UN International Day of Families

Food brings us together; family keeps us together.

National Family Month is celebrated every year from
Mother's Day through Father's Day.

May 15th is the United Nations International Day of Families. 

2025 Theme: Family-Oriented Policies for  Sustainable Development

The 2025 International Day of Families focuses on “Family-Oriented Policies for Sustainable Development” as a lead-up to the November Second World Summit for Social Development. It highlights how supporting families through national policies is essential for tackling global challenges like poverty, inequality, urbanization, and climate change while advancing the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

International Day of Families, 

The Family Meal, a Tradition Celebrated Worldwide

Food Allergy Awareness Week

Food Allergy Awareness Week.  The 9 foods identified by the law are: Milk; Eggs; Fish; Crustacean shellfish; Tree nuts; Peanuts; Wheat; Soybeans; Sesame 

The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) was founded in 1991 and is the world’s largest nonprofit organization that provides information about food allergies to the media, schools, health professionals, the food industry, pharmaceutical companies, government officials, and the food-allergic community.

FAAN’s mission is to raise public awareness, provide advocacy and education, and advance research for all those affected by food allergy and anaphylaxis.

Respect Every Bite

Food Allergy Bullying: It's Not a Joke

In 1997, FAAN created Food Allergy Awareness Week to educate others about food allergies, a potentially life-threatening medical condition.

FAAN’s annual programs include Food Allergy Awareness Week, Food Allergy Conferences, Mariel C. Furlong Awards for Making a Difference, Food Allergy News for Kids Poster Contest, Teen Summit, Trick-or-Treat for Food Allergy, Walk for Food Allergy, and Kids’ Congress on Capitol Hill.

For further information on FAAN, visit:

Websites: http://www.foodallergy.org/
Twitter: @FoodAllergy

YouTube Channel: FAANPAL

Contact Information:

The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network

(800) 929-4040 

http://www.foodallergy.org/

National Women’s Checkup Day, a part of National Women's Health Week

National Women’s Health Week is organized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health (OWH). The goal is to empower women to make their health a top priority. 

Some women are so busy caring for their families that they neglect to care for themselves. During National Women’s Health Week, remind your wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, and/or girlfriend to take steps to improve their health and prevent disease.

The annual National Women’s Health Week kicks off on Mother’s Day. Dedicate this day to visit or make an appointment with your healthcare professional. Schedule a check-up. Prevention and early detection are crucial to one’s health. To learn more about National Women's Health Week, visit the following links:

National Women's Health Week 

National Women's Checkup Day

Why is it important for women to participate in National Women's Checkup Day?

Women need regular checkups because screening tests, such as mammograms and Pap tests, can find diseases early when they are easier to treat. Some women need specific screening tests earlier, or more often than others. Screenings and routine care can help women lower their risks of many health conditions, including heart disease.

How can women participate in this important event?
Women can participate in National Women’s Checkup Day by:
Contact their current health care professional to schedule a checkup and get important screenings on National Women’s Checkup Day.

Discussing with their health care professionals which screenings and tests are right for them, when they should have them, and how often.

For information about participating in National Women’s Checkup Day and other National Women’s Health Week activities, visit the National Women’s Health Week website at https://www.womenshealth.gov/nwhw/ 

Women's Health Month

The information provided here is from the National Women's Health Information Center (NWHIC). 

A Mother’s Day Brunch to Remember

Kick off Mother's Day with a Festive Feast

Healthy and Caring Mother's Day Gifts 

Mothers are special. You can create a gift she will cherish forever without spending much money. Some of my favorite gifts have been handmade.

Gift Ideas for Mom with Zero Calories

Photos or Homemade Cards

Nutrition Consult with a Registered Dietitian

Perfume

Spa Day or Massage

Online Video

Flowers and/or Balloons
Handprints

Gift Baskets

Makeover
Vouchers for:
  1. Go food shopping for a month.  
  2. Wash Mom's car. 
  3. Clean the kitchen for a week.
  4. Treat mom to a movie.

