by Kendra Hughson | Aug 16, 2017
Jazz up traditional peanut butter sandwiches with raisins or carrot straws.
Now that school is back in session, are your struggling to find healthy and safe lunches to pack? Do you cringe with every peanut butter and jelly sandwich you make? If you are like me, finding healthy lunch time meals that are packed with nutrition, offer some variety, and won’t end up in the trash requires planning, creativity, and lots of energy!
- Get children involved! Even young school-age children can help make their own lunch. Give children healthy choices and let them decide lunch menus. Children may be more willing to eat the food you pack if they have been involved in the process.
- Dunk it and dip it. Children love finger foods they can dip. Serve raw vegetables with hummus or fresh fruit with yogurt.
- Offer some “fun foods.” Let children choose some low-calorie fun foods. Healthy or low-calorie options for the sweet or crunchy tooth include pretzels, plain popcorn, mini rice cakes, low-fat pudding, a miniature chocolate bar, or a rice crispy treat.
- Jazz up boring favorites. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are a nutritious favorite. Liven them up with carrot straws or raisins. Add color and nutrition to sandwiches with lettuce, tomato, or sliced vegetables.
- Keep lunches safe. Make sandwiches the night before and freeze them. Freeze juice boxes or water bottles to keep foods cool and for a cool lunchtime beverage. Experiment to be sure there is enough time before lunch for the items to thaw.
- Re-think leftovers. Even if children don’t have access to a microwave to reheat food from last night’s dinner, some leftovers work for lunch, too. Try cold pizza, meat sliced for a sandwich, or pasta salad.
- Skip the fuss and sign up for the National School Lunch Program. While some schools may offer free and reduced-price lunches to eligible families, the school lunch program is for everyone. School lunches provide low cost, balanced meals that follow USDA dietary guidelines. Take a break from packing lunch and check out your school’s lunch menu.
Turkey Rolls:
2 flour tortillas
2 tsp mayonnaise
2 slices thinly sliced deli turkey
½ cup shredded lettuce
2 Tbsp shredded cheese, any type
Lay out tortillas. Spread with mayonnaise. Layer turkey slice, lettuce and cheese onto tortillas. Roll up and wrap. Makes 2 servings.
One serving provides 218 calories, 9 g total fat, 20 g carbohydrate and 14 g protein.
Exchanges – 1 bread, 2 meats, 2 fats.
Recipe source: Janis G. Hunter, HGIC Nutrition Specialist, and Katherine L. Cason, Professor, Department of Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences, Clemson University, New 08/08. Revised 09/11. Image added 8/15. HGIC 4114
by Heidi Copeland | Aug 7, 2017
Can you believe it is that time of year already to sneak some zucchini on your neighbor’s porch! Honestly, it is a day to celebrate. And celebrate we should! It is the lucky neighbor who profits from the gardeners abundant harvest. Nonetheless, what can one do with all that zucchini?
The late, Julia Child bestows the virtue of ratatouille in many of her books yet it seemed to take an animated rat in the award winning Pixar film to suggest ratatouille might be something to try. Really! Ratatouille, a traditional French Provençal stewed vegetable dish, originating in Nice is a mostly Mediterranean fare, however, we too have all the local produce to adapt this delicious dish.
How? What do you need? Ratatouille can be made just the way you like it but start with the basics: onions, eggplant, zucchini, garlic, tomatoes, red, green or yellow peppers, mushrooms, and fresh or dried herbs and a pinch of salt and pepper.
Ratatouille is typically served as a side dish, but may also be served as a vegetable soup, or a meal on its own accompanied by pasta, rice or bread. Ratatouille is good as a topping for your favorite grilled meat or fish, or as a filling in a simple omelet. Did I mention it can be added to quiche? Or stuffed into a pita pocket?
There is as much deliberation on how to make a traditional ratatouille as there is about how you eat it. Do you layer it and bake it? Is it sautéed? Is it simmered? Is it eaten as a side dish, a main dish or a sandwich filling? I’ve tried them all and even found success using a slow-cooker.
Try your hand at this simple yet elegantly adaptable vegetable dish.
The provided very basic recipe can be adapted to suit your personal/regional taste. Don’t like eggplant? Leave it out! Have a lot of okra or yellow squash? Add it! Like olives, nuts or raisins? Add them to your portion. Rather not use vegetable oil? Don’t! Want to cover it in your favorite spicy olive oil? Do you have some extra zucchini? I think you get the picture.
Ratatouille does not have to look like the vibrant Pixar version yet, it is still going to garner up gracious comments and acknowledgements from those you love and cook for. Whip up your version to savor today!
