International Picnic Day. Your Guide to the Perfect Picnic

June 18 is International Picnic Day, an informal food holiday. On this day, food is brought from home or a market and eaten outdoors. 

The origin of picnic day dates back to medieval times. After a successful hunt, people would gather outside for a picnic. International Picnic Day was possibly developed and promoted to bring families together for outside activities, family reunions, exercise, relaxation, and an appreciation of nature.

Traditional foods served on International Picnic Day include salads, sandwiches, beverages, and desserts. If a grill is available, include cooked meats, fish, poultry, and vegetables. 

Picnic Food Safety

Before setting out your picnic feast, ensure your hands and surfaces are clean.

Place cold food in a cooler with ice or frozen gel packs. Cold food should be stored at 40°F or below to prevent bacterial growth. Meat, poultry, and seafood should be packed while frozen to stay colder longer.

Pack beverages in one cooler and perishable foods in another. This will prevent the perishable foods from being exposed to warm outdoor temperatures.

Limit the times the cooler is opened to keep the contents cold longer.

Be sure to keep raw meat, poultry, and seafood securely wrapped. This keeps their juices from contaminating prepared and cooked foods or foods that will be eaten raw, such as fruits and vegetables.

Rinse fresh fruits and vegetables under tap water before packing them in the cooler.

Picnic Recipes.
1. Top Picnic Recipes. Good Foods.
2. Perfectly Portable Picnic Recipes, Food Network.
3. Best Picnic Recipes That Are Easy to Make and Take with You, Country Living.
4. Picnic Recipes, Allrecipes

For more food safety tips, visit 

http://www.fightbac.org

June, Migraine & Headache Awareness Month Headaches and the Food Connection

The Food Connection and Migraines:
Understanding How Diet May Influence Headache Frequency

Migraines affect millions of people worldwide and can significantly impact daily life. While genetics, hormones, stress, and environmental factors all play a role, growing evidence suggests that food choices may influence migraine frequency and severity in some individuals.

Understanding the relationship between food and migraines can help sufferers identify potential triggers and make informed dietary choices.

What Is a Migraine?

A migraine is more than just a headache. It is a neurological condition that can cause intense, throbbing pain, often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light, sound, or smell. Some individuals also experience visual disturbances known as an aura before a migraine begins.

Migraine attacks can last from a few hours to several days and vary greatly from person to person.

How Food May Trigger Migraines

Researchers believe that certain foods and beverages may trigger migraines in susceptible individuals. However, food triggers are highly individualized, meaning a food that causes migraines in one person may have no effect on another.

Food-related migraine triggers may involve:

• Changes in blood sugar levels
• Dehydration
• Food additives and preservatives
• Naturally occurring compounds in foods
• Inflammatory responses
• Interactions with neurotransmitters such as serotonin

Common Food Triggers

Aged Cheeses

Aged cheeses contain tyramine, a naturally occurring compound formed during the aging process. Tyramine has been linked to migraine attacks in some people.

Examples include:

• Blue cheese
• Parmesan
• Cheddar
• Swiss cheese

Processed Meats

Processed meats often contain nitrates and nitrites used as preservatives. These compounds may dilate blood vessels and contribute to migraine symptoms.

Examples include:

• Hot dogs
• Sausages
• Bacon
• Deli meats

Alcohol

Alcohol, particularly red wine, is a commonly reported migraine trigger. Histamines, sulfites, and dehydration may contribute to its effects.

Caffeine

Caffeine can be both helpful and harmful. Small amounts may relieve headache symptoms for some individuals, while excessive consumption or caffeine withdrawal can trigger migraines.

Artificial Sweeteners

Some people report migraine symptoms after consuming products containing artificial sweeteners, especially aspartame.

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)

MSG is a flavor enhancer commonly used in processed foods and restaurant meals. Some migraine sufferers report increased symptoms after consuming foods containing MSG.

The Role of Blood Sugar

Skipping meals or going long periods without eating can cause blood sugar fluctuations that may trigger migraines.

