Popcorn, Everyone’s Favorite Snack, Everywhere

Popcorn, also known as popping corn, is a type of corn that expands from the kernel and puffs up when heated. Popcorn is able to pop because its kernels have a hard, moisture-sealed hull and a dense, starchy interior. Pressure builds inside the kernel, and a small explosion (or "pop") is the end result. Some strains of corn are now cultivated specifically as popping corn. From Wikipedia

Popcorn, Everyone’s Favorite Snack, Everywhere

How Popcorn is Made

Celebrating Spinach and Popeye's Debut

Popeye's History

On January 16, 1929, Popeye first appeared in the comic strip "Thimble Theatre" by cartoonist Elzie Crisler Segar. Originally, "Thimble Theatre" was created in 1919 and featured characters like Olive Oyl and her family. Popeye was introduced as a minor character in a storyline ten years later, but he quickly became immensely popular, eventually becoming the main character of the strip. His debut in "Thimble Theatre" is considered the official birth of Popeye as a cultural icon.

Nutrition Information

Spinach is fat-free, saturated fat-free, cholesterol-free, low calorie, high in dietary fiber, high in vitamin A, high in vitamin C, high in iron, high in folate, and a good source of magnesium.

Selecting and Storing Spinach 

1. Choose fresh, crisp, green bunches with no evidence of insect damage.
2. Store spinach loosely wrapped in a damp paper towel.
3. Refrigerate in a plastic bag and use within 3 to 5 days.

Oxalic acid and Spinach

The oxalic acid in spinach binds with iron, which inhibits iron absorption. You can improve the absorption of iron from spinach by eating it with foods that enhance iron absorption, such as foods rich in vitamin C.

References

1. Spinach - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
2. Top 10 ways to enjoy Spinach, Fruits and Veggies More Matters 

January 15, National Strawberry Ice cream Day

January 15 is designated as National Strawberry Ice Cream Day. Many people associate ice cream as a high-calorie dessert, but with portion planning, you can turn ice cream into a healthy snack.

Portion Control

Strawberry Sundae with Granola

Ingredients.
1/4 cup Light Strawberry Ice Cream
1 Tablespoon Granola
1/4 cup Strawberries, chopped
1/2 cup Strawberries

Strawberry Ice Cream
with Granola

Ingredients.
1/3 cup Light Strawberry Ice Cream
2 Tablespoon Granola
1/4 cup Strawberries, chopped
1/2 cup Strawberries
1.5 teaspoons Strawberry Preserves

Nutrition Information. 165 Calories; 3 g Protein; 34 g Carbohydrates; 2 g Dietary Fiber; 3 g Fat (g); 7 mg Cholesterol; 49 mg Vitamin C; 120 mcg Folate; 48 mg Sodium

Strawberry Ice Cream Cone

Where Does Your Milk Come From?

Over the last couple of decades, milk alternatives have gained significant popularity, offering a variety of choices for different dietary needs and preferences. Here's a brief description of the differences between various types of milk:

Cow's Milk:  Cow's milk comes from cows; it is rich in protein, calcium, and Vitamin D. Cow's milk has a creamy texture and is widely used in dairy products. It's suitable for those who aren't lactose intolerant or allergic to dairy. The farmers milk the cows, and then it's brought to our stores."

Almond Milk: Almond milk is made from ground almonds and water. Almond milk has a light, slightly sweet, and nutty flavor. It's lower in calories and protein than cow's milk but is often fortified with vitamins and minerals. Ideal for those allergic to soy or avoiding dairy.

Soy Milk: Soy milk comes from soybeans. These are small beans that are soaked in water, ground up, and then strained to make milk. It's the closest in nutritional profile to cow's milk among plant-based options, rich in protein, and often fortified with calcium and vitamins. It has a creamy texture and a mild, sometimes beany flavor.

Oat Milk: Oat milk is made from oats and water, oat milk has a naturally sweet and mild flavor. It's high in carbohydrates and fiber but lower in protein and fat compared to cow's and soy milk. Great for those with nut and soy allergies.

