Sweet Taps: The Maple Syrup Story

Maple syrup is a syrup usually made from the sap of a variety of maple trees. The Canadian province of Quebec is the largest producer. Vermont is the largest producer in the United States.

Sweet Taps: The Maple Syrup Story

Regulations
· Maple syrup is graded according to scales based on its density and translucency. Sucrose is the most prevalent sugar in maple syrup.
· Canada, syrups must be at least 66 percent sugar and be made exclusively from maple sap to qualify as maple syrup.
· In the United States, the syrup must be made almost entirely from maple sap to be labeled as "maple".
· "Maple-flavored" syrups include maple syrup but may contain additional ingredients.
· "Pancake syrup", "waffle syrup", "table syrup", and similarly named syrups are substitutes which are less expensive than maple syrup

Uses
Maple syrup is often added to pancakes, waffles, French toast, fruit, ice cream, and hot cereal. It is used as a sweetener or flavoring agent in baking and in granola, applesauce, baked beans, candied sweet potatoes, winter squash, cakes, pies, and bread. Culinary professionals praise its unique flavor.

Nutrition
Maple syrup has a significant amount of manganese (13 grams = 22% DV) and contains potassium and calcium.

How It's Made - Maple Syrup


Reference: Wikipedia. Maple Syrup

Sip, Savor, Celebrate Hot Cocoa!

Taste pure coziness with a cup of steaming hot cocoa.

Save Calories and fat using Skim (non-fat) 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 Difference Between Hot Cocoa and Hot Chocolate

Hot cocoa and hot chocolate differ in the type of chocolate used, consistency, and taste.

Hot cocoa
Made from cocoa powder, powdered milk, sweetener, and water or milk. Hot cocoa is thinner and sweeter than hot chocolate.

Hot chocolate
Made from grated chocolate, milk, cream, or water. Hot chocolate is thicker and creamier than hot cocoa.

The Polar Express, "Hot Chocolate Song" 

December 7, National Cotton Candy Day - The Secrets of Sugar

Cotton candy (also known as candy floss) is spun sugar. A typical serving on a stick is approximately 1 ounce/30 grams. Cotton candy contains sugar and often food coloring. This type of food is known as concentrated sweet or empty calories. One serving is equivalent to about 13 sugar cubes.

Nutrition Information

An educated consumer has the ability to make
wise food choices.

                 The Secrets of Sugar

National Cook for your Pets Day - Cooking Tips and Foods to Avoid

Cooking Tips
No need to add anything, pets don’t need seasoning
Introduce new foods gradually
Make sure to avoid these foods

  Alcohol

  Avocado

  Chocolate, Coffee, and Caffeine

  Citrus

  Coconut and Coconut Oil

  Grapes and Raisins

  Macadamia Nuts

  Milk and Dairy

  Nuts

  Onions, Garlic, Chives

  Raw/Undercooked Meat, Eggs and Bones

  Salt and Salty Snack Foods

  Xylitol

  Yeast Dough

Always check with your vet before changing your pet's diet
Make sure to enjoy cooking and add plenty of love!


Resources and References
1. ASPCA, People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets

October 24, Food Day - Food Heroes

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.

October 16, World Food Day - Grow, Nourish, Sustain. Together

 World Food Day

Either we build a future for all, or
there will be no acceptable future for anyone.

World Food Day

World Food Day was established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in November 1979. FAO celebrates World Food Day each year on October 16th, the day on which the Organization was founded in 1945.

The official World Food Day theme is announced by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The goal is to focus on World Food Day observances and raise awareness and understanding of approaches to ending hunger. 

The 2024 theme, "Right to food for a better life and a better future  is a Human Right." 

World Food Day

 

Food is the essence of life and the bedrock of our cultures and communities. Preserving access to safe and nutritious food is and will continue to be an essential part of the response to, particularly for, poor and vulnerable communities.

In a moment like this, it is more important than ever to recognize the need to support our food heroes - farmers and workers throughout the food system - who ensure that food makes its way from farm to fork, even amid disruptions.

Achieving food security for all is at the heart of FAO's efforts—making sure people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. 

The three main goals are the eradication of hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition; the elimination of poverty and the driving forward of economic and social progress for all; and, the sustainable management and utilization of natural resources, including land, water, air, climate and genetic resources for the benefit of present and future generations.

