can lead to heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.



There are two kinds of cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). HDL is also called "good" cholesterol. LDL is called "bad" cholesterol. When we talk about high cholesterol, we are talking about "bad" LDL cholesterol.

Seventy-one million American adults have high cholesterol, but only one-third of them have the condition under control.1 September is National Cholesterol Education Month—a good time to resolve to get your cholesterol screened.

Screening

Screening is the key to detecting high cholesterol. Because high cholesterol does not have symptoms, many people do not know their cholesterol is too high. Your doctor can do a simple blood test to check your cholesterol level.

The National Cholesterol Education Program recommends that adults aged 20 years or older have their cholesterol checked every 5 years.

You may need to have your cholesterol checked more often if any of the following statements apply to you:

· Your total cholesterol is 200 mg/dL or higher.

· You are a man older than age 45 or a woman older than age 50.

· Your HDL cholesterol is lower than 40 mg/dL.

· You have other risk factors for heart disease and stroke.

The Healthy People 2020 objective is to have 82% of the population screened. The number of people who said they were screened for cholesterol between 2005-2009 increased from 73% to 76%, only a handful of states met the 82% Healthy People 2020 objective.

Prevention and Treatment of High Cholesterol

Make lifestyle changes by:

·   Eating a healthy diet. Avoid saturated fats and trans fats, which tend to raise cholesterol levels. Other types of fats, such as polyunsaturated fats, can lower blood cholesterol levels. Eating fiber also can help lower cholesterol.

·   Exercising regularly. Physical activity can help lower cholesterol. The Surgeon General recommends that adults engage in moderate-intensity exercise for 2 hours and 30 minutes every week.

·   Maintaining a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese can raise your cholesterol levels. Losing weight can help lower your cholesterol.

·   Not smoking. If you smoke, quit as soon as possible.

Be sure to follow your doctor's instructions and stay on your medications, if prescribed, to control your cholesterol.

For more information about cholesterol and how you can prevent high cholesterol or keep it in check, see "Your Guide to Lowering Your Cholesterol with TLC" from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Reference
CDC, Cholesterol

 

National Family Meal Month and Family Day: a Day to Eat Dinner With Your Children

Family Day—A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children™ is a national movement promoting parental engagement as a tool to help keep kids substance-free. Family Day began as a grassroots initiative and has grown to become a nationwide celebration. In 2010, President Obama, all the Governors, and over 1,000 Mayors and County Executives proclaimed and supported Family Day!

More than a decade of research by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University has consistently found that the more often kids eat dinner with their families, the less likely they are to smoke, drink or use drugs.

Dinners Make A Difference! While there are no silver bullets – substance abuse can strike any family regardless of ethnicity, affluence, age, or gender – the parental engagement fostered at the dinner table can be a simple, effective tool to help prevent substance abuse in kids.

Join the Movement - National Family Meals Month

Family mealtime is an ageless tradition shared by people all around the world. Eating dinner together keeps the doors of communication open. It's a perfect time to show your children they are your priority. Studies have shown children who eat dinner with their families are less likely to use alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs and more likely to develop good eating habits.

Sesame Street: Eat Together!


Quick and Easy Meals to
Bring Families Together at Meal Time

To learn more about Family Day, visit:
Website. Family Day – A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children™

Website: Informed Families - Family Day is a Day to Eat Dinner With Your Children

International Day of Peace

International Day of Peace
The International Day of Peace ("Peace Day") allows individuals, organizations, and nations to create practical acts of peace on a shared date. It was established by a United Nations resolution in 1981 to coincide with the opening of the General Assembly. The first Peace Day was celebrated in September 1982.

In 2002, the General Assembly officially declared September 21 as the permanent date for the International Day of Peace. By creating the International Day of Peace, the UN devoted itself to worldwide peace and encouraged all of mankind to cooperate for this goal. During the discussion of the U.N. Resolution that established the International Day of Peace, it was suggested that:

"Peace Day should be devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples…This day will serve as a reminder to all people that our organization, with all its limitations, is a living instrument in the service of peace and should serve all of us here within the organization as a constantly pealing bell reminding us that our permanent commitment, above all interests or differences of any kind, is to peace."

International Day of Peace

The International Day of Peace,
observed each year on 21 September 

“Together, let us stand up against bigotry
and for human rights.
Together, let us build bridges. Together,
let us transform fear into hope.”
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres

2024 Theme: Cultivating a Culture of Peace
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the UN General Assembly’s adoption of the Declaration on a Culture of Peace. The declaration reminds us that peace is more than the absence of conflict – it requires active participation, dialogue, and mutual understanding.

In today’s world of rising tensions, the values laid out in 1999 are more important than ever: respect for life, human rights, non-violence, and a commitment to dialogue over confrontation.

As UNESCO’s Constitution states, “wars begin in the minds of men,” and so must the defenses of peace. The International Day of Peace isn’t just about ceasefires – it’s about recognizing our shared humanity and cultivating peace through education and cooperation across generations and nations.

Our survival as a global community depends on it.

September is Better Breakfast Month

*Children who eat breakfast are less likely to be overweight.

*Children who eat breakfast have more energy.

*Children who eat breakfast concentrate better.

*Children who eat breakfast have higher grades in school.

*Children who skip breakfast may have learning and behavioral problems.

*Children who skip breakfast may develop nutritional deficiencies.

*Children who eat breakfast are Alert, Energized and Ready for a Brand New Day.

Breakfast Ideas

The presentation encourages food exploration 

A Special Thank You to Raffi and the
Centre for Child Honouring for
providing permission to use
"Rise and Shine" to encourage a Healthy Breakfast.