Hemp Milk: Hemp milk comes from the seeds of the hemp plant. It has a creamy texture and a slightly nutty taste. It's rich in omega-3 fatty acids but lower in protein. Suitable for those with soy, nut, and dairy allergies.

Rice Milk: Rice milk is made from milled rice and water, rice milk is the most hypoallergenic of all milk alternatives. It's naturally sweet with a watery texture, low in protein and fat, but high in carbohydrates.

Key Differences:

Nutritional Content: Cow's milk is generally higher in protein and essential vitamins, while plant-based milks vary widely in their nutritional content.

Allergen-Friendly: Plant-based milks are ideal for people with dairy, nut, or soy allergies.

Flavor Profile: Each milk has a distinct taste - from the nuttiness of almond and hemp milk to the sweetness of oat and rice milk.

Environmental Impact: Plant-based milks generally have a lower environmental footprint compared to cow's milk.

People choose these kinds of milk for different reasons, like how they taste, if they're allergic to cow's milk, or if they want to avoid animal products. Choosing between these milks often depends on dietary restrictions, nutritional needs, and personal taste preferences.

Protecting Science-Based Nutrition from Quackery: A Call for Truth in an Era of Misinformation

Protecting Science-Based Nutrition from Quackery:

A Call for Truth in an Era of Misinformation

In an age of information overload, distinguishing science-based nutrition advice from quackery has become increasingly challenging. This difficulty is compounded in a country where fact-checking faces obstacles rooted in First Amendment debates and the rise of platforms that claim to champion free speech—until the narrative doesn’t align with their interests. How can we, as advocates for public health, ensure the integrity of nutrition science in this complex environment?

Understanding the Stakes

Science-based nutrition is grounded in rigorous research, peer-reviewed studies, and evidence-based recommendations. It promotes public health, reduces chronic disease risk, and supports informed decision-making. On the other hand, quackery thrives on sensationalism, anecdotal claims, and fear-mongering, often leading to harmful practices and distrust in legitimate science.

The consequences of allowing quackery to infiltrate nutrition science are severe:

1. Public Health Risks: Misinformation about diets, supplements, or treatments can lead to malnutrition, health complications, or worse.
2. Erosion of Trust: When pseudoscience spreads unchecked, public trust in genuine scientific institutions diminishes.
3. Economic Exploitation: Quackery often targets vulnerable populations, profiting from false promises and unregulated products.

---

Challenges in Protecting Nutrition Science

1. Free Speech vs. Fact-Checking
   The debate around free speech and misinformation is nuanced. Fact-checking efforts, vital for curbing pseudoscience, have been criticized as censorship by some. Yet, unchecked misinformation can pose threats to public health, blurring the lines between protecting expression and safeguarding truth.

2. Misinformation Amplification
   Social media platforms, driven by algorithms favoring engagement, often amplify sensational claims over nuanced, evidence-based content. This creates fertile ground for quackery to spread faster than corrections or factual rebuttals.

3. Weaponization of "Alternative Facts"
   Phrases like “Do your own research” and “Trust your instincts” are often co-opted to discredit legitimate science. These tactics foster a culture of skepticism toward credible nutrition guidelines while promoting unfounded claims.

---

Strategies to Protect Science-Based Nutrition

1. Strengthening Science Communication
   Scientists and nutrition professionals must communicate complex findings in ways that are accessible and engaging. This includes using visual tools, storytelling, and relatable examples to combat oversimplified or false claims.

2. Empowering Critical Thinking
   Promote media literacy by teaching people how to evaluate sources, check credentials, and identify red flags of pseudoscience. Encourage skepticism toward sensational headlines and unverified claims.

3. Collaborating with Fact-Checkers
   Despite challenges, fact-checking remains a cornerstone of combating misinformation. Collaborations between scientists, journalists, and fact-checking organizations can amplify credible nutrition content and debunk harmful myths.

4. Advocating for Platform Accountability
   Push for greater transparency and accountability from social media platforms to reduce the spread of harmful nutrition misinformation. This includes algorithms that prioritize credible sources and clear labeling of disputed claims.

