December 4, National Cookie Day Healthy Cookie Recipes and Tips

The Holiday reminds me of the wonderful aroma of fresh-baked cookies. My family owned a bakery in New York. This is my son Jake peering through the glass, wondering what cookie he wants.

Try healthy homemade cookies from EatingWell, Healthy Cookie Recipes, and Tips.
(You still need to watch how many cookies you eat.)

Resource

EatingWell, Healthy Cookie Recipes and Tips

My Favorites:

Meringues at 8 Calories per cookie.

For young and older - here is Cookie Monster,
sharing how he feels about cookies.

Sesame Street: 
Cookie Monster Sings C is for Cookie

April Wellness News

 

Monthly

National Autism Awareness Month
National Volunteer Month
Alcohol Awareness Month
Cancer Control Month
Celebrate Diversity Month 
Child Abuse Prevention Month
Month of the Military Child
Defeat Diabetes Month
IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) Awareness Month
Medical Cannabis Education & Awareness Month 
African American Women's Fitness Month
National Donate Life Month
National Occupational Therapy Month
National Parkinson's Awareness Month 
Stress Awareness Month
National Arab-American Heritage Month
Global Child Nutrition Month
Emotional Overeating Awareness Month
Fresh Florida Tomatoes Month
National BLT Sandwich Month
National Licorice Month
National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Month
National Garden Month
National Pecan Month 
National Soft Pretzel Month
National Soyfoods Month
National Youth Sports Safety Month
National Pet First Aid Awareness Month
National Social Security Month
Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month 
Jazz Appreciation Month
Keep America Beautiful (3/20 - 6/20)

Weekly

1-7 Medication Safety Week 
1-7 National Public Health Week
1-7 Egg Salad Week
21-27 National Volunteer Week
20-28 National Park Week
22-30 Passover
22-26 Every Kid Healthy™ Week
24-30 World Immunization Week
26-28 Global Youth Service Day

Daily

1   April Fools or All Fools Day; National Sourdough Bread Day; Tater Day (sweet potato)
2   World Autism Day;   International Children's Book Day; National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day; National Love Your Produce Manager Day; National Walking Day
3  National Chocolate Mousse Day; Find A Rainbow Day; Burrito Day
4    Vit C discovered; National Chicken Cordon Bleu Day; International Carrot Day; International Kid’s Yoga Day
5    National Deep Dish Pizza Day; National Caramel Day; National Raisin and Spice Bar Day, Dandelion Day
6   Fresh Tomato Day; Charlie the Tuna Day; Hostess Twinkie Day; International Day of Sport for Development and Peace; National Student-Athlete Day; Teflon Day; National Caramel Popcorn Day
7 World Health Day; Coffee Cake Day; Metric System Day; National Beer Day; No Housework Day; WHO
8  National Empanada Day
9 Chinese Almond Cookie Day; National Cherish an Antique Day
10 Cinnamon Crescent Day; National Farm Animals Day
11  World Parkinson's Disease Day; National Cheese Fondue Day; National Pet Day; Clean Up Your Pantry Day  
12  Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day; National Licorice Day; Passover begins at sundown
13  National Peach Cobbler Day; National Make Lunch Count Day; National Scrabble Day, Palm Sunday
14 International Moment of Laughter Day; Natl Pecan Day; National Gardening Day
15   McDonald's Opens; Tax Day; National Glazed Spiral Ham Day; World Art Day
16   Day of the Mushroom; National Eggs Benedict Day; Banana Day, Stress Awareness
17 National Cheeseball Day; World Hemophilia Day; National Ellis Island Family History Day; National Crawfish; Herbalist Day
18   National Animal Crackers Day; Adult Autism Day; Piñata Day, Good Friday
19   National Amaretto Day; National Garlic Day; Bicycle Day
20   National Cheddar Fries Day; National Lima Bean Respect Day; National Pineapple Upside Down Cake Day, Easter  
21  Chocolate-Covered Cashews; National Kindergarten Day; International Hemp Day, Boston Marathon
22 Earth Day; National Jelly Bean Day
23 National Picnic Day; English Muffin Day; National Cherry Cheesecake Day
24  National Pigs-in-a-Blanket Day
25  National Zucchini Bread Day;  Natl DNA Day; Zucchini Bread Day; Arbor Day
26  National Pretzel Day; National Kids and Pets Day; National Herb Day; National Sense of Smell Day
27 National Prime Rib Day; National Devil Dog Day; Teach Children to Save
28  World Day for Safety and Health at Work; National Blueberry Pie Day; National Superhero Day; Maryland, 7th State
29  National Shrimp Scampi Day
30  Louisiana 18th State; Potato Head Day; National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day;  Bugs Bunny Day; Oatmeal Cookie Day; National Raisin Day, Stop Food Waste Day

	Months
	January	July
	February	August
	March	September
	April	October
	May	November
	June	December

 

National Special Education Day and Meeting Children's Nutritional Needs

Special Education Day commemorates the anniversary of our nation’s first federal special education law, signed by President Gerald Ford on December 2, 1975. This law is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

IDEA made education available to all American children, and to this day, honors the progress that has been made in special education

National Special Education Day was first celebrated in 2005, which was the 30th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

In recent years, we have seen increasing emphasis on ensuring that children with disabilities have the same opportunities as other children to receive an education and related benefits, such as school meals.

My son Jake has cerebral palsy and requires someone to feed him. He was brought into the cafeteria with his aide, and they sat alone. He asked if he could eat in the classroom because he was embarrassed that the children would make fun of him. The school said no. Jake started to refuse to eat - he said he wasn't hungry. Sometimes he would come home with food all over his clothes and face. There is still time to learn how to meet nutritional needs for Special Needs Children.

Florida State Receiver Travis Rudolph Eats

Lunch With An Autistic Boy Sitting By Himself

Autistic kindergartner denied school lunch

Florida will phase out certificates of completion

for students with disabilities

When my son graduated, his certificate of completion was a huge milestone for him and our family. Ending these certificates erases years of hard-won progress. Why hurt students with disabilities by taking away the recognition they deserve? #SpecialEducationDay 

Reference

National Special Education Day

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

	Months
	January	July
	February	August
	March	September
	April	October
	May	November
	June	December