The objectives of World Food Day are to:
    Don’t waste water.

    Diversify your diet.
    Keep fish populations afloat.
    Keep soils and water clean.
    Buy organic
    Energy-efficient is best
    Use solar panels or other green energy systems
    Buy only what you need
    Pick ugly fruits and vegetables
    Don’t let labels fool you
    Limit your plastic
    Recycle paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum
    Store food wisely
    Love your leftovers
    Make plant food
    Be rubbish-savvy
    Make cities greener
    Shop local.
    Protect forests and save paper.
    Bike, walk, or use public transport
    Be a conscientious consumer
    Keep up to date on climate change
    Be an advocate!

*Encourage attention to agricultural food production and to stimulate national, bilateral, multilateral, and non-governmental efforts to this end;

*Encourage economic and technical cooperation among developing countries;

*Encourage the participation of rural people, particularly women and the least privileged categories, in decisions and activities influencing their living conditions;

*Heighten public awareness of the problem of hunger in the world;

*Promote the transfer of technologies to the developing world; and

*Strengthen international and national solidarity in the struggle against hunger, malnutrition, and poverty and draw attention to achievements in food and agricultural development.

To learn more about World Food Day, visit the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

National School Lunch Week

"In the long view, no nation is healthier than its children, or more prosperous than its farmers." - President Harry Truman, on signing the 1946 National School Lunch Act. Through the Years The National School Lunch Program was created in 1946 when President Truman signed the National School Lunch Act into law. The National School Lunch Program is a federal nutrition assistance program. Through the years, the program has expanded to include the School Breakfast Program, Snack Program, Child and Adult Care Feeding Program, and the Summer Food Service Program. In 1962, Congress designated the week beginning on the second Sunday in October each year as "National School Lunch Week." The video below looks at the school lunch program from the late 1930s to the present day and includes President Obama signing the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. One can see from the photographs some of the changes in the foods provided. There is an increase in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and low-fat dairy. (Part of the video has clips from a film produced by the USDA in the mid-60s.) School Lunch Resources  Organizations, Associations, and Programs School Nutrition Association “Celebrate NSLW. School Lunch invites creative and fun new menu items while appealing to students in all grade levels. The School Nutrition Association is a national, nonprofit professional organization.  Mission. To advance good nutrition for all children. National Farm to School Month Farm to School is broadly defined as any program that connects schools (K-12) and local farms with the goal of serving healthy meals in school cafeterias, improving student nutrition, providing agriculture, health, nutrition education, and supporting local and regional farmers. Farm to School programs exist in all 50 states, but since Farm to School is a grassroots movement, programs are as diverse as the communities they serve. About the Farm to Preschool program at UEPI, Occidental College The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential childcare institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost, or free lunches to children each school day. The program was established under the National School Lunch Act, signed by President Harry Truman in 1946. Kids Eat Right Kids Eat Right is your source for scientifically-based health and nutrition information you can trust to help your child grow healthy. As a parent or caretaker, you need reliable resources, and you can find them here, backed by the expertise of nutrition professionals. Team Nutrition. Campaign launched by USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to encourage and teach children, parents, and caregivers to eat healthy and be physically active every day.  Choose MyPlate. The website features practical information and tips to help Americans build healthier diets. Elmo Doesn't Fear School Lunch Elmo joins White House, Chef Sam Kass in the White House kitchen to talk about the importance of healthy and delicious school meals.  We Can. The We Can! GO, SLOW, and WHOA Foods fact sheet (pdf) can be posted on the refrigerator or used when grocery shopping. The We Can! Parent Tips - Snack (pdf) 100 Calories or Less tip sheet can help consumers choose vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat (1 percent) milk for healthier snacks. Healthy Children The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and its member pediatricians dedicate their efforts and resources to the health, safety, and well-being of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. Healthy Children - Nutrition; Food Allergies in Children Action for Healthy Kids: we believe there are ways to reduce and prevent childhood obesity and undernourishment. Learn how Action for Healthy Kids is working with schools, families, and communities to help our kids learn to be healthier and be ready to learn. National Dairy Council® (NDC), Child Nutrition Fuel Up sponsored by National Dairy Council and the NFL, in collaboration with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Fuel Up is an in-school program that encourages the availability and consumption of nutrient-rich foods, along with daily physical activity. Fruits and Veggies   Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture, stated: “National School Lunch Week reminds us how important it is that our children be healthy and active, that they do not go hungry, and that they have access to nutritious meals." 