5. Fostering Open Dialogue
   Engage with individuals who question science-based nutrition with empathy and facts, not dismissiveness. Building trust through respectful dialogue can open doors to understanding.

---

Conclusion

In a world where the line between free speech and misinformation is often blurred, protecting science-based nutrition requires vigilance, collaboration, and innovation. It’s not about stifling differing opinions but ensuring that the public has access to accurate, evidence-based information to make informed decisions.

The fight against quackery isn’t just about protecting science—it’s about safeguarding public health, fostering trust, and upholding the values of truth and integrity in an era of noise. By championing critical thinking and demanding accountability, we can ensure that science-based nutrition remains a beacon of reliability in the storm of misinformation.

Let’s work together to promote truth, one fact at a time.

Dragon Fruit – From Farm to Table

What is Dragon Fruit?

Dragon fruit, also known as Pitahaya, refers to the fruit of the genus Hylocereus cactus. The dragon fruit is cultivated in Southeast Asia, Florida, the Caribbean, Australia, and throughout tropical and subtropical regions worldwide.

Dragon fruit comes in four varieties:
* Pink-skinned with white flesh and tiny black seeds
* Pink-skinned with red flesh and tiny black seeds
* Pink-skinned with purple/pink flesh and tiny black seeds
* Yellow-skinned with white flesh and tiny black seeds

The red and purple colors of Hylocereus fruits are due to betacyanins, a family of pigments that includes betanin, the same substance that gives beets, Swiss chard, and amaranth their red color.

The Dragon fruit's texture is similar to kiwifruit because of its black, crunchy seeds. Dragon fruit is used to flavor and color juices and alcoholic beverages. The flowers can be eaten or steeped as tea.

Nutrient Profile

Dragon fruit is loaded with fiber, making it a good choice for weight management (fiber helps you feel full) and supporting digestion by promoting a healthy gut. One of the few fruits that contain iron, dragon fruit can help to raise iron levels, and when combined with vitamin C, it increases the absorption rate of iron. 

The fruit contains several antioxidants (betalains, hydroxycinnamates, and flavonoids). The seed oil contains fatty acids, linoleic acid, and linolenic acid.

How to Select, Prepare and Serve Dragon Fruit

Dragon fruit is usually eaten raw, whether served cut up, blended, or frozen. You can choose to grill it on skewers along with other fruits.

1. Select a ripe fruit with bright red, evenly colored skin that gives slightly when squeezed.
2. Place the dragon fruit on a cutting board or another clean surface.
3. Use a sharp knife and cut down the middle. The fruit it then separated into two sections.
4. Removing the flesh. The skin is not edible. Run a spoon around the circumference of each section to separate the flesh from the skin. Using a spoon, lift the flesh out of the skin and place it on the cutting board.
5. Reserve the skin for serving (optional)
6. Check the flesh for any residual pink skin. If there is any skin, cut it off.
7. The dragon fruit is ready to be sliced, diced, or eaten right out of the fruit.

Storage

Ripe dragon fruit can sit on the counter for a few days. To store longer place the fruit in a sealed plastic bag and store it in the refrigerator.

Don't cut the dragon fruit until ready to eat it. Once cut, it needs to be refrigerated in a tightly sealed container. It can stay fresh for a day, possibly a little longer, depending on how ripe it is. Once the flesh begins to turn brown and get mushy, it's time to throw it out.

For the Home Growers
The Green Thumb Planet has prepared an easy-to-follow description on How to Grow Dragon Fruit Indoors

The dragon fruit flowers bloom only at night and for a few hours. The plants can flower between three and six times in a year, depending on growing conditions. About 30 to 50 days after flowering, the dragon fruit will sit on the cactus and can sometimes have 5 to 6 cycles of harvests per year. Hylocereus has adapted to a dry tropical climate with moderate rainfall.