Favorite Mother's Day Videos

Anne Geddes' pictures to 
Celine Dions song 'A mother's Prayer'

I Love You Mommy


The History of Mother's Day

Mother's Day Recipes

1. Mother’s Day Brunch Recipes That Are Sure to Impress. FoodNetwork, 
2.  Mom’s Favorite Mother’s Day Recipes. Half-Baked Harvest.

A Shrimp-filled Journey from around the World

Global Shrimp Delights: A Culinary Journey. Join us on a shrimp-filled journey worldwide, from prawn curry (India) to Paella (Spain).

Resources and Recipes

1. LouisianaShrimp Association

2. Food Network, Healthy Shrimp Recipes
3. TasteAtlas, Shrimp, and Pawn Dishes Around the World. 

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

May 6, International No Diet Day - A Celebration of Body Acceptance and Body Shape Diversity

International No Diet Day (INDD) is annually observed on May 6th. It is a celebration of body acceptance and body shape diversity. The day is dedicated to raising awareness of the dangers of diets. A blue ribbon is used to symbolized INDD cause.

The INDD was created in 1992 by Mary Evans Young, a British woman who decided to fight the diet industry in order to raise awareness of the dangers of dieting, anorexia nervosa, and other eating disorders.

The Goals of the INDD:
1. Doubt the idea of one "right" body shape.
2. Raise awareness of weight discrimination, size bias, and fatphobia.
3. Declare a free day from diets and obsessions to body weight.
4. Present the facts about the diet industry, emphasizing the inefficacy of commercial diets.
5. Show how diets perpetuate violence against women.
6. Honor the Victims of eating disorders and weight-loss surgeries.

Resources:
International No Diet Day. Wikipedia 

May 4, National Orange Juice Day - Nutrition, Health, Recipes and History

The Benefits of Orange Juice

Orange juice is rich in Vitamin C. It helps maintain healthy teeth and gums; improves circulation; enhances iron absorption and helps resist infections. Orange juice contains Hesperidin, a bioflavonoid that may lower the risk of heart disease.

Bottled Sunshine...A Juicy Story (1968)

Part of the story of Florida citrus cultivation, processing and manufacturing. Produced by Hack Swain Productions; sponsored by Tropicana Products.

 

Orange Creamsicle Smoothie

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

Scurvy Awareness. A Story About Ollie the Orange

 May 2nd is Scurvy Awareness Day. Scurvy is a disease caused by a deficiency of vitamin C and is still prevalent in certain populations around the world.

Symptoms include fatigue, muscle weakness, joint pain, and swollen gums. Thankfully, scurvy is easy to prevent by incorporating foods rich in vitamin C into your diet, such as citrus fruits, berries, kiwi, peppers, and broccoli. Let's spread awareness about the importance of getting enough vitamin C to prevent scurvy! #ScurvyAwareness #VitaminC #HealthyDiet

Ollie, the Orange Fights Scurvy

Once upon a time, in a faraway land, there lived an orange named Ollie. Ollie was a sweet, juicy, and plump orange who lived in a sunny orchard with his friends. He loved nothing more than basking in the sun and growing big and strong.

One day, while enjoying a sunny day in the orchard, Ollie overheard a group of fruits talking about a scary disease called scurvy. They said that scurvy happened when someone did not eat enough vitamin C and that it could cause a person to become very sick.

Ollie was a curious orange, and he wanted to learn more about this scary disease. So, he decided to ask the wise lemon who lived in the orchard.

The wise lemon told Ollie that vitamin C was very important for keeping our bodies healthy and strong. She said that fruits and vegetables were the best sources of vitamin C and that people who did not get enough of this vitamin could get sick with scurvy.

Ollie was very worried about the people who might get sick with scurvy. He knew he had to do something to help. So, Ollie gathered all of his vitamin C-rich friends, and they decided to team up and spread the word about the importance of eating foods rich in vitamin C.

