February Wellness News - American Heart Month

Monthly Events

 American Heart Month

International Prenatal Infection Prevention Month
International Boost Self-esteem Month
International Expect Success Month
Library Lovers Month
National African American History Month
National Children's Dental Health Month
National Time Management Month
Spunky Old Broad Month
Youth Leadership Month
Dog Training Education Month
National Pet Dental Health Month
Responsible Pet Owners Month
Bake for Family Fun Month
Canned Food Month
Chocolate Month
February is Fabulous Florida Strawberry Month
National Grapefruit Month
Great American Pies Month
National Cherry Month
National Snack Food Month
National Wise Health Consumer Month
North Carolina Sweet Potato Month
National Hot Breakfast Month
Potato Lovers Month
Plant the Seeds of Greatness Month

Weekly

1-7 Women's Heart Week

1-7 Burn Awareness Week

2-6 International Networking Week

2-6 Pride in Foodservice Week

7-12 Solo Diners Eat Out Weekend

7-14 Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week

8-14 Feeding Tube Awareness Week
8-14 Children of Alcoholics Week

10-12 World AG Expo

14-21 Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia Care Staff Education Week

22-28 National Eating Disorders Awareness Week

Daily Event
Sunday	1	Freedom Day, Baked Alaska Day, International Day of Black Women in The Arts, Ice Cream For Breakfast Day
Monday	2	Groundhog Day, Hedgehog Day, National Tater Tot Day, Crêpe Day, Heavenly Hash Day
Tuesday	3	National Carrot Cake Day
Wednesday	4	Homemade Soup Day, World Cancer Day, Medjool Date Day, National Hemp Day
Thursday	5	National Weatherperson Day, World Nutella Day
Friday	6	Wear Red Day, National Frozen Yogurt Day, Massachusetts 6th State Canadian Maple Syrup Day, National Girls & Women in Sports Day, Winter XXV Olympics
Saturday	7	National Fettuccine Alfredo Day
Sunday	8	National Molasses Bar Day, Super Bowl, Autism Sunday, Popcorn Day
Monday	9	National Pizza Day, National Toothache Day, Bagel & Lox Day
Tuesday	10	National Cream Cheese Brownie Day, World Pulses Day
Wednesday	11	National Shut-in Visitation Day, National Peppermint Patty Day
Thursday	12	National Plum Pudding Day, Lincoln’s Birthday, Giving Hearts Day
Friday	13	National Tortellini Day, National Cheddar Day, National Crab Rangoon Day
Saturday	14	Valentine's Day,  Natl Donor Day, Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day, Oregon 33rd State, Arizona 48th State,  National Cream-Filled Chocolates Day, National Women's Heart Day
Sunday	15	National Gumdrop Day
Monday	16	President's Day, National Almond Day, National Buna Day
Tuesday	17	World Human Spirit Day, National Cafe Au Lait Day, Random Act of Kindness, National Cabbage Day
Wednesday	18	Crab-Stuffed Flounder Day, National Drink Wine Day
Thursday	19	National Chocolate Mint Day
Friday	20	World Day of Social Justice, National Cherry Pie Day, Love Your Pet Day, National Muffin Day
Saturday	21	National Sticky Bun Day, National Grain-Free Day, World Kombucha Day
Sunday	22	National Margarita Day, National Cook a Sweet Potato Day
Monday	23	National Banana Bread Day,  National Dog Biscuit Day, Tootsie Roll Day
Tuesday	24	National Tortilla Chip Day, National Dance Day, World Bartender Day
Wednesday	25	National Chocolate Covered Nut Day, National Clam Chowder Day
Thursday	26	World Pistachio Day, National Personal Chef Day
Friday	27	National Kahlua Day, National Strawberry Day, World NGO Day
Saturday	28	National Tooth Fairy Day, National Chocolate Soufflé Day
Sunday	29

	Months
	January	July
	February	August
	March	September
	April	October
	May	November
	June	December

 

National Hot Chocolate Day

Save Calories and Fat by using Skim (Nonfat) Milk 

instead of Whole Milk. You still receive the

benefits of calcium and vitamin D.