Dragon Fruit Recipes

Dragon Fruit Salad

Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

1 cup Fresh pineapple, cubed

1 cup Fresh orange cubed

½ cup Fresh mang,o cubed

½ cup Blueberries

½ cup Dragon Fruit cubed (use 2 dragon fruits and reserve skin for serving)

½ cup Kiwi sliced

½ cup Raspberry vinaigrette dressing

1 Tbsp Lime juice

1 Star Fruit sliced, for garnish

Directions
1. When preparing the dragon fruit, reserve the skin for serving.

2. Cut up pineapple, orange, mango, dragon fruit, and kiwi. Place in a bowl. Add blueberries.

3. Add raspberry vinaigrette dressings.

4. Mix gently, adding fresh lime juice.
5. Place the fruit mixture in the dragon fruit skin.

6. Adding slices of star fruit as a garnish.

Exotic Skewer

 Cut up your favorite fruits and place them on a skewer. Eat fresh or grill.

Directions

1. Cut the fruit into desired shapes.

2. Thread the fruit through the skewers, alternating the fruit.
3.  Grilling: Double skewer so the fruit does not fall off. Place on a lightly oiled grill to prevent sticking and cook for 2 minutes, or refrigerate until thoroughly chilled. Serve hot or cold.

References.
1. What Is Dragon Fruit? Spruce Eats

2. What Is Dragon Fruit And Does It Have Health Benefits? by Franziska Spritzler, RDN, CDE, Healthline 

3. Pitaya, Wikipedia 

4. How to Grow Dragon Fruit Indoors,  The Green Thumb Planet 

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

Our Hanukkah Celebration Music, Symbolic Foods and Art

Traditional Hanukkah Foods

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a Jewish festival celebrated with various traditional foods. While not all these foods have explicit symbolic meanings, some are tied to the holiday's themes of oil, victory, and the miracle of the Temple. Here are traditional Hanukkah foods and their connections:

1. Potato Latkes

These fried potato pancakes are the best-known Hanukkah food. The oil used to fry them commemorates the oil in the temple lamps. Made of shredded potatoes and onions, like hash browns, they are traditionally topped with applesauce and served as a side dish.

2. Kugel

Kugel is a sweet casserole from Central Europe. It consists of egg noodles baked with sugar, eggs, and sour cream. Raisins and spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg can be added. This rich dessert tops many people’s favorite Hanukkah foods and provides the flavor of many beloved holiday memories.

3. Brisket

A slow-cooked beef dish that is a hearty and flavorful centerpiece for Hanukkah meals.

4. Rugelach

Rolled pastries with sweet ingredients like dried fruit, nuts, or chocolate represent the holiday's sweetness.

5. Sufganiyot

Jelly-filled donuts topped with powdered sugar. They are fried and commemorate the importance of oil in the Hanukkah celebration. The filling can be flavored in several ways; though fruit jelly is standard, sweet custard can be substituted if preferred.

6. Matzo Ball Soup

A traditional Jewish soup featuring matzo balls, symbolizing comfort and sustenance.

7. Applesauce

Often served as an accompaniment to latkes, providing a sweet contrast to the savory pancakes.

8. Gelt (Chocolate Coins)

In the dreidel game, the gelt symbolizes the coins distributed to children during Hanukkah.

In 17 century Europe, it became customary for parents to donate small sums of money to their children to their teachers. The students learned how to give charity in light of commemorating the events of Hanukkah. In the 20th century, an American confectionary manufacturer came up with the idea of making Hanukkah “Gelt” from chocolate. They made the first chocolate-wrapped coins specifically for Hanukkah. The Hanukkah gelt symbolizes the tradition of giving charity to commemorate the Miracle of Light. 

9. Cheese Platter

Judith, a Jewish heroine associated with Hanukkah, fed cheese to an Assyrian general, making him thirsty for wine, which she gave him until he fell asleep.

Our Favorite Hanukkah Songs

Yes We Can

Telly from Sesame Street shows 
us how to play the Dreidel Game.

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" 

World Pear Day

Pears are nutrient-dense and an excellent source of fiber. One medium pear provides 4 grams of fiber and can help you feel satisfied longer between meals and snacks. 