To help maintain stable blood sugar levels:

• Eat regular meals
• Include protein with meals and snacks
• Choose whole grains over refined carbohydrates
• Stay hydrated throughout the day

Foods That May Help Prevent Migraines

Although no single food can prevent migraines, some nutrients have shown promise in supporting migraine management.

Magnesium-Rich Foods

Magnesium deficiency has been associated with migraines.

Foods rich in magnesium include:

• Spinach
• Pumpkin seeds
• Almonds
• Black beans
• Avocados

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fats may help reduce inflammation.

Sources include:

• Salmon
• Sardines
• Mackerel
• Chia seeds
• Flaxseeds

Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)

Research suggests riboflavin may help reduce migraine frequency in some individuals.

Sources include:

• Eggs
• Dairy products
• Lean meats
• Mushrooms
• Almonds

Keeping a Migraine Food Diary

One of the most effective ways to identify dietary triggers is to keep a detailed food diary.

Record:

• Foods and beverages consumed
• Time of meals
• Migraine symptoms
• Stress levels
• Sleep patterns
• Physical activity

Patterns may emerge over several weeks, helping pinpoint potential triggers.

When to Seek Professional Guidance

Because migraine triggers are highly individualized, it is important not to eliminate large groups of foods without professional guidance. A registered dietitian or healthcare provider can help develop a balanced nutrition plan while identifying potential dietary triggers.

Conclusion

Food is not the sole cause of migraines, but it can be an important factor for some individuals. Understanding personal triggers, maintaining stable blood sugar levels, staying hydrated, and focusing on nutrient-rich foods may help reduce the frequency and severity of migraine attacks. By paying attention to dietary patterns and working with healthcare professionals, many people can take meaningful steps toward better migraine management.

References

American Migraine Foundation. (2024). Diet and Migraine. Retrieved from https://americanmigrainefoundation.org

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Migraine Information Page. Retrieved from https://www.ninds.nih.gov

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Nutrition and Neurological Health. Retrieved from https://www.hsph.harvard.edu

Martin, V. T., & Vij, B. (2016). Diet and Headache: Part 1. Headache, 56(9), 1543-1552. American Headache Society. Migraine Resources and Education. Retrieved from https://americanheadachesociety.org

June 2, MyPlate Birthday

MyPlate is a reminder to find your healthy eating style and build it throughout your lifetime. Everything you eat and drink matters. The right mix can help you be healthier now and in the future. This means:

• Focus on variety, amount, and nutrition.
  
  
• Choose foods and beverages with less saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars.
  
  
• Start with small changes to build healthier eating styles.
  
  
• Support healthy eating for everyone.

Eating healthy is a journey shaped by many factors, including our stage of life, situations, preferences, access to food, culture, traditions, and the personal decisions we make over time. All your food and beverage choices count. MyPlate offers ideas and tips to help you create a healthier eating style that meets your individual needs and improves your health.

MyPlate was launched on June 2, 2011.

Cherry Dessert Day - Celebrate Cherries and the Health Benefits

About seventy percent of the cherries produced in the United States come from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Utah. There are two main types of cherries: sweet and sour. Sour cherries are lower in calories and higher in vitamin C and beta-carotene than sweet cherries.

From Tree to Table

Selection
Select firm, red cherries with stems attached. Avoid soft, shriveled, or blemished cherries. Good cherries should be large (one inch or more in diameter), glossy, plump, hard, and dark-colored for their variety. Avoid fruit that is bruised or has cuts on the dark surface.

How to Store
Refrigerate cherries for up to 10 days.

Nutrition Benefits
Fat-free; saturated fat-free; sodium free; cholesterol free; good source of vitamin C; good source of potassium.

Health Benefits

Cancer
Sweet cherries have several cancer-preventive components including fiber, vitamin C, carotenoids, and anthocyanins. The potential role of sweet cherries in cancer prevention lies mostly in the anthocyanin content, especially in cyanidin. Sweet cherries are a good source of cyanidins, which appear to act as an antioxidant and may reduce cancer risk.