National Pierogi Day - Potato Pierogis

Pierogi are filled dumplings of East European origin. They are made by wrapping pockets of unleavened dough around a savory or sweet filling and cooking them in boiling water. These dumplings are popular in many Eastern European cuisines.

Pierogi are often semi-circular but triangular and rectangular ones are also found. Typically may be stuffed with mashed potatoes, fried onions, cheese, cabbage, sauerkraut, meat, mushrooms, spinach, or other ingredients depending on the cook's preferences. Dessert versions of the dumpling can be stuffed with cheese or with a fresh fruit filling, such as cherry, strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, peach, plum, or apple.

Potato Pierogis
4 servings

Ingredients
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 cup cold mashed potatoes
1/2 cup grated reduced-fat Cheddar cheese, (2 ounces)
24 wonton wrappers, (about 6 ounces)
2 cups thinly sliced onions
1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream

Directions
1. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat; add chopped onion and cook, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes.
2. Transfer to a bowl and mix in mashed potatoes and cheese.
3. Lay a wonton wrapper on a cutting board. (Keep remaining wrappers covered.) Cut wrapper into a circle with a 3-inch round cookie cutter, preferably serrated.
4. Place about 2 teaspoons potato filling just to one side of the center of the circle.
5. Moisten the edges with water, using a pastry brush. Fold wrapper over filling and press edges together to seal.
6. Flute the edge with the tines of a fork. (Be careful not to pierce the wrapper.)
7. Set the pierogi on a baking sheet and continue filling pierogis until the filling is used up. (Keep prepared pierogis covered with a damp cloth as you work.)
8. Put a large pot of water on to boil. Heat remaining 1 teaspoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat; add sliced onions and cook, stirring often, until tender and lightly caramelized, 10 to 20 minutes. (Reduce heat and/or add a little water, if necessary, to prevent scorching.) Set aside and keep warm.
9. Drop in about half the pierogis in boiling water. Cook until wrappers are tender and pierogis float to the top, 3 to 4 minutes. Retrieve the pierogis with a slotted spoon and place them in a pan with onions. Repeat with the remaining pierogis.
10. Place the pierogis and onions over medium-low heat and shake the pan to coat the pierogis with onions; warm through. Serve immediately with reduced-fat sour cream.

Resources

1. Wikipedia, Pierogi

World Farm Animal Day and Vegetarian Awareness Month

World Farm Animal Day, founded in 1983, is dedicated to exposing and memorializing the needless suffering and death of cows, pigs, turkeys, chickens, and other innocent, sentient animals raised and slaughtered for food. World Farm Animals Day will continue until animals are no longer seen as commodities and are raised for their flesh and by-products.

Animal Rescues That Will Make You Happy
that PETA Exists

Vegetarian Resources

1. The Vegetarian Resource Group
2. Peta
3. Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetics Practice Group (VN DPG), Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
4. The Vegan Society
5. Ginny Messina, RDN - Vegan Dietitian: Recipes to Try - Pinterest 
6. MyPlate, Healthy Eating for Vegetarians
7. USDA Food Patterns: Healthy Vegetarian Eating Pattern - Dietary Guideline for Americans 2020-2025 

Note from Author.  Education materials are designed to be "Family Friendly;" therefore, I chose not to portray the slaughter of animals.

September 22, Dear Food Diary - A Secret to Weight Control

Today is Dear Diary Day, a perfect time to introduce the Food and Activity Diary (or Journal).

Food and Activity Diary

No matter how many great weight control programs are out there, the Food and Activity Diary is one of the key tools to successful weight control.

The research for my doctoral degree was on the study of people who successfully lost at least 20 pounds, kept it off for at least five years and were still at their desired weight range at the time of the study. I wanted to know if there were common factors leading to their success at maintaining weight loss. One of the factors turned out to be the Food Diary. Seventy-three percent of the individuals studied used a diary, journal or some form of record keeping.

You might be surprised by what you discover about your habits. It’s easy to overlook a handful of Parmesan cheese tossed on your pasta or the amount of salad dressing you use. In addition, you may notice patterns of eating; such as boredom, anger, sadness, happiness, or 12 noon. By becoming aware of habits, you can start to make changes.