Ratatouille
Ingredients:
2 Tablespoons any kind of oil
4 medium onions, chopped – any color, any kind
2 medium eggplant, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
4 garlic cloves, minced
6 medium zucchini, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 large green, red or yellow bell pepper seeded and cut in 1” cubes
8 to 10 ripe tomatoes, peeled, seeded coarsely chopped (or use a can of fire roasted diced tomatoes)
3 fresh thyme sprigs (or to taste)
1 fresh rosemary sprig (or to taste)
1 dried or two fresh bay leaves
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground pepper
Directions:
In a BIG pot over medium heat, warm the oil. When it is hot, reduce the heat to medium, add the onions and sauté until translucent, about 2 minutes. Add the eggplant and garlic and sauté, stirring often, until the eggplant cubes are slightly softened, 3 to 4 minutes.
Add the zucchini and bell pepper and sauté, stirring and turning, until softened, 4 to 5 minutes more. Add the tomatoes, thyme, rosemary, bay leaf, salt and pepper, and stir and turn for 2 to 3 minutes more.
Cover, reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are soft and have somewhat blended together, about 60 minutes. (slow cooker at least 4 hours on high)
Remove from heat. Garnish with minced fresh basil. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve hot, at room temperature or cold. Serves at least 10.
by Pam Allen | Aug 5, 2017
Tomatoes are abundant this time of year and you have many options to buy local and fresh. Tomatoes are one of the most popular home garden vegetable to grow and should now be providing the home gardener with fresh ripe bounty from now until summers end. Our local farmer’s markets are also selling tomatoes home grown and in many colors like deep red, bright yellow and green. Our climate is great for growing tomatoes. In fact, Florida is the nation’s largest producer of fresh tomatoes.
Nutritionally, tomatoes are packed with vitamin C and A. Low in calories and high in flavor, this succulent vegetable is a favorite all year long. Tomatoes are great served sliced and also in cooked dishes. Tomatoes should be stored at room temperature away from direct sunlight. Ripe tomatoes should be used within 3 to 4 days. For best flavor, do not refrigerate. Ripe tomatoes will give slightly to gentle pressure
If you want to preserve the summer’s tomato bounty, try your hand at canning. Remember to use USDA recommended practices for safety and long term quality. For a complete listing of how to safely can tomato products you will find the USDA guide here: http://nchfp.uga.edu/publications/usda/GUIDE03_HomeCan_rev0715.pdf
Farm Fresh Salsa
Fresh salsa is a low-fat, low sodium, treat that is packed with flavor and essential nutrients. Adjust the salt and oil to your taste and diet.
Ingredients:
6 medium ripe tomatoes, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 ½ seeded and minced jalapenos
1 red bell pepper, finely dices
½ red onion, finely chopped
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 lime, juiced
Chili Powder, salt and pepper, to taste
Fresh scallions, cilantro or parsley, to taste
Directions:
In a bowl, combine all ingredients. Place in refrigerator for up to 12 hours for flavor infusion. Serve with your own baked chips.
Baked Tortilla chips
1 package medium or large tortillas
Cooking Spray
Salt to taste
Directions
Preheat oven to 375˚ F
On a cutting board cut tortillas into 8 – 12 pieces using a pizza cutter.
Place aluminum foil on 2 or 3 baking sheets.
Place tortillas pieces in a single layer on a cookie sheet.
Lightly coat tortillas with cooking spray on both sides.
Sprinkle tortilla pieces with salt to taste – or with salt-free alternative for dietary needs.
Place in oven and cook 10-15 minutes until crisp.
by Melanie Taylor | Aug 5, 2017
Most of us are willing to go to the doctor or the dentist, which are both part of taking care of our health. However, do you go to the eye doctor? If not, you definitely should add it to your healthy lifestyle regime. Eye exams at every age and stage of life can help you keep your vision strong. August is National Eye Exam month; this is the perfect reminder to schedule a comprehensive eye exam.
The Vision Council of America reports that 12.2 million Americans require some sort of vision correction, but do not use any. Nearly 50% of parents with children under 12 have never taken their children to an eye-care professional.
Many people think their eyesight is just fine, but then they get that first pair of glasses or contact lenses and the world becomes much clearer – everything from fine print to street signs. Improving and/or maintaining your eyesight is important – about 11 million Americans over age 12 need vision correction, but that is just one of the reasons to get your eyes examined. Regular eye exams are also an important part of finding eye diseases early and preserving your vision.
Eye diseases are common and can go unnoticed for a long time. Some diseases have no symptoms at first. A comprehensive dilated eye exam by an optometrist (a medical professional with a focus on regular vision care who can prescribe eyeglasses and contacts) or ophthalmologist (a medical eye doctor with a focus on the complete eye health) is necessary to find eye diseases in the early stages when treatment to prevent vision loss is most effective. During the exam, visual acuity (sharpness), depth perception, eye alignment, and eye movement are tested. