from Farm to Glass.
Saturday, March 28, 2026
MyPlate Dairy Group - Choose Low-Fat or Fat-Free Dairy
from Farm to Glass.
Friday, March 27, 2026
April Wellness News
Monthly
National Autism Awareness Month
National Volunteer Month
Alcohol Awareness Month
Cancer Control Month
Celebrate Diversity Month
Child Abuse Prevention Month
Month of the Military Child
Defeat Diabetes Month
IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) Awareness Month
Medical Cannabis Education & Awareness Month
African American Women's Fitness Month
National Donate Life Month
National Occupational Therapy Month
National Parkinson's Awareness Month
Stress Awareness Month
National Arab-American Heritage Month
Global Child Nutrition Month
Emotional Overeating Awareness Month
Fresh Florida Tomatoes Month
National BLT Sandwich Month
National Licorice Month
National Grilled
Cheese Sandwich Month
National Garden Month
National Pecan Month
National Soft Pretzel Month
National Soyfoods Month
National Youth Sports Safety Month
National Pet First Aid Awareness Month
National Social Security Month
Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month
Jazz Appreciation Month
Keep America Beautiful (3/20
- 6/20)
Weekly
1-7 Medication
Safety Week
2-9 Passover
5-11 National
Public Health Week
6-13 Egg
Salad Week
14-15
World Water Week
17-19 Global
Youth Service Day
18-26 National
Park Week
20-24 Every
Kid Healthy™ Week
23-29 World
Immunization Week
26-5/3 National
Volunteer Week
1 April Fools or All Fools Day; National Sourdough Bread Day; Tater Day (sweet potato), Passover (sundown), International Energy Drink
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Food on a Stick Day
Food on a stick can be fun and nutritious. Barbara Beery is a kids' cooking instructor. In the following video, Barbara shows how to make healthy foods on a skewer.
Putting food on a stick is popular at many state fairs because you can eat and walk at the same time. The food choices range from simple to bizarre, and many items are high in calories, fat, sugar, and sodium. The video below shows all 59 foods on a stick at the Minnesota State Fair from 2006.
Thursday, March 26, 2026
Power Your Heart with Lean Protein
Select a variety of protein foods to improve nutrient intake and health benefits, including at least 8 ounces of cooked seafood per week. Young children need less, depending on their age and calorie needs. Meat and poultry choices should be lean or low-fat. The advice to consume seafood does not apply to vegetarians. Vegetarian options in the Protein Foods Group include beans and peas, processed soy products, and nuts and seeds.
How much food from the Protein Foods Group is needed daily?
The amount of food from the Protein Foods Group you need to eat depends on age, sex, and level of physical activity. Most Americans eat enough food from this group but need to make leaner and more varied selections of these foods.
What counts as an ounce equivalent in the Protein Foods Group?
In general, 1 ounce of meat, poultry or fish, ¼ cup cooked beans, 1 egg, 1 tablespoon of peanut butter, or ½ ounce of nuts or seeds can be considered as 1 ounce-equivalent from the Protein Foods Group.
Recipe: Spicy Garlic Soy Tofu, by Suganya Hariharan, relishthebite.com, FoodNetwork, Nutrition Profile by @DietitianOnline
From Garden to Plate: the Journey of Fruits and Vegetables
Remember that all forms count: fresh, frozen, canned, dried, or 100% juice. The next time you go shopping, choose veggies that may be new to you (try sweet potatoes, beets, or collard greens) and fruits too (try papaya, cantaloupe, or kiwi) to make your plate even more fun and exciting!
It’s easy to add fruits and vegetables to the meals that you’re already making:
- Breakfast is the perfect time for fruit. Try topping your cereal or oatmeal with bananas or peaches. Add blueberries to your pancakes. Or add fruit to your fat-free or low-fat yogurt. Blend frozen fruit, 100% juice, and/or yogurt to make a healthy smoothie.
- Lunchtime is a great time for a colorful salad. Add a variety of veggies, like corn, carrots, and spinach. A salad makes a healthy lunch if you don’t use too much dressing. Add a tangerine, banana, or grapes to your bagged lunch.
- At dinner, try meat dishes that include fruits and veggies, like chicken with apricots or kebabs with peppers and pineapple. Or make a meal featuring vegetables, such as veggie pizza or vegetarian chili with lots of vegetables.
Fruits and vegetables make great snacks and desserts:
- Keep cut-up fruits and vegetables like carrots, peppers, and cucumber or orange slices in the refrigerator for a handy snack.
- Dried fruits are tasty and easy to carry.
- Keep a fruit bowl in the refrigerator or on a table or countertop. Your family can grab and go!
- An apple is a perfect quick snack—and there are more than 7,500 varieties of apples to try!
- Fruit smoothies, fruit salad, and frozen 100% juice bars are better than high-fat, sugary desserts.