Cardiovascular Disease
Sweet cherries have been shown to have significant levels of anthocyanins as well as other pigments in perhaps smaller concentrations that together provide synergistic effects thought to be protective to heart and related vascular tissue

Diabetes
Researchers are interested in the role of anthocyanins in reducing insulin resistance and glucose intolerance. The lower glycemic response shown in relation to cherry consumption may be the result of glucose-lowering effects of cherry phytochemicals in combination with the fiber content of cherries.

Potassium
Sweet cherries are considered a good source of dietary potassium, with approximately 260 mg potassium for every cup of fresh cherries consumed. Adequate potassium intake has shown to reduce the risk for hypertension and stroke.

Quercetin
Sweet cherries also contain a small amount of quercetin. Quercetin is an antioxidant which may play a beneficial role in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and cancer.

Melatonin
Cherries are one plant food source of melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone that plays a role in promoting healthy sleep patterns.

Ease muscle soreness
Researchers believe tart cherries’ antioxidants protect against exercise-induced free radicals, which can lead to painful inflammation.

Gout
Cherries may help reduce the swelling, inflammation, and tenderness associated with gout. Research reveals eating about 2 cups fresh sweet Bing cherries daily lowered uric acid levels by 15%.

Recipes

1. Health, Health Benefits of Cherries
2. Better Homes and Gardens, Healthy Cherry Recipes
3. The Greatest Table: 5 Healthy Cherry Recipes from Around the Web

International Day for Biological Diversity

International Day for Biological Diversity 

 2024 Theme 

"Be part of the Plan"

The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity is pleased to announce the Biodiversity Day 2024: 

Be part of the Plan

Although every Biodiversity Day has its own special significance, this year’s global celebrations bring a renewed sense of hope.

Around the world, governments and people are showing what they are doing to Build Back Biodiversity.

Biodiversity remains the answer to several sustainable development challenges. From nature-based solutions to climate, health issues, food and water security, and sustainable livelihoods, biodiversity is the foundation upon which we can build back better.

“From individual species through entire ecosystems, biological diversity is vital for human health and well-being. The quality of the water we drink, the food we eat, and the air we breathe all depend on keeping the natural world in good health.”

- António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General

Part of the International Day for Biological Diversity focuses on biodiversity as the foundation for our food and health and as a key catalyst for transforming food systems and improving human well-being. Join the conversation, take action, and be a catalyst for change! Below is a list of things that you can do to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity for your well-being:

*Reduce your meat consumption

*Eat and purchase seasonal foods

*Buy local foods

*Reduce your food waste

*Compost your food scraps

*Reduce food packaging by using reusable bags or reusing

  glass jars or containers

*Avoid single-use plastics like plastic straws, coffee cups, 

  plastic cutlery, take out containers or plastic water bottles

*Promote local and indigenous biodiversity for food and 

  nutrition


Resource
1. International Day for Biological Diversity - 2024 Theme

World Day for Cultural Diversity Exploring Food Diversity

Today is a beautiful day to celebrate the many cultural foods that make up American Cuisine. The diversity can be seen as we travel across the country. There are regional differences and the influences of immigrants from all over the world.

New England is known for seafood, particularly lobster and creamy clam chowder. The Southern states are known for collard greens (leafy greens), chicken and dumplings, black-eyed peas, and cornbread. Grits is a popular breakfast dish in the South. The Midwest has traditionally been a beef and grain-producing area, so meats, potatoes, and bread are foods found there. Fresh salmon is a specialty in the Pacific Northwest, and the Mexican influence can be seen in the Southwest. California and Hawaii are known for growing many different fruits, and Alaska is known for its fish and King Crab.

As a nation of immigrants, our foods have expanded to include worldwide cuisines, traditions, and religious influences. Many ethnic dishes are joining the American food culture and are seeing an incredible boost in familiarity, approval, and consumption.