Together, the fruits and vegetables made posters and held a rally in the town square. They sang songs and handed out oranges to everyone they met. They even talked to the news, who promised to spread the word about vitamin C and scurvy to all the people in the world.

Thanks to Ollie and his vitamin C-rich friends, the people of their community learned about the importance of eating foods rich in vitamin C, like the ones on their signs. They started to eat more fruits and vegetables, and scurvy became a thing of the past. And Ollie the Orange became a hero in the land, known for his bravery, kindness, and juicy goodness.

Ollie is Our Hero

National Bugs Bunny Day and the Celebration of Carrots

Carrots
The carrot is a root vegetable, usually orange in color, though purple, red, white, and yellow varieties are available. It has a crisp texture when fresh. Carrots add sweetness and color to stews, soups, stir-fries, slaws, and cakes, plus an excellent source of Vitamin A and a good source of fiber.

Nutritional Information

Carrots are known for their rich supply of the antioxidant, beta-carotene. Research has focused on the health benefits in the areas of vision, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

Recipe: Carrot Ginger Bisque

Yield: 6 servings
Serving Size: about 1 cup

Ingredients
2 cup Vegetable Broth, low sodium
1.5 cup Carrots, diced
1/4 cup Cranberries, dried, sweetened
1 box (17.6 oz) Cashew Carrot Ginger Bisque, Pacific Natural Foods
3/4 cup White Beans, unsalted, drained

Directions
Heat the vegetable broth. Add diced carrots and dried cranberries. Simmer until carrots and cranberries are tender. Using a strainer separate the carrots and cranberries from the broth. Reserve carrots and cranberries.

Combine the broth and "Cashew Carrot Ginger Bisque". Heat over medium heat until hot, stirring occasionally. Add the white beans and reserved carrots and cranberries. Mix and reheat to serving temperature.

Notes. I used a low sodium vegetable broth to lower the sodium content of the Cashew Carrot Ginger Bisque. To increase the fiber content, I garnished the recipe with white beans, diced carrots, and dried cranberries.

Nutrition Information

Growing Carrots: Red, Yellow, Purple & Orange

Selection.
Carrots should be firm, smooth, crisp, fresh, deep in color, and free of cuts.

Storage.
Remove tops of carrots. Store in the refrigerator up to two weeks in a plastic bag.

Serving Ideas.
1. Add shredded raw carrots to salads.
2. Add carrots to soup or puree carrots to make a carrot soup.
3. Combine cooked carrots with dried fruit
4. Snack with a low-fat dip or plain.

Resources
1. Fruits & Veggies More Matters: Carrots
2. The World's Healthiest Foods: Carrots
3. WebMD: 5 Healthy Facts About Carrots

Ensure accurate nutritional analysis for your recipes utilizing an extensive research database and over 35 years experience. A great service for the Recipe Blogger, Media, Cookbook Publishers, Writers, Chefs, and Recipe Websites. Your readers will benefit from the Nutrition information and a Registered Dietitian. Contact: Dietitians-Online.com; Sandra Frank, Ed.D, RDN, FAND at recipenews@gmail.com 

National Raisin Day

Raisins are dried grapes. They are fat and cholesterol free; gluten free; naturally low in sodium; a good source of dietary fiber, potassium, and antioxidants.

Raisins contain the phytochemicals, resveratrol and anthocyanin. Studies suggest resveratrol may provide protection against certain cancers, coronary heart disease, and infections. Anthocyanins may reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke; reverse the short-term memory loss associated with aging; reduce the risk of several types of cancer; help control high blood pressure; and help boost the immune system.

Serving Ideas. 
Eat them plain as a snack or add raisins to

·   Breakfast cereal

·   Yogurt or Ice Cream

·   Baked goods

·   Stuffing, Rice, Pasta

·   Salads

·   Trail Mix

Raisins and Sulfites

Commercially grown dried raisins are often treated with sulfur dioxide during processing in order to extend their shelf life. The sulfites used may cause adverse reactions in people who suffer from asthma.

