The Healthy Aging Partnership offers these suggestions for grandparents and others who want to play a bigger role in young lives:
Be yourself. Youngsters will benefit from and enjoy having someone who listens and gives them their undivided attention. All too often parents don't have enough time to spend with their children and that's where you can help. Be a mentor and a friend.
Arts and crafts, such as making a scrapbook, create great memories and allow you and a child to learn something new together.
Youngsters love to help in the kitchen. The hands-on cooking exercise can be as simple as baking a box cake, with a little measuring and mixing.
Gardening is another kid favorite. Dig in the dirt. Plant. Water. Sow fast-sprouting bean, pumpkin or sunflower seeds that grow with every visit.
Go to the library. Computers and video games may be a new thing, but you can never go wrong with a great story. Teach them about something you love. If you're excited about it, they will be too.
If you don't have grandchildren of your own, volunteer to share an interest or skill with a local youth organization. The American Red Cross, Intergenerational Innovations and Big Brothers, Big Sisters, just to name a few, can help connect older adults with young people in their community.
Spring is a warm, bright, and sunny time of year when you may schedule time for outdoor picnics at local parks and beaches. While you are at it, you might as well pencil in some time to brighten up your herb or vegetable garden with some tasty flowers – edible flowers, that is!
Some of the edible flowers that may be in your backyard or vases include pansies, violas, chrysanthemums, carnations, fuchsias, geraniums, jasmine, lavender, violets, and certain roses. Flavors range from sweet and honey-like to spicy and peppery, while scents can add a floral aroma or a citrusy tang. Nasturtiums are a popular edible flower that adds a spicy, peppery kick. The purple flowers of banana trees and blossoms of citrus trees (lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, kumquat) are edible fruit flowers that may be in your back yard. Many herb flowers, including alliums (garlic, chives, leeks), cilantro/coriander, chicory, dill, mint, sage, and thyme are also safe to eat. Most of the flavors of herbal flowers resemble those of the herbs they come from. These can be added to a dish along with or in place of the herb itself. Several vegetable flowers probably already make a regular appearance in your diet, such as cauliflower (who would have thought?), broccoli, and artichoke, which are all flower blossoms. In addition, the flowers of arugula, okra, radishes, peas, and squash are edible. Squash blossoms appear quite often in the produce stands and taste a bit like the raw gourd from which it came.
Best of all, many edible flowers have vitamin C, vitamin A, and other beneficial essential nutrients. Edible flowers can replace sodium and sugar when used in conjunction with herbs and spices, adding more flavor and aroma to foods. However, keep in mind that edible flowers have a delicate taste that is detected best when added to simple dishes that do not have overpowering flavors.
Many flowers can be safely tossed onto our plates; but there are flowers that are poisonous and should never be eaten. Always make sure a flower is edible before adding it to your food. Some resources that list some edible flowers are at Colorado State Extension and North Carolina State University. In general, edible flowers are best when they are picked during the morning when they have the most moisture. They can be rinsed and placed in a moist paper towel in the refrigerator for storage. Use within a short period to maintain quality.
There are also some safety rules to follow regarding where you find your edible flowers. Do not pick flowers from the side of the road where fumes from vehicles and other contaminants can make the plants unsafe to eat. Do not purchase edible flowers from nurseries or garden centers unless they are grown specifically for consumption. Do consume edible flowers that you have grown from seeds as long as you do not use pesticides or other chemicals. Do introduce small amounts of new flowers one at a time since pollen from the plants may trigger allergies. Do research which parts should and should not be used since each type of edible flower is different.
Flowers are nice to have. Their colors brighten a room, they give off a pleasing aroma, and they bring joy to people who take the time to notice them.
However, one of the most exciting reasons for dietitians to love flowers is that they may be food! Spring is the perfect time to try something new and let an edible flower be a part of your dining room table – and not just as an accent piece in a vase! Pansy Herb Salad 4 cups mixed greens 1/4 cup fresh sprigs of dill 1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves 4 large basil leaves, rolled up and thinly sliced crosswise 1 large lemon, halved Pinch of salt Fresh ground black pepper to taste 1 /2 cup toasted walnuts 3/4 cup crumbled feta 1 cup fresh pansy flowers
Toss salad greens and herbs in a large bowl. Squeeze lemon juice (without the seeds) over the greens and season with salt and pepper. Toss again. Add walnuts and feta and toss well. Divide salad and pansies among four serving plates and serve.
Nutrition Fact Per Serving (Serves 4) Calories: 179; Fat: 16g; Carbohydrate: 5g. Adapted from Pansy Herb Salad
International Assistance Dog Week was established due to the efforts of Marcie Davis, a paraplegic for over 35 years and CEO of Davis Innovations, a consulting firm based in Santa Fe, NM.
International Assistance Dog Week
Diabetes alert dog smells blood sugar changes
America's VetDogs CFC
Description of the Various Types of Assistance Dogs
Guide Dogs. Assist people with vision loss, leading these individuals around physical obstacles and to destinations such as seating, crossing streets, entering or exiting doorways, elevators and stairways.
