May 3, National Specially-Abled Pets Day and Feeding Your Dog

National Specially-abled Pets Day celebrates these amazing and heroic animals, helps to educate the public about caring for disabled pets and find homes for orphaned, specially-abled pets.  Pets that become challenged due to disease, birth flaws, or injuries, tend to develop greater senses than your average pet. Most of the time it's as if they never had to readjust to life and we need to keep up with them!"

Celebrated nationally and internationally on May 3rd, National Specially-abled Pets Day encourages adoption always and for people who would like to bring a new furry family member home, to consider a specially-abled pet.

Blind Golden Retriever gets Guide Dog

Feeding Your Dog

Good nutrition is always important for your dog, but it is especially so when she's recovering from an injury or illness. In fact, the balance of nutrients she needs may be different during the time she's recuperating-more protein to promote cell repair and fight infection, more fats and carbohydrates for the extra energy needed, and certain vitamins and minerals that promote healing. Check with your vet to see what you should be feeding the dog as she gets better and follow these tips to make eating easier for your ailing pet:

• Feed her a little at a time and often, for example, divide the daily allowance of food into two to four small meals.
• Warm the food to just below your dog's body temperature. Do not give her really hot food.
• Leave the food down 10 or 15 minutes and then remove it (after she finishes eating, of course). Dogs are more likely to eat fresh food than a dish that's been sitting out for a while.
• Some dogs like a little spice, like garlic powder. Ask your vet about what flavorings would be acceptable for your dog. 
• Of course, your dog just may not feel like eating. If this is the case, you'll have to force-feed her. The easiest way to accomplish this is to liquefy the food by adding water and then feed it to her as a fluid (use the method described above). Again, give her several small meals (a few teaspoons of food every 2 to 3 hours) rather than one large one. If you give her too much, she may vomit it back up.

Resources
The Love of Specially-Abled Pets

Egg Salad Week - Food Safety and Recipes

Egg Salad Week (the week after Easter). Dedicated to the many delicious uses for all of the Easter eggs that have been cooked, colored, hidden, and found.

Food Safety
If you plan to eat the Easter eggs you decorate, be sure to use only food-grade dye. (Some people make two sets of eggs - one for decorating and hiding, another for eating. Others use plastic eggs for hiding.) For an Easter egg hunt, avoid cracking the eggshells. If the shells crack then bacteria could enter and contaminate the egg inside. Also, hide eggs in places that are protected from dirt, pets, and other bacteria sources and keep hard-cooked eggs chilled in the refrigerator until just before the hunt. The total time for hiding and hunting eggs should be no more than two hours. Then be sure to refrigerate the "found" eggs right away until you eat them. Eggs found hours later or the next day should be thrown out — not eaten! 

When shell eggs are hard-cooked, the protective coating is washed away, leaving open pores in the shell where harmful bacteria could enter. Be sure to refrigerate eggs within two hours of cooking and use them within a week. Check your refrigerator temperature with an appliance thermometer and adjust the refrigerator temperature to 40°F (Fahrenheit) or below. 

Egg Salad Sandwich with Spinach and Tomato

INGREDIENTS

1 hard-cooked egg and 1 hard-cooked egg white. chopped

1 tablespoon 0% plain Greek yogurt

1 teaspoon light mayonnaise

2 tablespoons chopped celery

2 tablespoons chopped onion

ground black pepper

garlic powder

1/2 cup fresh baby spinach

2 slices tomato

1 whole-grain bread

DIRECTIONS

In a small bowl, combine the eggs, yogurt, mayo, celery, and onion. Add the pepper and garlic powder to taste. Place the egg salad, spinach, and tomato on a slice of whole-grain bread.

Resources
1. Egg Salad, Lightened Up. Egg salad can be high in fat, cholesterol, and calories but with a few simple tweaks, you can make light and delicious versions of this comfort food classic. Dana Angelo White #RDN

National Walking Day

National Walking Day 

The first Wednesday in April is National Walking Day. The American Heart Association sponsors this day to remind us of the health benefits of taking a walk. 

The American Heart Association is encouraging everyone to get out and walk. Visit National Walking Day located at the American Heart Association. Learn the health benefits, get motivated, join a walking group - make walking a Daily Habit.

Here is a catchy song to start your walking.

Update: Over Five Months After the Fire

For those who know me, I try to look at the bright side. I go back to our home almost every day.  There has been very little progress on the reconstruction. However, my garden surprised me with a strawberry, pineapple, and the start of the mango flowers.

Update

It was September 24, 2021, when lightning struck our home. It seems longer than that. For over 30 years I paid our home owner's insurance. Never thought I would ever need it.

I assumed we would be back in our home by now, but they haven't submitted the following permits: Plumbing, Building, Mechanical, and Notice of Commencement. 

The project manager admitted they had not submitted the architectural plans due to lack of payment. I check weekly, but no luck yet.

A wise friend said it may take longer than 3 to 4 months. I'm glad I listened. The insurance would not have covered our stay if we did not find a place we could live for at least 9 months.