Foods from All Over the World

Healthy Choices
Table of Cuisines (from Menu Solutions)

Cuisine Healthier Choices Limit Delicatessen Selections Extra-lean corned beef, pastrami, roast beef, beef brisket, and turkey breast are best. Whole wheat or multi-grain bread; chicken or tuna salad; chopped herring; chef salad; fresh fruit plate with cottage cheese; dry bagel; borscht or broth soup; tossed salad, sliced tomatoes, beet salad, or carrot raisin salad. High-fat meats (regular corn beef, hot pastrami, beef bologna, hot dogs, knockwurst, liverwurst, and salami); potato salad; mayonnaise-based salads; combo sandwiches (Reuben); smoked fish (lox); creamy coleslaw; chopped liver; excess cream cheese and cheese spreads; sauerkraut (high in sodium). Pizza Parlor Selections You cannot go wrong by ordering extra toppings such as onions, peppers, mushrooms, tomato slices, broccoli, and spinach. Other possibilities include chicken, crab meat, or shrimp.   Fat starts with the basic cheese, so avoid extra cheese, particularly mozzarella. Other culprits include bacon, meatballs, pepperoni, sausage, prosciutto, and anchovies. Sandwich Shop Selections Both 100% whole wheat and pita bread are great choices. Good sandwich fillers are grilled chicken breast, ham, roast beef, and turkey breast. Instruct the server not to add butter, margarine, or mayonnaise to the bread and substitute with ketchup, mustard, or horseradish. Good salad choices include chef, garden, or Greek salads, but remember to ask for low-calorie dressings on the side and to omit egg or cheese. Broth-type soups such as barley, beef, chicken, lentils, split peas, and vegetable noodles are tasty. Avoid croissants, cheese, excess mayonnaise, egg, and creamy soups. Beware of "diet plates" with big burgers and scoops of cottage cheese, which have loads of saturated fat. Omit cheeseburgers, cheese sandwiches, or grilled cheese "melts" over chicken and seafood salads and cold cuts. Combo sandwiches with meat and cheese and club sandwiches are best avoided due to the large portion size. Remember that salad combos such as tuna, chicken, and crab meat have lots of mayonnaise. Avoid creamy soups such as chowders or cream of "anything." Submarine Shop Selections Order the smaller size roll or pita bread. Turkey, smoked turkey, ham, and roast beef are acceptable. Ask the server to go light on the meats, omit the mayonnaise or oil, and generously load up on the shredded lettuce, onion, peppers, pickles, and sliced tomatoes. Choose salads as alternatives, such as chef or tossed salads with perhaps a scoop of tuna, chicken, or seafood served with Italian or pita bread.  Omit meats like bologna, Italian cold cuts, salami (hard or Genoa), and sausages. Stay away from cheeses and steak and cheese. Other items to omit include antipasto salads, fried eggplant, and chicken cutlets. Chinese Selections Order plain steamed rice, boiled, steamed, or stir-fried vegetables (ask for little oil), moderate fish and shellfish, non-fried tofu, skinless poultry, or egg rolls (insides only). Anything fried (rice or crispy noodles), or with sweet and sour sauce; egg dishes or soups; salty soups; avoid duck and limit beef, pork, and pickled foods; excess soy sauce; ask the chef to leave out MSG and cut down the use of commonly used corn starch, sugar, and salt. Indian Selections Order chutney (except mango); curry sauce (yogurt-based); fish (omit butter basting); yogurt with shredded vegetables; basmati rice. Biryani (vegetable dish); chapatti or papadum bread; tandoori chicken; lentil or mulligatawny soups Creamy or high-salt soups; clarified butter (ghee); deep-fried meats; poori or paratha bread; fried samosa or pakora; ask to prepare dishes without excess salt and to omit coconut milk, if possible; omit garnishes with nuts or dried fruit. Italian Selections Order antipasto (no oil or excess meats); crusty bread (no oil or butter); broiled or grilled fish, seafood, chicken, and meats; garlic; plain or vegetable pasta; fresh unsalted mozzarella cheese; steamed leafy vegetables (kale and broccoli); salads; fresh tomatoes; zucchini; ices. Garlic bread, stuffed pasta (ravioli and lasagna), fried eggplant, meatballs or sausage, sauces with butter, cream, oil, and wine base, pesto sauce, cheese-filled or parmesan-style dishes, spumoni or tortoni ice cream. Beware of risotto rice, polenta, high-fat, high-sodium prosciutto ham and pancetta, veal cutlets, and Caesar salads. Japanese Selections Order rice; steamed fish; sushi; sashimi; miso soup; raw vegetables; tofu; sukiyaki (stir-fried); yakimono (broiled fish). Tempura and other deep-fried food; excess peanut and teriyaki sauce; pickled foods; excess salt and sugar in sauces; excess salt in soy marinades and sauces. Mediterranean (Middle East) Selections You can order couscous, bulgar, pita bread, and legumes such as chickpeas, fava beans, lentils, hummus, grape leaves, and yogurt. Phyllo dough dishes are used for sweet desserts such as baklava, feta, and kasseri cheese, excess anchovies, and olives, high-sodium foods, feta, olives, and sausage, appetizers in general, except salads, and excess fat from butter, olive oil, omelets, and tahini. Mexican Selections Order soft-shell tacos; burritos; fajitas; salsa; chicken enchilada; black beans or Mexican rice; grilled fish or chicken; salads without chips or shells; moderate corn or flour tortilla, using minimal oil; ceviche (marinated fish); gazpacho; chile con carne soup, with no cheese. Acceptable items include shredded lettuce, spicy meats, diced tomatoes, salsa verde, picante or tomato sauce, and Mexican salads as appetizers, with salsa as the dressing. Chips, nachos, super nachos, chili con queso, fried taco or tortilla shells, guacamole, sour cream, cheese, refried beans, beef and pork dishes, olives, and items such as chilies rellenos, chimichangas, chorizo (sausage), and flautas. Thai Selections You can order steamed rice, broth-based soups (tom yum koang and pok taek), non-fried proteins such as chicken, seafood, and tofu, vegetables, satay, or steamed mussels, or salads with light dressings made with Thai spices. Excess sodium, soy sauce, sugar, MSG, coconut milk, coconut oil, cream dishes, high milk, sodium soups, fried appetizers, curry or curry sauce, fried eggplant, cashew and peanut toppings. Resources 1. United Nations. World Day for Cultural Diversity