"Raffi" (Raffi Cavoukian), C.M., O.B.C.

Founder and Chair, Centre for Child Honouring

He is known to millions as "Raffi", a beloved songwriter and performer, author, ecology advocate and founder of Centre for Child Honouring. Child Honouring is a vision for creating a humane and sustainable world by addressing the universal needs of children.

In his career, which spans three-decades, Raffi has refused all commercial endorsement offers, and Troubadour Music, his own company, has never directly advertised or marketed to children. He is a passionate advocate for a child’s right to live free of commercial exploitation.

"We invite you to be a part of the global movement that views honouring children as the best way to create sustainable, peace-making societies."  - Raffi

To learn more about the Centre for Child Honouring, please visit the Centre for Child Honouring and join "the compassion revolution."

National Cheeseburger Day - Healthy Homemade Cheeseburger

Healthy Homemade Cheeseburger 

Yield: Makes 4 servings

Ingredients
3/4 lb extra-lean ground beef
2 tbsp finely chopped onion
2 tbsp chili sauce
1 tsp Dijon mustard
4 slices (3/4 oz each) reduced-fat cheddar
4 whole-wheat hamburger buns
Lettuce and tomato slices

Preparation
1. Mix first 4 ingredients.
2. Form mixture into four 1-inch-thick patties.
3. Broil 5 to 7 minutes on each side for medium to well-done burgers.
4. Top each burger with a cheese slice right before removing from the oven.
5. Transfer burgers onto buns, top with lettuce and tomato and serve.

Reference:

Epiccurious, Healthy Homemade Cheeseburger

September 13, National Celiac Disease Awareness Day

Celiac disease is an immune reaction to gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. The disease affects about one in 100 people in Europe and North America.

The Awareness Campaign provides current, comprehensive, science-based information about the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of celiac disease, also known as celiac sprue, nontropical sprue, and gluten-sensitive enteropathy.

The key to understanding the Gluten-Free diet is to become a good ingredient label reader. The following ingredients should not be consumed. They come from prohibited grains: barley, rye, triticale, wheat (durum, graham, kamut, semolina, spelt), malt, malt flavoring, and malt vinegar (generally made from barley—verify the source).

Celiac Disease Foundation 

Public Service Announcement

Riceworks Sponsors Interview With 

Celiac Disease Expert Shelley Case

Resources

1. Celiac Disease Foundation
2. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Celiac Disease
3. Shelley Case, RD

National Nutrition Week in India - The Indian Cuisine

National Nutrition Week in India

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.

National Nutrition Week (India)
Dietary Guidelines of Indians 

Indian cuisine encompasses a wide variety of regional and traditional cuisines native to India. Given the range of diversity in soil type, climate, culture, ethnic groups, and occupations, these cuisines vary substantially from each other and use locally available spices, herbs, vegetables, and fruits.  

Indian food is also heavily influenced by religious, in particular, Hindu and cultural choices and traditions. Also, Middle Eastern and Central Asian influences have occurred on North Indian cuisine from the years of Mughal rule. Indian cuisine is still evolving, as a result of the nation's cultural interactions with other societies.

Indian Chicken Curry with Rice, #EatingWell   

Historical incidents such as foreign invasions, trade relations, and colonialism have played a role in introducing certain foods to the country. For instance, potato, a staple of the diet in some regions of India, was brought to India by the Portuguese, who also introduced chilies and breadfruit. 

Indian cuisine has shaped the history of international relations; the spice trade between India and Europe was the primary catalyst for Europe's Age of Discovery. Spices were bought from India and traded around Europe and Asia. Indian cuisine has influenced other cuisines across the world, especially those from Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, the British Isles, Fiji, and the Caribbean.

Resources and References

1. National Nutrition Week (India) – Dietary Guidelines of Indians
2. Indian Cuisine, Wikipedia - Spices at a grocery shop in India   

3. Indian Chicken Curry with Rice, #EatingWell   

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.

Clean: The best way to prevent many forms of illness, including foodborne illness, is with proper hand washing. Children should always clean their hands before eating, and parents should do so before and during lunch preparation. It’s easy to get preoccupied with busy schedules and rush through the five steps of washing hands; however, handwashing is vital to remove any germs that may be present. Hand washing should always include the following:

1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
2. Rub your hands together with soap. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
5. 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!

International Youth Day

The world’s young people – who make up the largest generation of youth in history – can lead a global drive to break the patterns of the past and set the world on course to a more sustainable future. Young people are directly affected by the tragic contradictions that prevail today: between abject poverty and ostentatious wealth, gnawing hunger and shameful food waste, rich natural resources, and polluting industries. Youth can deliver solutions to these issues, which lie at the heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.    - Ban Ki-moon

The theme of International Youth Day 2024 is “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development.” This theme highlights the key connection between digitalization and accelerating the progress of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasizing the crucial contributions of young people in this transformative process.

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 2024

 

The Journey of the Passion Fruit from Farm to Table

The journey of passion fruit from farm to table involves several stages of cultivation, harvesting, processing, and distribution. Here's an overview of the process:

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.

Growing passion fruit from seed

 

Plant Care and Maintenance: Farmers need to monitor the health of the passion fruit plants, control pests and diseases, and provide necessary fertilization. Regular pruning helps improve fruit production and quality.

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.

Passion Fruit Mousse

The journey of passion fruit from the farm to your table involves the coordinated efforts of farmers, laborers, distributors, and retailers to ensure that the fruit reaches you in its freshest and most flavorful state.

Resources

1. Health Benefits of Passion Fruit. High levels of key vitamins and minerals and is rich in antioxidants.  Medical News.
2. Fresh Passion Fruit Recipes, Insanely Good