Progress or Lack of Progress

By the end of October 2021, the only thing the insurance company had done was clean out the debris left by the lightning and fire.

Where there should be walls and ceilings there was a tarp-like material providing cover. There was no closet, no bedroom, and no bathroom. Empty Space. Memories I could only remember through my imagination.

On February 11, 2022, the electricity was restored to part of the front of our house, den, and kitchen. Many of the outlets were covered because they were not up to code.

February 22, 2022. They started to replace the roof.

March 3, 2022
I checked the permits today and the Plumbing, Building, Mechanical, and Notice of Commencement have NOT BEEN SUBMITTED. The roof is waiting for an inspection so the tiles can be put on.

March 4, 2022
Friday I save to correspond with the attorney on the lack of progress.

That's it for now. I will keep you up to date.

National Nutrition Month 2022: Celebrate a World of Flavors

National Nutrition Month® is celebrated each year during March with the focus on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. 

The theme for National Nutrition Month® in 2022 is Celebrate a World of Flavor. Incorporating flavors from cultures around the world is a tasty way to nourish ourselves and appreciate our diversity. We also know that home-cooked/prepared meals are less expensive and more nutritious. 

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics looks forward to celebrating National Nutrition Month® with you! 

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day is also celebrated during National Nutrition Month®, on the second Wednesday in March. This occasion increases awareness of registered dietitian nutritionists as the indispensable providers of food and nutrition services while recognizing both RDNs and nutrition and dietetic technicians, registered for their commitment to helping people enjoy healthy lives.

Using Photographs to Communicate Nutrition

 There is truth in the saying, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” In fact, graphics communicate up to 60,000 times faster than text. An individual is more likely to read a story or blog when a photograph captures their attention.

My interest in graphic design and photography began when I discovered my son had difficulty reading. I wanted to find an alternative way of communicating with him. I noticed when we passed the golden arches, he knew it was McDonald's. When we went to the library, he was attracted to picture books. Using photography to teach nutrition started out as a hobby and turned into a passion.

Photography is one form of visual communication. It is found in children’s books, art galleries, publications, advertisements, communication boards, and most recently social media. Communicating nutrition using any of these venues opened up a world of possibilities and opportunities.

The popularity of photography has grown rapidly in the past few years due to the use of digital photography and social media. The free social media sites featuring photographs include Flickr, Instagram, Pinterest, Shutterfly, and Photobucket. Instagram reached over 100 million users. There are 300 million pictures uploaded to Facebook every day via Instagram (Instagram Statistics). The most followed Pinterest board is Delicious at 6.9 million followers with the slogan, “I love food and first of all we taste with our eyes.” Mitzi Dulan, a registered dietitian released the Pinterest Diet and has 3 million followers. Healthy Aperture is an online food gallery created by registered dietitians using recipe photographs to tempt readers.



When creating a photograph to communicate nutrition, the composition should be simple with recognizable images and convey a message to a specific audience. MyPlate, a visual design of healthy eating is a good example of using photography to communicate. These are some of the examples of how I use photography to communicate:

· 
  When teaching children about fruits and vegetables, it is easier to show half the plate with fruits and vegetables, rather than trying to explain it.

· The topic of whole grains might be lost without a photograph illustrating examples of whole grain foods.

· Protein sources may seem obvious to a health professional, but the consumer may benefit from a photograph displaying beans, nuts, tofu, meats, fish and poultry.

· Showing portion control is an eye-opener and a great example of using photography to communicate and educate.

· Comparing different foods with the same amount of calories is a popular composition.

· Creating a photographic grocery list by using MyPlate as a template allowed individuals with difficulty reading the ability to plan meals.

Using photographs to communicate nutrition is a fascinating area with tremendous opportunities. My ultimate goal is to create a photograph that stimulates the senses, and nourishes the body.

February Wellness NewsTopics for Journalists, Writers, Educators and Bloggers

Current News, Resources and Events in Nutrition, Food, Health, Environment, Safety, and Disability Rights. Encourages awareness and inspires ideas for Journalists, Educators, Consumers, and Health Professionals. Wellness News is updated daily. To view the entire Newsletter online click here.

Wellness News

February Highlights

American Heart Month

Eating Disorder Awareness Month

International Expect Success Month

Library Lovers Month

National Care About Your Indoor Air Month

National Children's Dental Health Month

National Parent Leadership Month
National Time Management Month
Plant the Seeds of Greatness Month
Responsible Pet Owner's Month

Youth Leadership Month

February Monthly Food Events

Bake for Family Fun Month

Canned Food Month

Chocolate Month

February is Fabulous Florida Strawberry

National Grapefruit Month

Great American Pies Month

National Cherry Month

National Hot Breakfast Month

National Potato Month

National Snack Food Month

National Wise Health Care Consumer

North Carolina Sweet Potato Month

Return Shopping Carts to the Supermarket

National Pet Dental Health Month