Service Dogs. Assist people with disabilities with walking, balance, dressing, transferring from place to place, retrieving and carrying items, opening doors and drawers, pushing buttons, pulling wheelchairs and aiding with household chores, such as putting in and removing clothes from the washer and dryer.
Hearing Alert Dogs. Alert people with a hearing loss to the presence of specific sounds such as doorbells, telephones, crying babies, sirens, another person, buzzing timers or sensors, knocks at the door or smoke, fire and clock alarms.
Seizure Alert/Seizure Response Dogs. Alert or respond to medical conditions, such as heart attack, stroke, diabetes, epilepsy, panic attack, anxiety attack, post-traumatic stress and seizures.
Medical Alert/Medical Response Dogs. Alert to oncoming medical conditions, such as heart attack, stroke, diabetes, epilepsy, panic attack, anxiety attack, and posttraumatic stress disorder.
Assistance dogs are allowed to accompany their human partners to places of business including restaurants and shops. Under state law and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), they are guaranteed equal access to any and all establishments and accommodations; no extra charge can be levied because of the dog.
President George Bush signs the Americans with Disabilities Act during a ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House on July 26, 1990.
President Donald J. Trump Proclaims July 26, 2017, as a Day in Celebration of the 27th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
For Americans with disabilities,
Trump’s policies are dangerous.
Across the country, people with disabilities are continuing to lead the fight for inclusivity and recognition, with the support of their families, advocates, and human services professionals. What will happen under a Trump administration? The fight is going to get a lot harder.
Trump’s mocking of disabled New York Times reporter Serge Kovaleski in 2016 has been widely recognized, but his actual policies for people with disabilities are just terrible. His plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), even without a replacement, is dangerous for the many people with disabilities who now worry about losing their health insurance. His promise to cut Medicaid is also disastrous for the more than 10 million people with disabilities who rely on it in order to receive services, like community-based care which promotes independent living opportunities and integrated work and community environments. And his record of haphazardly enforcing the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as the removal of the White House website’s pages on access and inclusion shortly after he came to office, indicate very clearly that people with disabilities are simply not a priority for a Trump administration.
Donald Trump Accused of Mocking Reporter with Disability
I don't understand how our President can make fun of a disabled person and numerous ethnic groups.
Health Care As our country decides on a new health care program, those of us with disabled and elderly family members - wait in fear. Though Trump promised he would not touch Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security,
As a Registered Dietitian, I was curious about how many calories, fat, and sodium was in their order. Per person, if everything was consumed, the total intake would be:
Calories: 3,549; Fat: 179 g; Sodium: 7782 mg
The calorie intake is excessive (by about 1000-2000 calories); Fat about 3 times the normal range; and sodium is off the chart (recommendation - less than 1500 to 2300 mg/day). However, the song is funny and I look forward to hearing more from Rhett and Link.
Drive-Thru Rap: Healthy Version
Rhett and Link are concerned about people's health and created the Healthy Version of the Drive-Thru Rap.
Rhett and Link are a North Carolina-based comedy duo consisting of life-long best friends, Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal. They are best known for their Internet videos. In addition to their web presence, Rhett and Link are also musicians and filmmakers and have worked in network television as hosts. They own and operate a video production company, Rhett and Link, Inc. To learn more about the talented duo visit http://rhettandlink.com/.
June 25 is designated as National Strawberry Parfait Day. Parfaits are associated with high calories, but with portion planning, you can turn a parfait into a healthy snack.
Strawberry Parfait with Granola
Ingredients. 1/4 cup Light Strawberry Ice Cream 1 Tablespoon Granola 1/4 cup Strawberries, chopped 1/2 cup Strawberries
Nutrition Information
Strawberry Parfait with Frozen Strawberry Yogurt and Granola
Ingredients. 1/3 cup Light Frozen Strawberry Yogurt 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
Egg rolls are a variety of deep-fried appetizers served
in American Chinese restaurants. An egg roll is a cylindrical, savory roll with
shredded cabbage, chopped pork, and other fillings inside a thickly-wrapped
wheat flour skin, which is fried in hot oil. The dish is served warm, and is
usually eaten with the fingers, dipped in duck sauce, soy sauce, plum sauce, or
hot mustard, often from a cellophane packet.
Egg rolls are a ubiquitous feature
of American Chinese cuisine and are often served as free additions to American
Chinese combination platters throughout the United States, along with fried
rice and fortune cookies.
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 and includes weekly and daily events. To view the entire Newsletter online click here.
June Wellness News
June Highlights
International Men's Month Men's Health Month Father's Day
June Dairy Month
Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf Hurricane Season (6/1-11/30)
National Aphasia Awareness Month Migraine Awareness Month Home Safety Month Caribbean-American Heritage Month Effective Communications Month Audiobook Appreciation Month Sports America Kids Month Potty Training Awareness Month Great Outdoors Month June is Perennial Gardening Month National Aquarium and Zoo Month National Camping Month National Rivers Month
Wellness News employs young adults with "Special Needs" (Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Down Syndrome, Muscular Dystrophy). Please make a donation with the proceeds going to special need adults. Contact Dr. Sandra Frank for additional information (recipenews@gmail.com).