A Diary is a record of your life in progress. Use the diary to record your daily foods, activities, thoughts, and goals. You will lose weight and keep it off. And if you have the chance to read it ten years from now, you will have fond memories and a documented journey of your adventure and success.

The Food and Activity Diary was designed to be used by any weight control program. So whether your counting calories, carbohydrates, fat, proteins, points, or food groups you can easily use the Food and Activity Diary.

How to Use the Diary

Motivation, Inspiration and Positive Thinking. Start your day off on a positive note. If you start to slide, remember the positive thought for the day.

Record the foods and the amounts of everything you eat and drink, even one grape. Don’t forget to weigh or measure your food. In time, you will be able to guess the size, but for now make sure you have a kitchen scale, measuring cups, and measuring spoons. See the portion control section at Weighing Success for suggested measuring tools.

Be honest. Do not write down a carrot when you just ate a hot fudge sundae.

Record foods right after eating, otherwise you may forget.

In the tracking column, note the number of calories, carbohydrates, fats, proteins, points or food groups you have consumed. The food plan you are on will determine what you will track.

Obtaining nutrition information on food products is easy today. Check the Internet, the nutrition label, or a book on foods and nutrients.

At the end of the day, total up your numbers and place them in the summary box. How did you do? There is also a place for you to monitor your activities or exercise, thoughts, and goals.

At the end of each 7 days, there is a week in review section. Look at what you have accomplished and set new goals. Practice positive thinking and complete the weekly self-awareness assignment.

Click on the link below to take you to a practice sheet and a seven day food diary. I have filled in the first day as an example for you to follow.
Seven Day Food Diary (pdf files)

Free Resources
USDA, Choose MyPlate 
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH. Daily Food and Activity Diary
WebMD Portion Size Guide 

International Day of Charity and Hunger Action Month

 Hunger knows no boundaries — it touches every community in the U.S., including your own.

The International Day of Charity is observed annually on 5 September. This day was chosen in order to commemorate the anniversary of the passing away of Mother Teresa, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 "for work undertaken in the struggle to overcome poverty and distress, which also constitute a threat to peace." It was declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012.

The prime purpose of the International Day of Charity is to raise awareness and provide a common platform for charity-related activities all over the world for individuals, charitable, philanthropic, and volunteer organizations for their own purposes on the local, national, regional, and international level.

A charity can alleviate the worst effects of humanitarian crises, and supplement public services in health care, education, housing, and child protection.

The following is a summary of the information found on the Feeding America Website. 

September is Hunger Action Month™, when Feeding America and member food banks ask everyone in America to take action to fight hunger in their community, all month long. Hunger Action Month is your opportunity to join a movement that has a real and lasting impact on our effort to feed more Americans than ever before. Whether it’s by advocating and raising awareness, making donations, or volunteering, you can find the way that’s right for you to make a difference during Hunger Action Month. Together, we can solve hunger.

Feeding America is a nationwide network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs that provide food and services to people each year. Together, we are the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief organization. Our network serves virtually every community in all 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico.

The process of getting food to hungry Americans requires a dynamic infrastructure and sophisticated management. Feeding America secures donations from national food and grocery manufacturers, retailers, shippers, packers and growers and from government agencies and other organizations. Feeding America then moves donated food and grocery product to member food banks.

The food banks, in turn, distribute food and grocery items through food pantries and meal programs that serve families, children, seniors, and others at risk of hunger. Last year alone, the Feeding America network distributed more than 3 billion meals to people in need.

Feeding America nationwide network of food banks also supports programs that improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses, and government all have a role in ending hunger. 

Hunger can affect anyone. Feeding America has identified groups at risk, including young children, hunger in the suburbs, rural hunger, senior hunger, and the working poor.

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

Special on Childhood Hunger
Kate is a fictional character who represents the very situation in which many children find themselves when their parents lose their jobs. Find out how you can help this Hunger Action Month http://hungeractionmonth.org/

Childhood hunger hinders a young person's ability to learn. They are more likely to suffer from poverty as an adult. Scientific evidence suggests that hungry children are less likely to become productive citizens. Insufficient nutrition puts children at risk for illness and weakens their immune system. The immature immune systems of young children, ages 0 – 5, make them especially vulnerable to nutritional deprivation and as a result, the ability to learn, grow, and fight infections are adversely affected.

Please find out how you can help during
 Hunger Action Month http://hungeractionmonth.org/