According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the average American adult should consume approximately 2 cups of fruit per day. One medium-sized pear is about one cup, so you’re halfway there with just one pear! Pear Bureau Northwest

Recipe: Ginger Roasted Beets, Sweet Potatoes and Pears
A perfect way to celebrate the bounty of fall and winter produce. @USAPears Recipe development and photography by Alexandra Aldeborgh (@daisybeet).

The Many Ways to Enjoy Pears

1. Grilled Cheese and Pear. Add thinly sliced pears to a grilled cheese sandwich or your favorite panini.
2. Chutney & Salsa. Pears can be a perfect partner for savory dishes. Create a refreshing salsa with diced pears, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro, and lime juice. Serve with grilled chicken or fish.
3. Pear Salads. Combine sliced pears with mixed greens, candied nuts, and crumbled feta or blue cheese. Drizzle with a light vinaigrette.
4. Bake pears with a sprinkle of cinnamon and a touch of honey.
5. Preserve. Try your hand at canning pears. They’ll be waiting for you in your pantry anytime!
6. Pears Instead of Apples. For a change in flavor, use pears in any way you would usually use apples.
7. The Perfect Snack. Have a delicious fresh pear as a sweet, juicy snack.
8. Sweet Soup. Ever tried pears in soup? Magnifique!
9. Pear Cobbler. Substitute pears for apples in your favorite low-fat cobbler recipe.
10. Poach Your Pears. Ever tried it? They’re delicious! Poach pears in red wine or sweet syrup with spices like cinnamon and cloves for an elegant dessert. Serve poached pears with a drizzle of chocolate sauce or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
11. Grill pear halves for a caramelized flavor. Drizzle with balsamic reduction or honey for added richness. Serve grilled pears with a sprinkle of goat cheese for a delightful appetizer.
12. Pear Smoothie. Blend ripe pears into a smoothie with yogurt, spinach, and honey for a nutritious breakfast or snack.
13. Pear and Gorgonzola Pizza. Top pizza dough with sliced pears, Gorgonzola cheese, and a balsamic glaze for a unique and tasty pizza.
14. Pear and Ginger Tea. Infuse your favorite tea with slices of fresh pear and a hint of ginger for a soothing beverage.
15. Pear and Walnut Oatmeal: For a hearty and flavorful breakfast, add diced pears and chopped walnuts to your morning oatmeal.

Recipes
1. Pear Snacking, USA Pears

December 1, National Eat a Red Apple Day

Health Benefits
Apple is a fruit rich in antioxidants and a good source of fiber. Quercetin, an antioxidant found in apples, may inhibit lung cancer. Pectin found in apples helps treat diarrhea and constipation by adding bulk to the stool. Other benefits being studied include treatments for diabetes, heart disease, lowering blood pressure, lowering blood levels of LDL, reducing risks of Alzheimer’s, and decreasing bone fractures.

Apple seeds should never be eaten. They contain the poison cyanide.

Let’s not forget the peel. The apple peel contains ursolic acid, a chemical that may prevent muscle wasting.

There may be some truth to “An Apple a Day, Keeps the Doctor Away”.

Recipe

Baked Stuffed Apple

Yield 2 servings

Ingredients 
2 medium apples 
1/2 cup bran flakes 
1/4 cup applesauce, unsweetened
1 Tbsp raisins 
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, ground 
1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Directions 
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Core and slightly hollow out the apples with a spoon, leaving the bottom of the apples intact to create a well for the filling. Place the apples in a pan.
3. In a bowl, combine the bran flakes, applesauce, raisins, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice. Fill and top each apple with the cereal mixture.
4. Bake for 40 minutes, or until the sides of the apples are soft and easily pierced with a knife.

Nutrition Information

U.S. Apple Association Members

NY Apples Are a Smart Choice for Healthy Eating
Kelly Springer, RDN

References and Resources
1. U.S. Apple Association
2. Apple Recipes, Washington Apple Commission

 

Nutritional Analysis Services
Ensure accurate, cost-effective nutritional analysis and food nutrition facts labels for your recipes and menus, using an extensive research database. An excellent service for the Media, Cookbook Publishers, Writers, Chefs, Recipe Websites, and Blogs. Your readers will enjoy and benefit from the Nutrition information.