1. Fruits & Veggies–More Matters®
2. Healthy Family Project
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month
The Challenges of Feeding
World Cerebral Palsy Day
About 10,000 infants are diagnosed with CP and up to 1,500 preschoolers in the U.S. are recognized as having CP each year. The United Cerebral Palsy Association estimates that more than 764,000 Americans have CP. Congenital cerebral palsy caused by a brain injury during a baby’s development in the womb is responsible in about 70% of the children who have the condition. It is present at birth, although it may not be detected for months. An additional 20% have congenital cerebral palsy due to a brain injury during the birthing process. In most cases, the cause of congenital cerebral palsy is unknown, however, some possible causes are:
An infection during pregnancy may damage a fetus’s developing nervous system. They include rubella (German measles), cytomegalovirus (a herpes-type virus), and toxoplasmosis (an infection caused by a parasite that can be carried in cat feces or inadequately cooked meat). Other undetected infections in pregnant women are being recognized as an important cause of developmental brain damage in the fetus.
· Severe jaundice in the infant. Jaundice is caused by excessive bilirubin in the blood. Normally, bilirubin is filtered out by the liver. Often, newborns’ livers need a few days to start doing this effectively, so it’s not uncommon for infants to have jaundice for a few days after birth. In most cases, light therapy clears up jaundice and there are no lasting health effects. In rare cases, severe cases of jaundice can damage brain cells.
· Rh incompatibility between mother and infant can be a cause of cerebral palsy. In this blood condition, the mother’s body produces antibodies that destroy the fetus’s blood cells. This leads to jaundice may cause brain damage in the newborn.
· The physical or metabolic trauma of birth can be a cause of cerebral palsy. This can produce brain damage in a fetus whose health has been threatened during development. Severe oxygen deprivation to the brain or significant trauma to the head during labor and delivery can be the cause of cerebral palsy.
Feeding skills have been cited as a contributing factor that can affect the life expectancy of those with CP. Managing these can positively affect the life span of an individual with cerebral palsy. When people with cerebral palsy have feeding and digestive challenges, a nutrition care program can be beneficial. Skilled registered dietitian nutritionists work with physicians to adjust diet, food intake and nutrition supplements to enhance overall health. Effective dietary therapy can be devised to meet the individual’s unique needs taking into account digestive challenges and the ability to properly chew, swallow, and self-feed.
Nutrition practitioners can adjust the textures and consistency of food by pureeing, chopping, and grinding foods for a smoother eating experience. Foods can be softened with broth, gravy, milk, or juices. Liquids can be thickened to improve swallowing. Self-feeding is a skill that significantly enhances the quality of life for someone with a disability, although caregivers, family or friends may still be needed. Speech therapists can teach patients, their friends, or caregivers about adaptive feeding tools that can accommodate different levels of ability. Appropriate techniques can include space between feedings, to allow for natural swallowing, or feeding smaller portions throughout the day. In the most severe cases, some people with cerebral palsy rely on a feeding tube for partial or total nutrition intake. It is important to adjust to allow sufficient time between bites and drinks for natural swallowing. Some meals should be scheduled around medication times to avoid stomach upset, curb appetites and address feelings of being tired.
If a person with cerebral palsy has trouble with asphyxiation, reflux, or pneumonia, he or she should avoid foods, such as nuts, seeds, and hard or stringy foods. Diets can be changed to provide more calories, better balance, compensate for deficiencies and enhance digestion. Vitamin, minerals, and food supplements may help with malabsorption or who tire when eating. High fiber choices can curb constipation while prune and apricot juices may provide natural laxative qualities. Some people with cerebral palsy need to control drooling and aspiration, in addition, use long-term anti-seizure medications can contribute to an increased risk of tooth decay, cavities, gum disease, and bacterial infections. Dietitians may advise substituting added sugars and carbonated drinks with fresh fruits and vegetables. Dentists will encourage proper dental hygiene like regular brushing, drinking fluorinated water and regular checkups
Many people fight stereotypes and those with disabilities are no exception. Barriers individuals with disabilities face begin with people’s attitudes that are often rooted in misinformation and misunderstandings of what it’s like to live with a disability. One misconception is that all people living with disabilities are brave and courageous, but people with disabilities just need to adapt to a currently different lifestyle. Sometimes wheelchairs are used as typical mobility devices rather than for people who are only ill or sickly. In past decades, segregating people with disabilities in separate schools and institutions reinforced the perception that people with disabilities could only interact with others who have disabilities. Any person who does not have a disability can offer assistance, but most people with disabilities prefer to take responsibility for their own care when physically possible both in the community, within all parts of society. It is okay for curious children to ask questions about disability. Discouraging curious children from asking questions teaches children that having a difference or disability is wrong or bad. Many people with a disability will not mind answering a child’s question. People with disabilities go to school, get married, have families, do laundry, grocery shop, laugh, cry, pay taxes, get angry, have prejudices, plan and dream about their future like everyone else. It is important to encourage participation from people with disabilities by providing accessible meetings and event sites. It is important for advocates to speak up when negative words or phrases are used for people with a variety of disabilities.
Cerebral palsy can affect someone who has it in a variety of ways. Some people with cerebral palsy can be impacted by having limited verbal ability, limited cognitive ability, all four limbs affected or just their legs impacted. Some people use one cane or crutch; some people use a walker or two crutches. Some people use a manual wheelchair or motorized wheelchair. Some people may have some nutritional issues due to some difficulty feeding themselves or having digestive issues. You may have met one classmate, colleague or friend with cerebral palsy, but that does not mean even everyone is impacted in the same way by the same diagnosis. All people with disabilities deserve the same level of respect and it is important to help those with disabilities advocate against social misconceptions.