Skim /NonFat Milk

90 Calories

0 g Fat;

250 mg Calcium

124 IU / 3.2 mcg Vitamin D

Whole Milk

149 Calories

8 g Fat;

276 mg Calcium

124 IU / 3.2 mcg Vitamin D

The Polar Express, "Hot Chocolate Song" 

Croissant from Dough to Joy

Croissant from Dough to Joy

Tabouli, Tomatoes, and Feta Cheese on
Mini Croissant
#NationalCroissantDay 

Croissant Sandwich with Tabouli,
Tomatoes, and Feta Cheese

Serves One

Ingredients
1 Croissant (1 ounce)
1 Tbsp Tabouli Salad
2 slices Tomatoes
1/2 oz Feta Cheese

Nutrition Information

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, FAND recipenews@gmail.com
954-294-6300

A Culinary Voyage: The World's Most Famous Soups

In a world brimming with diverse cultures and traditions, nothing quite encapsulates the essence of a place like its local cuisine. Among the many culinary delights, soups stand out as a universal comfort food, transcending borders and bringing the taste of culture to our tables. Each spoonful of these simmering concoctions tells a story – a tale of heritage, geography, and the unique blend of ingredients that define a region's palate.

Join us on a gastronomic adventure, where each sip is a discovery, and every bowl is a celebration of the world's vast and vibrant culinary heritage. Embark on a journey, one spoonful at a time, to discover the stories and secrets simmering within these global soups. 

Gazpacho (Spain) is a refreshing, cold soup made from raw, blended vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, and bell peppers, often enjoyed in the summer.

Harira (Morocco) is a rich and hearty soup traditionally eaten during Ramadan. It is made with tomatoes, lentils, chickpeas, and lamb and flavored with a blend of fragrant spices.

Laksa (Malaysia and Singapore): A spicy noodle soup with a distinctive coconut milk base, it comes in various forms, including curry laksa and asam laksa, often served with chicken, prawn, or fish.

Minestrone (Italy): A thick Italian vegetable soup often containing beans, onions, celery, carrots, stock, and tomatoes, sometimes with pasta or rice.

Tom Yum (Thailand): A hot and sour soup known for its intense flavors, it typically includes shrimp (Tom Yum Goong), mushrooms, tomatoes, lemongrass, galangal, and kaffir lime leaves.

Tortilla Soup (Mexico): A hearty, flavorful soup made with chicken broth, roasted tomatoes, onion, garlic, and chilies and topped with crispy fried tortilla strips, avocado, cheese, and sour cream.

Caldo Verde (Portugal): A simple, comforting soup made with thinly sliced kale, potatoes, and chorizo sausage, often served during celebrations.

Phở (Vietnam): A Vietnamese soup known for its fragrant broth, rice noodles, herbs, and usually beef (Phở Bò) or chicken (Phở Gà).

French Onion Soup (France): A rich and savory soup based on caramelized onions and beef stock, and typically served with a crouton and melted cheese on top.

Chupe de Mariscos (Peru): A creamy seafood soup from Peru, loaded with various seafood like shrimp, crab, and fish, often enriched with potatoes, corn, and a base of aji peppers and cilantro.

New England Clam Chowder (USA): A creamy, hearty soup from the New England region, known for its chunks of clams, diced potatoes, onions, and sometimes bacon in a milk or cream base.

Borscht (Russia/Ukraine): A sour soup common in Eastern European countries, famous for its distinctive red color from beetroots, usually served with sour cream, and can contain a variety of vegetables and meat.

Ramen (Japan) is a popular Japanese soup consisting of Chinese-style wheat noodles served in a meat- or fish-based broth flavored with soy sauce or miso and topped with ingredients like sliced pork, nori, and scallions.

These soups not only offer a taste of their respective cultures but also embody the diversity and richness of global culinary traditions.

Nutrition Notes

Soup is a combination of foods with endless possibilities. It represents comfort, warmth, tradition, and nourishment.

Soups can be an economical way of meeting nutritional needs. Leftovers are perfect when preparing soups.

Soups have been known to curb the appetite and slow the eating process. Studies show slower eaters are more likely to notice signs of fullness sooner and consume fewer calories. With the extra time, enjoy the flavor, aroma, and texture of the foods.

Soups can be prepared with various healthy ingredients and traditional favorites made healthier with some substitutions.

Foods you can substitute to make heart-healthy choices.

