For thousands of years, people have been eating foods grown in the wild; such as wild greens, mushrooms, roots, fruits, berries, vegetables, and flowers.
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
Pumpkins are thought to have originated in North America. The oldest evidence, pumpkin-related seeds dating between 7000 and 5500 BC, was found in Mexico.
The color of pumpkins derives from orange carotenoid pigments, including beta-cryptoxanthin, alpha and beta-carotene, all of which are provitamin A compounds converted to vitamin A in the body.
Pumpkins Is anything more fall-like than a pumpkin? These orange winter squashes are chock-full of vitamin A and deliver 3 grams of fiber per ½-cup serving of cooked sugar pumpkin, plus potassium. Note that the pumpkins you carve into jack-o’-lanterns are not the same type of pumpkins you eat. Try pumpkin puree mixed with mac-and-cheese or with hummus for a seasonal spread. Looking for more options? Add pumpkin to pancake batter, oatmeal, smoothies or your kid's favorite chili.
Nutritional Profile
And don't forget about roasting the seeds! Pumpkin seeds are a delicious and healthy snack and a good source of several nutrients, including zinc, which is essential for many body processes including immune function.
To toast your pumpkin seeds, first, rinse to remove pulp and strings. Spread seeds on a baking sheet that has been coated with cooking spray or drizzle a small amount of olive oil over seeds. Bake at 325°F for about 30 minutes or until lightly toasted. Stir occasionally during cooking. Take a look at your spice rack and try a seasoning on your toasted seeds such as garlic powder or Cajun seasoning.
"For generations, kids have toted UNICEF's collection boxes door to door on Halloween, calling out "Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF!" They have raised over $170 million since 1950 to help children worldwide - funds enabling UNICEF to save and improve children's lives by providing health care, improved nutrition, clean water, education, and more."
There are healthy Halloween snacks to choose from when going to the market. Read the label - Make sure fruit snacks are made with 100 percent real fruit; choose treats without trans fats, and look for items with whole grain.
The following items are available in snack-size packages: 1. Whole-grain cheddar flavored crackers 2. Fruit snacks made with 100% fruit with added vitamin C 3. Fruit leathers made with 100 percent fruit
4. Animal-shaped graham crackers made without trans fat 5. Raisins 6. Individual fruit cups 7. Low-fat pudding cups 8. Baked, unsalted pretzels 9. Popcorn
Aside from pork, bologna can alternatively be made out of chicken, turkey, beef, venison, a combination, or soy protein. Typical seasoning for bologna includes black pepper, nutmeg, allspice, celery seed, coriander, and like mortadella, myrtle berries give it its distinctive flavor, U.S. Government regulations require American bologna to be finely ground and without visible pieces of fat.
Celebrating Food Heroes on National Food Day and National Farm to School Month.
The world is full of food heroes – from farmers to drivers, shop assistants, food banks, or government representatives – who, despite challenges, work hard to make sure food makes its way from farms to our table. Let’s celebrate their extraordinary efforts.
Welcome to Our Food Day Celebration! From Our Garden
Food Day inspires Americans to change their diets and our food policies. Every October 24, thousands of events around the country bring Americans together to celebrate and enjoy real food and push for improved food policies.
6 FOOD DAY PRINCIPLES
1. Reduce diet-related diseases by promoting safe, healthy foods.
2. Support sustainable farms and limit subsidies to big agribusiness.
3. Expand access to food and alleviate hunger.
4. Protect the environment and animals by reforming factory farms.
5. Promote health by curbing junk-food marketing to kids.
6. Support fair conditions for food and farmworkers.
Planning Our Food Day Meal
Every family is unique. When planning our meal, we considered foods from our garden, finances, physical abilities, including finger foods that are easy to chew and swallow, and color—the theme for our dinner. Our family and friends come from diverse backgrounds with physical and emotional challenges or chronic illnesses, such as Cerebral Palsy, Autism, and Heart Disease.
Our Meal
The main course is tri-color pasta with various toppings. Our garden provided us with tomatoes, onions, broccoli, cucumbers, and basil. We purchased spinach, pasta sauce, locally grown fruits, and part-skim mozzarella. For the meat-eaters, we had ground turkey meatballs and shredded chicken.
In addition, we prepared a red, white, and green grilled cheese sandwich from the US Department of Health and Human Services cookbook “Keep the Beat Recipes. " A free copy of the cookbook is available on their website. The dessert was a big hit. We made fruit kabobs using locally grown fruits and paired them with low-fat ice cream, and for Jake, we prepared a smoothie using the same ingredients.