National Museum Day A Look at Food Museums in the United States

Each year, the International Council of Museums (ICOM) Advisory Committee proposes a theme that can be interpreted by museums to promote their issues within society. Due to Covid19, some of the museums may be closed or have limited hours. Check with the ICOM website to view virtual museums.

The museum is an institution for preserving and communicating the past, yet it is grounded in the present. It is a link between the generations, as it allows present and future generations to better comprehend their origins and history.

Resources.

Wikipedia - List of food and beverage museums

A Look at Food Museums
in the United States

The Southern Food and Beverage Museum

is a non-profit museum based in New Orleans, Louisiana with a mission to explore the culinary history of the American Southern states, to explain the roots of Southern food and drinks. Their exhibits focus on every aspect of food in the South, from the cultural traditions to the basic recipes and communities formed through food. The museum includes a full-service restaurant, a children's gallery, a culinary innovation center, an exhibit for every southern state, and a culinary library. While based in New Orleans, the Museum examines and celebrates all the cultures that have come together through the centuries to create the South’s unique culinary heritage. It brings all races and ethnicity to the table to tell the tale, from the farmer and the homemaker to the line cook and the celebrity chef. The Southern Food and Beverage Museum celebrates, interprets, investigates, entertains, and preserves. A collaboration of many, the Museum allows food lovers from all areas – Southerners and non-Southerners, locals and tourists, academics and food industry insiders - to pull up their chairs and dig into the food and drink of the South. And although based in New Orleans, they bring a message about the entire South to the world through exhibits, a collection of oral histories and videos, and other research. Address: 1504 Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70113

California Citrus State Historic Park 

is an open-air museum in the state park system of California, USA, interpreting the historic cultural landscape of the citrus industry. The park preserves some of the rapidly vanishing cultural landscape of the citrus industry and tells the story of the industry's role in the history and development of California. The park recaptures the time when "Citrus was King" in California, recognizing the importance of the citrus industry in southern California. Park address: 9400 Dufferin Ave., Riverside, CA 92504