National Quiche Lorraine Day – Recipe: Mexican Vegetarian Quiche, #EatingWell http://bit.ly/2IvOZFM
National Rescue Dog Day – Animal Rescue Team, #HumaneSociety http://bit.ly/2KBQHSD Every year they rescue thousands of animals from puppy mills, animal fighting’s, natural disasters, and other animals suffering from life-threatening cruelty and neglect #foreverhomes
National Take Your Parents to the Playground Day - 5 Simple, Fun Ideas for Family Fitness, #WebMD https://wb.md/2ka9fhy Family activities and fitness at an early age can help children form healthy habits for life and create fun memories for families.
Pick Strawberries Day
Strawberries are easy to grow indoors or outside. It's a fun family activity to plant, grow, harvest and eat. Virtually fat-free, no cholesterol & an excellent source of folic acid; good source of potassium. Eat them out-of-hand, on the run. Just wash and bite — anytime. http://bit.ly/2IVeGig
Food History: 1810 On this day Dolly Madison, wife of President James Madison, supposedly served the first ice cream at the White House
Screen-Free Week (formerly TV-Turnoff, founded 1994) is an annual event in which parents, children, teachers and others across the country turn off screen media (TV, video games, computers, cell phones, etc.) and celebrate the magic of being unplugged. Screen-Free Week is a program of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood.
Screen-Free Week
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no screen time for children under 2 and less than 2 hours per day for older children. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents create an electronic-media-free environment in children’s bedrooms.
The Benefits of Reduced Screen Time
• Reducing screen time can help prevent childhood obesity.
• Children who spend less time watching television in the early years tend to do better in school, have a healthier diet, and are more physically active.
Hazards of Too Much Screen Time
•Adolescents with a television in their bedroom spend more time watching TV and report less physical activity, less healthy dietary habits, worse school performance, and fewer family meals.
• Children with a television in their bedroom are more likely to be overweight.
Studies have found that: • Pet owners are less likely to suffer from depression than those without pets. • People with pets have lower blood pressure in stressful situations than those without pets. • Playing with a pet can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine, which calm and relax. • Pet owners have lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels than those without pets. • Heart attack patients with pets survive longer than those without. • Pet owners over age 65 make 30 percent fewer visits to their doctors than those without pets.
Caring for a pet can help with those healthy lifestyle changes by:
• Increasing exercise. Exercise doesn’t have to involve boring repetition at a gym. Taking a dog for a walk, riding a horse, or simply chasing a kitten around are fun ways to fit healthy daily exercise into your schedule.
• Providing companionship. Isolation and loneliness can make disorders such as depression even worse. Caring for a living animal can help make you feel needed and wanted, and take the focus away from your problems. Most pet owners talk to their pets, some even use them to work through their troubles.
• Helping meet new people. Pets can be a great social lubricant for their owners. Dog owners frequently stop and talk to each other on walks or in a dog park. Pet owners also meet new people in pet stores, clubs, and training classes. • Reducing anxiety. The companionship of a dog can offer comfort, help ease anxiety, and build self-confidence for people anxious about going out into the world. • Adding structure and routine to your day. Many pets, especially dogs, require a regular feeding and exercise schedule. No matter your mood—depressed, anxious, or stressed—you’ll always have to get out of bed to feed, exercise, and care for your pet. • Providing sensory stress relief. Touch and movement are two healthy ways to quickly manage stress. This could involve petting a cat or taking a dog for a walk.
Pets and older adults The key to aging well is to effectively handle life’s major changes, such as retirement, the loss of loved ones, and the physical changes of aging. Pets can play an important role in healthy aging by: • Helping you find meaning and joy in life. As you age, you’ll lose things that previously occupied your time and gave your life purpose. You may retire from your career or your children may move far away. Caring for a pet can bring pleasure and help boost your morale and optimism. Taking care of an animal can also provide a sense of self-worth. • Staying connected. Maintaining a social network isn’t always as easy as you grow older. Retirement, illness, death, and moves can take away close friends and family members. And making new friends can get harder. Dogs especially are a great way for seniors to spark up conversations and meet new people. • Boosting vitality. You can overcome many of the physical challenges associated with aging by taking good care of yourself. Pets encourage playfulness, laughter, and exercise, which can help boost your immune system and increase your energy. Resources and References American Humane Association 5 Ways Pets Can Improve Your Health
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. To view the entire Newsletter online click here.
May Highlights
Women's Health Care Month
Older Americans Month
Arthritis Awareness Month Better Hearing & Speech Month Lupus Awareness Month Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month National Allergy/Asthma Awareness Month National Celiac Disease Awareness Month National Stroke Awareness Month Prader-Willi Syndrome Awareness Month National Physical Fitness and Sports Month National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month
National High Blood Pressure
Education Month National Family Month May Food Events
Free 7 Day Healthy Meal Plan (April 22-28)
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A free 7-day, flexible weight loss meal
plan including breakfast, lunch and dinner ideas and a shopping list. All
recipes include macros and Weight Watcher...
Sweet and Spicy Salmon Bites
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Recently I have been having fun making random recipes from Instagram reels,
this was a winner I slightly modified it by using peri peri sauce for a
littl...