Adaptations and Individual Preferences
My son Jake was born with Cerebral Palsy and is quadriplegic. He is unable to hold utensils and requires a straw to drink fluids. Finger foods and a weighted cup with a flexi straw usually provide him the most independence.
Noodles are a food made from doughs containing such foods as rice, wheat, potato, buckwheat, maize, legume, and nuts. There are various shapes, from long, thin ribbons, strips, curly waves, pipes, tubes, and strings. Noodles are usually cooked in a mixture of boiling water and/or oil. Depending upon the type, noodles may be dried or refrigerated before cooking.
Vegetarian Pad Thai, premade (stir-fried rice noodle)
Nutritional Analysis
Resources and References 1. The Nibble: Noodles 2. Wikipedia: Noodle 3. EatingWell, Healthy Noodle Recipes 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, 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 954-294-6300
The Eagle Books consists of four books that are brought to life by wise animal characters, Mr. Eagle and Miss Rabbit, and a clever trickster, Coyote, who engage Rain that Dances and his young friends in the joy of physical activity, eating healthy foods, and learning from their elders about traditional ways of being healthy. Animated versions of the four books bring the characters to life. Narrated by author Georgia Perez and voiced by children and adults from the Standing Rock Sioux tribal nation, the animated versions provide an interactive tool to engage children in activities and discussions about healthy eating, and the joy of being active while looking to traditional ways to stay healthy and prevent type 2 diabetes.
Music: The Wonderful World of Color, Walt Disney and Disney World.
Eat Right with Colors explores the health benefits associated with eating foods of many colors. Including color diversity in your meals and food choices enhances your intake of a wide range of nutrients.
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
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 adults with "Special Needs" (Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Down Syndrome, Muscular Dystrophy). Many of the photographs are available for purchase, with the proceeds going to special needs adults. Contact Dr. Sandra Frank for additional information (recipenews@gmail.com).
Nuts once considered a high fat, high-calorie food is now being recognized as a Nutritious Snack with essential fatty acids, omega fats, protein, and many vitamins and minerals.
Autumn is the perfect time to add pumpkin to one of America’s favorite desserts. Cheesecake is a sweet dessert with a mixture of fresh soft cheese, cream cheese or cottage cheese, eggs, and sugar on a crust made from crushed graham crackers, crushed cookies, pastry, or sponge cake. Cheesecakes can be prepared baked or unbaked, flavored, and are often served topped with fruit, fruit sauce, chocolate, or whipped cream.
Iodine Deficiency - Interview with Prof. Zimmermann (Zürich}
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Iodine is an essential element for healthy neurological and endocrine development. A lack of iodine in the diet may lead to mental challenges, goiter, or thyroid disease. Dependent upon the severity of the deficiency, a lack of iodine can cause a significant delay in mental development, something that can be particularly detrimental if it occurs in childhood. According to the World Health Organization in 2007, almost 2 billion people worldwide were suffering from a lack of iodine in their diets, a third of which were children and young people. Iodine deficiency is a relatively simple affliction to correct, however much of the population continues to go untreated.
Function
Iodine is needed for the normal metabolism of cells. Metabolism is the process of converting food into energy. Humans need iodine for normal thyroid function and for the production of thyroid hormones.
Food Sources
Iodized salt is table salt with iodine added. It is the main food source of iodine.
Seafood is naturally rich in iodine. Cod, sea bass, haddock, and perch are good sources.
Kelp is the most common vegetable seafood that is a rich source of iodine.
Dairy products also contain iodine.
Other good sources are plants grown in iodine-rich soil.
Recommendations The best way to get the daily requirement of essential vitamins is to eat a balanced diet that contains a variety of foods from the food guide plate.
A 1/4 teaspoon of iodized table salt provides 95 micrograms of iodine. A 6-ounce portion of ocean fish provides 650 micrograms of iodine. Most people are able to meet the daily recommendations by eating seafood, iodized salt, and plants grown in iodine-rich soil. When buying salt, make sure it is labeled "iodized."
The Food and Nutrition Board at the Institute of Medicine recommends the following dietary intake for iodine:
Infants 0 - 6 months: 110 micrograms per day (mcg/day) 7 - 12 months: 130 mcg/day
Adolescents and Adults Males age 14 and older: 150 mcg/day Females age 14 and older: 150 mcg/day
Specific recommendations depend on age, gender, and other factors (such as pregnancy). Women who are pregnant or producing breast milk (lactating) need higher amounts. Ask your healthcare provider which amount is best for you.
The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) is the leading consumer and community-focused health organization dedicated to the prevention of osteoporosis and broken bones, the promotion of strong bones for life and the reduction of human suffering through programs of public and clinician awareness, education, advocacy, and research. Established in 1984, NOF is the nation's leading voluntary health organization solely dedicated to osteoporosis and bone health.