Instead of:	Try these heart-healthy suggestions:
whole milk or 2% milk	1% milk or skim milk
whipped cream	chilled evaporated skim milk, whipped
cheese (American, Cheddar, Swiss)	Cheeses with 5 or less grams of fat per ounce. Terms used: reduced-fat, low-fat, or fat-free. Reduced fat is easier to substitute when cooking.
creamed cottage cheese	nonfat or 1% fat cottage cheese, or farmers' cheese
cream cheese	light, fat-free products, or Neufchatel cheese
Mozzarella cheese	part-skim mozzarella cheese
Ricotta cheese	nonfat, lite, or part-skim
sour cream, regular	non-fat, light, or low-fat sour cream or plain yogurt.
butter	lower-calorie margarine in soft tubes, vegetable cooking sprays, or nonstick cookware.
margarine, regular	lower-calorie margarine in soft tubes, vegetable cooking sprays, or nonstick cookware.
mayonnaise, regular	reduced-fat, cholesterol-free, low-fat, or fat-free. If making a dip, you can substitute plain nonfat or low-fat yogurt. Reduce the amount required in the recipe.
salad dressing	reduced-fat, cholesterol-free, low-fat, or fat-free dressings or lemon juice, vinegar, or mustard. Reduce the amount required in the recipe.
one whole egg	equals 2 egg whites or 1/4 cup egg substitute
egg noodles	noodles made without egg yolk
condensed cream soup	99% fat-free condensed cream soup
salt	eliminate or reduce by 1/2; explore herbs and spices
gravy	gravies made with low sodium broth and thickened with flour/cornstarch
beef, pork, veal, lamb	choose lean cuts trimmed of all visible fat, or substitute with chicken or turkey without the skin.
oil for sautéing	water, broth, tomato juice
frying	broil, bake, microwave, poach, steam, grill, stir fry

Healthy Soup Additions
1. Instead of salt, add herbs and spices to enhance the flavor. Explore the many possible seasonings available.
2. Add fresh, frozen, or leftover vegetables (use fruits if making a cold soup) to increase fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Avoid canned vegetables high in sodium. Read the label. A low-sodium food contains 140 mg or less per serving of sodium.
3. Increase fiber and protein by eating foods such as beans, lentils, brown rice, whole-grain pasta, barley, and bulgur.
4. Increase calcium and protein by using skim milk, evaporated skim milk, non-fat dry milk powder, or calcium-fortified soymilk. These low-fat ingredients can replace higher-fat alternatives like whole milk or cream.

Canned and Dry Soup Mixes are known for their high sodium content. Read the label and check the serving size. Remember, a low-sodium food contains 140 mg or less per serving.

Some companies within the food industry are making great strides in lowering the sodium content in their products. At Campbell, they have more than 100 products with a healthy level of sodium, more than 200 that are low in fat and saturated fat, more than 150 products that have 100 calories or less per serving, and more than 85 products certified by the American Heart Association.

Soup Tidbits
Soup is a staple in almost every American home. After NBC's "Seinfeld" show introduced the "Soup Nazi" in the United States on November 2, 1995, Soup became a fashionable food.

The Soup Nazi - Revenge

National Irish Coffee Day

Irish Coffee 

Deliciously warm, authentic Irish Coffee is made with whiskey, coffee, and heavy cream. The original Irish Coffee recipe was invented by a man named Joe Sheridan, a new restaurant owner in one of Europe’s biggest airports during the 1940s.

Ingredients
6 oz fresh-brewed, hot coffee
2 sugar cubes
1 oz whiskey
1/4 cup heavy whipped cream (for garnish)

Nutrition Profile

Peanut Butter Magic: Tasty Recipes & Fascinating Facts

The American Peanut Council proclaims peanut butter as one of America’s favorite foods. It is a good source of protein, niacin, and folate and is enjoyed by people of all ages.

Peanut Butter Magic: Tasty Recipes & Fascinating Facts

1. 54 Delish Peanut Butter Recipes, Delish

The National Peanut Board has a fun website filled with recipes, classroom activities, and fun facts. Did you know...

*It takes about 540 peanuts to make a 12-ounce jar of peanut butter.

*There are enough peanuts in one acre to make 30,000 peanut butter sandwiches.

*By law, any product labeled "peanut butter" in the United States must be at least 90 percent peanuts.

*Peanut butter has been banned in some schools due to peanut butter allergies. Make sure to read the ingredient label.

A Journey through the Years
with Peanut Butter

Peter Pan Peanut Butter, 1957

1960's Skippy Peanut Butter

Kraft Peanut Butter, 1987

updated 01/24/2026