Whole Grain Sampling Day
Whole Grain Stamps
- If a product bears the 100% Stamp (left image above), then all its grain ingredients are whole grain. There is a minimum requirement of 16g (16 grams) – a full serving – of whole grain per labeled serving, for products using the 100% Stamp.
- If a product bears the 50%+ Stamp (middle image), then at least half of its grain ingredients are whole grain. There is a minimum requirement of 8g (8 grams) – a half serving – of whole grain per labeled serving, for products using the 50%+ Stamp. The 50%+ Stamp was added to the Whole Grain Stamps in January of 2017 and will begin appearing on products in the spring and summer of 2017.
- If a product bears the Basic Stamp (right image), it contains at least 8g (8 grams) – a half serving – of whole grain, but may also contain some refined grain.
Recipe: Quinoa Stuffed Acorn Squash
Pecan Day
A healthy snack, but watch the portion size.
The pecan is native to southern North America. First cultivated by Native Americans,
Butternut Squash with Pecans

Nutrient Analysis Services
Ensure accurate and cost effective nutritional analysis for your recipes utilizing an extensive research database and over 25 years experience. A valuable service for the Recipe Blogger, Media, Cookbook Publishers, Writers, Chefs, and Recipe Websites. Your readers will enjoy and benefit from the Nutrition information. Contact: Dietitians-Online.com; Sandra Frank, Ed.D, RDN, LD, FAND at recipenews@gmail.com
Monday, March 23, 2026
National Agricultre Day
Happy National Agriculture Day!
Ag Day is about recognizing - and celebrating - the contribution of agriculture to our everyday lives. The National Ag Day program encourages every American to:
*Understand how food and fiber products are produced.
*Appreciate agriculture's role in providing a safe, abundant, affordable product.
National Ag Day Blog
Monochrome Magic: The Power of Black & White Foods
Snack on sunflower seeds.
Try tofu in soups or prepare it as a main course.
Add white beans to salads or season and serve as a side dish.
Try a glass of low-fat or fat-free milk at bedtime.
Do you know other BLACK foods?
Ways to Increase Black Food Intake:
Add blackberries or black raspberries to salads or yogurt, or carry them as a snack.
Substitute black rice for brown rice.
Use black sesame seeds on fish or salads.
Wellness News employs young adults with "Special Needs" (Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Down Syndrome, Muscular Dystrophy). My staff started the project in September 2010. Over the next five months, we would take over 600 photographs of colorful foods to create the March presentation for NNM. Many of the photographs are available for purchase, with the proceeds going to special needs young adults. Contact Dr. Sandra Frank for additional information (recipenews@gmail.com).
http://www.dietitians-online.com/
http://www.weighing-success.com/
Wellness News (www.weighing-success.com/WellnessNews.html)
Sandra Frank, Ed.D, RDN, FAND
Jake Frank
National Puppy Day
Health Benefits
Health Benefits
• Pet owners are less likely to suffer from depression than those without pets.
• People with pets have lower blood pressure in stressful situations than those without pets.
• Playing with a pet can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine, which calm and relax.
• Pet owners have lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels than those without pets.
• Heart attack patients with pets survive longer than those without.
• Pet owners over age 65 make 30 percent fewer visits to their doctors than those without pets.
• Increasing exercise. Exercise doesn’t have to involve boring repetition at a gym. Taking a dog for a walk, riding a horse, or simply chasing a kitten around are fun ways to fit healthy daily exercise into your schedule. • Reducing anxiety. The companionship of a dog can offer comfort, help ease anxiety, and build self-confidence for people anxious about going out into the world.
• Adding structure and routine to your day. Many pets, especially dogs, require a regular feeding and exercise schedule. No matter your mood—depressed, anxious, or stressed—you’ll always have to get out of bed to feed, exercise, and care for your pet.
• Providing sensory stress relief. Touch and movement are two healthy ways to quickly manage stress. This could involve petting a cat or taking a dog for a walk.
Pets and older adults
The key to aging well is to effectively handle life’s major changes, such as retirement, the loss of loved ones, and the physical changes of aging. Pets can play an important role in healthy aging by:
• Helping you find meaning and joy in life. As you age, you’ll lose things that previously occupied your time and gave your life purpose. You may retire from your career or your children may move far away. Caring for a pet can bring pleasure and help boost your morale and optimism. Taking care of an animal can also provide a sense of self-worth.
• Staying connected. Maintaining a social network isn’t always easy as you grow older. Retirement, illness, death, and moves can take away close friends and family members. And making new friends can get harder. Dogs especially are a great way for seniors to spark up conversations and meet new people.
• Boosting vitality. You can overcome many of the physical challenges associated with aging by taking good care of yourself. Pets encourage playfulness, laughter, and exercise, which can help boost your immune system and increase your energy.
Resources and References
5 Ways Pets Can Improve Your Health
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