Osteoporosis is a major public health threat for an estimated 44 million Americans. Of the 10 million Americans estimated to already have osteoporosis, eight million are women and two million are men.
What can you do to protect your bones? Osteoporosis and the broken bones it can cause are not part of normal aging. Osteoporosis prevention should begin in childhood and continue throughout life. 1. Get enough calcium and vitamin D and eat a well-balanced diet. 2. Engage in regular exercise. 3. Eat foods that are good for bone health, such as fruits and vegetables. 4. Avoid smoking and limit alcohol to 2-3 drinks per day.
What Women Need to Know
Females are at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis and broken bones.
• Of the estimated 10 million Americans with osteoporosis, about eight million or 80% are women.
• Approximately one in two women over age 50 will break a bone because of osteoporosis.
• A woman's risk of breaking a hip is equal to her combined risk of breast, uterine and ovarian cancer.
There are multiple reasons why women are more like to get osteoporosis than men, including:
• Women tend to have smaller, thinner bones than men.
• Estrogen, a hormone in women decreases sharply when women reach menopause, which can cause bone loss. This is why the chance of developing osteoporosis increases as women reach menopause.
Are You at Risk for Developing Osteoporosis?
Uncontrollable Risk Factors
• Being over age 50.
• Being Female.
• Menopause.
• Family History.
• Low Body Weight/Being Small and Thin.
• Broken Bones or Height Loss.
Controllable Risk Factors
• Not Getting Enough Calcium and Vitamin D.
• Not Eating Enough Fruits and Vegetables.
• Getting Too Much Protein, Sodium, and Caffeine.
• Having an Inactive Lifestyle.
• Smoking.
• Drinking too much alcohol.
• Losing Weight.
There are also medications and diseases that can cause bone loss and increase your risk of osteoporosis.
Calcium and Vitamin D Getting enough calcium and vitamin D are essential to building stronger, denser bones early in life and to keep bones strong and healthy later in life. Calcium and vitamin D are the two most important nutrients for bone health. Calcium-Rich Food Sources Dairy products, such as low-fat and non-fat milk, yogurt and cheese are high in calcium. Certain green vegetables and other foods contain calcium in smaller amounts. Some juices, breakfast foods, soymilk, cereals, snacks, and bread have calcium that has been added. Vitamin D Sources There are three ways to get vitamin D: • Sunlight • Food • Supplements
Three Steps to Unbreakable Bones
You’re never too young or too old to improve the health of your bones. Osteoporosis prevention should begin in childhood. But it shouldn't stop there. Whatever your age, the habits you adopt now can affect your bone health for the rest of your life. Now is the time to take action. Resources and References. To learn more about Osteoporosis, please visit the following Foundations. World Osteoporosis Day International Osteoporosis Foundation
Yields: Make 3 cups Servings: 6 (3/4 cup) Makes 3 cups
Ingredients 1 small onion, chopped 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 1 cup water 1/2 cup light whipping cream 1 tablespoon chili powder 2 teaspoons sodium-free chicken bouillon granules 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander 1/2 pound uncooked medium shrimp, peeled and deveined, washed and drained 1/2 cup low-fat sour cream Fresh cilantro, optional
Directions
In a small saucepan, saute onion in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer.
Stir in flour until blended. Stir in the water, cream, chili powder, bouillon, cumin, and coriander; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 5 minutes.
Cut shrimp into bite-size pieces; add to soup.
Simmer for 5 minutes longer or until shrimp turns pink.
Gradually stir 1/2 cup hot soup into sour cream; return all to the pan, stirring constantly.
Heat through (do not boil). Garnish with cilantro, if desired.
A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast used to look for early signs of breast cancer. Regular mammograms are the best tests doctors have to find breast cancer early. When breast cancer is found early, many women go on to live long and healthy lives.
Women should have mammograms every two years from age 50 to 74 years, and more often if breast cancer runs in the family or you have any symptoms or changes in your breast.
The CDC has provided the following resources to find out where you can get a mammogram.
1. If you have a regular doctor, talk to him or her.
2. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a program called the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, which works with health departments and other groups to provide low-cost or free mammograms to women who qualify.
7 Day High Protein Diet Meal Plan
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A free, 7-day high protein diet meal plan including breakfast, lunch and
dinner ideas and a shopping list. All recipes include macros and Weight
Watchers p...
Mumbai Sandwich
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On a recent trip to India, I enjoyed a wonderful Mumbai/Bombay sandwich at
a friend's house. It was tasty and a fun change from your regular sandwich.
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