Wilbur Chocolate Factory & Candy Americana Museum

The company's Wilbur Chocolate Factory in Lititz sells an assortment of Wilbur chocolates and other candy and features the free Candy Americana Museum that tells the history of the company and how their chocolate is made. The exhibits include antique chocolate molds, tins, and boxes, as well as hand-painted European and Oriental antique porcelain chocolate pots. The museum was created by Penny Buzzard, wife of former Wilbur president John Buzzard, and opened in 1972. Wilbur Chocolate Company, 48 North Broad Street, Lititz, PA 17543

The Idaho Potato Museum

is a museum devoted to the potato, located in Blackfoot, Idaho. The rich graphics showcasing the history of the potato will lead you through the revolution of the potato industry. From the original potato planted in Idaho to the largest potato crisp made by the Pringle’s Company in Jackson, TN. The Museum represents significant ties between the railroad and the potato industry and was built in 1912. The Potato Museum provides information on potato history, the growing and harvesting process, nutrition, trivia, and educational potato facts. The museum is located in downtown Blackfoot, Idaho at 130 NW Main St.  

The Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum (MSIM)

was established in 1986 to preserve and interpret the maritime history and heritage of Biloxi and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. It accomplishes this mission through an array of exhibits on shrimping, oystering, recreational fishing, wetlands, managing marine resources, charter boats, marine blacksmithing, wooden boat building, net-making, catboats/Biloxi skiff, shrimp peeling machine, and numerous historic photographs and objects. In August 2005, the Museum was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. The museum reopened in 2014. 

The Museum of Food and Drink

The National Dairy Shrine

The shrine promotes the dairy industry and records its history. The National Dairy Shrine's museum contains exhibits about the history of dairying. Dairying objects in its collection include butter churns, milking machines, a treadle, and items used in the Babcock test for the fat content of milk, which was developed nearby at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. National Dairy Shrine brings together dairy producers, scientists, students, educators, marketers, and others who share a desire to preserve our dairy heritage and keep the dairy industry strong. It was founded in 1949. National Dairy Shrine Museum / Hoard Historical Museum, 401 Whitewater Avenue, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538

The National Mustard Museum

is a museum in the heart of downtown Middleton, Wisconsin. It boasts a large display of prepared mustards. It is often featured in lists of unusual museums in the United States. The museum was conceived and founded by Barry Levenson, former Assistant Attorney General of Wisconsin. It centers on a mustard collection he began in 1986. The initial dozen jars have grown to a collection of more than 5,624 mustards from all 50 states and more than 70 countries. The collection includes exquisite Gibbons Collection of mustard pots to antique tins & jars and vintage advertisements. Address: 7477 Hubbard Avenue, Middleton, WI 53562. 

Stamp Out Hunger with the National Association of Letter Carriers

On Saturday, May 9, 2026, the National Association of Letter Carriers will do its part to Stamp Out Hunger across America. Now in its 34th year, the Stamp Out Hunger effort is the nation's largest single-day food drive, having collected more than 1 billion pounds of food since its inception in 1993. In 2012, Americans donated more than 70 million pounds of food, marking the ninth consecutive year that at least 70 million pounds were collected. 


The Stamp Out Hunger food drive provides food to local food banks and pantries that rely on donations. With more than 50 million Americans at risk of hunger, food banks nationwide continue to experience record demand for emergency food assistance.

Donate items, such as canned meats, fish, soup, bottled juice, vegetables, pasta, cereal, and rice that do not require refrigeration. Please do not include expired items or glass containers.

Help out

Place non-perishable food products in a bag and leave
them on your mailbox. Your Letter Carrier will deliver
the food to local food banks.

To find out how you can help, go to

Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive

Herb Day

Herb Day

Instead of salt, use herbs, spices, lemon juice, and/or vinegar to enhance the taste of your food. The health benefits are life-long.

Enhance the Flavor of Foods with Herbs

Wikipedia has provided an extensive list of culinary herbs and spices. The list does not contain salt (which is a mineral) or plants used primarily as herbal teas or medicinal herbs. Explore the different flavors and cultures.

Tips for Selecting and Storing Herbs and Spices

Spice it Up with
Susan Bowerman, MS, RD, CSSD