For more information, visit Dietitians-Online Nutritional Analysis Services

contact:
Sandra Frank, Ed.D, RDN, FAND
recipenews@gmail.com
954-294-6300

December Wellness News: Health, Nutrition, and Food Events

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. 

December Highlights

December Produce

Monthly Events

Safe Toys and Gifts Month
National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month
Coats & Toys for Kids Month (check local listings)
National Handwashing Awareness Month
National Stress-Free Family Holiday Month
National Write a Business Plan Month
Root Vegetable Month
Buckwheat Month
National Pear Month
Exotic Fruit Month
National Fruit Cake Month
Worldwide Food Service Safety Month

Weekly Events

1-7 Cookie Cutter Week
1-7 Crohn's & Colitis Awareness Week
1-17 Operation Santa Paws
7-13 National Hand Washing Awareness Week

7-13 Recipe Greetings for The Holidays

10-17 Human Rights Week**

14-22 Hanukkah

14-20 Gluten-free Baking Week

15-19 Cookie Exchange Week

12/26-1/1 Kwanzaa

December Daily Event
Monday	1	UN World Aids Day, National Eat a Red Apple Day, Cyber Monday
Tuesday	2	Special Education Day, National Fritters Day, National Mutt Day, Giving Tuesday
Wednesday	3	UN Intl Day of Persons with Disabilities, Illinois 21st State, Special Kids Day, Make a Gift day
Thursday	4	National Cookie Day
Friday	5	UN Intl Volunteer Day, National Sacher Torte Day, World Soil Day
Saturday	6	National Gazpacho Day, National Microwave Oven Day, World Pear Day
Sunday	7	Pearl Harbor Day, National Cotton Candy Day, National Fire Safety Council Day
Monday	8	National Chocolate Brownie Day, National Day of Lard, Green Monday
Tuesday	9	National Pastry Day, Birdseye Frozen Food Day
Wednesday	10	Human Rights Day, Mississippi 20th State, International Animal Rights Day
Thursday	11	UN Mountain Day,  UNICEF Anniversary, 1946, Indiana 19th State, National Noodle Ring Day
Friday	12	Gingerbread House Day, National Ambrosia Day, Pennsylvania 2nd State
Saturday	13	National Cocoa Day, Root Vegetable Month, Gingerbread Man, Gingerbread Decorating Day
Sunday	14	Chanukkah (14-22), Bouillabaisse Day, Yoga Day, Alabama 22nd State
Monday	15	Bill of Rights Day, National Cupcake Day
Tuesday	16	National Chocolate-Covered Anything Day
Wednesday	17	Maple Syrup Day
Thursday	18	International Migrants Day, Roast Suckling Pig Day, New Jersey 3rd State, National Bake Cookies Day, Re-Gifting Day
Friday	19	National Hard Candy Day, Oatmeal Muffin Day, National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day
Saturday	20	Intl Human Solidarity Day, National Sangria Day
Sunday	21	Winter Solstice, World Peace Day, National Fried Shrimp, National Kiwifruit Day, National Re-gifting Day
Monday	22	National Date Nut Bread Day
Tuesday	23	National Pfeffernuesse Day
Wednesday	24	Christmas Eve, National Egg Nog Day
Thursday	25	Christmas, Pumpkin Pie Day, Christmas Pudding Day
Friday	26	Kwanzaa Begins (12/6-1/1), National Candy Cane Day
Saturday	27	National Fruitcake Day
Sunday	28	Iowa 29th State, National Chocolate Day
Monday	29	Pepper Pot Day, Texas 28th State
Tuesday	30	Bicarbonate of Soda Day, National Bacon Day
Wednesday	31	New Year's Eve, National Champagne Day, Universal Hour of Peace
Thursday

 

A Happy & Healthy Holiday from

All of Us at Dietitians-Online and Wellness News

Thank you for your support.

Have a happy, healthy, and safe holiday.

Sandra and Jake.

Prepared by
Sandra Frank, Ed.D, RDN, LN
Jake Frank

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