Federal regulations prohibit the use of sulfites in foods classified as "organic."

Warning.
Raisins can cause renal failure in dogs. The cause is unknown.

1986 - The California Raisins

Growing and Harvesting Raisins

Resource   

Fruits and Veggies More Matters: Raisins

World Day for Safety and Health at Work Foodborne Disease Control and Prevention

"Worldwide, occupational diseases continue to be the leading cause of work-related deaths. According to ILO estimates, out of 2.34 million occupational fatalities every year, only 321,000 are due to accidents. The remaining 2.02 million deaths are caused by various types of work-related diseases, which correspond to a daily average of more than 5,500 deaths. This is an unacceptable Decent Work deficit.

The inadequate prevention of occupational diseases has profound negative effects not only on workers and their families but also on society at large due to the tremendous costs that it generates; particularly, in terms of loss of productivity and burdening of social security systems."

On Apr 28, 1970 (signed into law in 1971) was the founding of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Safety in Restaurants

Slips and Falls

Foodborne Disease OSHA Standards

Control and Prevention

Control of foodborne diseases is based on avoidance of contaminated food, destruction of contaminants, and prevention of further spread of contaminants. Prevention is dependent upon proper cooking and storing practices, and personal hygiene of food handlers.

The quality of food and controls used to prevent foodborne diseases are primarily regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and local public health authorities. These diseases may be occupationally related if they affect the food processors (e.g., poultry processing workers), food preparers and servers (e.g., cooks, waiters), or workers who are provided food at the worksite.

Section 5(a)(1) of the OSHA Act, often referred to as the General Duty Clause, requires employers to "furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees". Section 5(a)(2) requires employers to "comply with occupational safety and health standards promulgated under this Act".

Note
No, Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA Act), also known as the General Duty Clause, has not been substantively changed since the Trump administration. However, the Trump administration did focus on rolling back existing regulations and slowing down the development of new ones, which could have indirectly affected the interpretation and enforcement of Section 5(a)(1). 

Resources

1. Slip, Trip, and Fall Prevention for Healthcare Workers - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

National Office
U.S. Department of Labor
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20210

From Tree to Table: Celebrating Arbor Day with Garden Fresh Delights

A Tour through Our Garden

From Tree to Table:
Celebrating Arbor Day with Garden Fresh Delights

"Arbor Day is a time to celebrate the wonders of nature
and to plan for an even greener future by
planting and caring for trees."

Our Mango Trees

Last year, our mango tree produced over 80 fruits.
This year looks like another high yield.

Our Banana Plant(s)

I asked for a Banana Plant for my birthday (July 5, 2020).
It stood about 2 feet high. In less than 10 months, the
banana plant grew to a height exceeding 10 feet.
In November 2021, the Banana Plant produced an
amazing first harvest. In addition, that
one Banana Plant is now 4 Banana Plants.
Banana plants appear to multiply as fast as rabbits.

John Denver - Plant a Tree

While growing up in East Meadow, New York, we had a huge apple tree in our yard. I would climb up the tree and sit on the branches for hours, eating the apples while watching the world below.

When Jake and I moved into our home in 1998, we planted a mango tree. We watched it grow and flourish. Then, in 2005, Hurricane Wilma hit and damaged the tree. We tried to nurse the tree back to health for years, but the infection had spread into the roots.

Finally, on April 25, 2012, we removed the old tree and replanted a new Valencia pride mango tree. Today, the tree stands tall, even after surviving Hurricane Irma.

In April 2018, we decided to plant another Mango Tree. This time, we planted it near the road so that if people walked or drove by, they could grab a mango.

Planting a fruit tree is good for the environment and economics and marks special moments.

Visit the Arbor Day Foundation. Resources, membership, free trees, and a lot more.

Our Nation's Forests are National Treasures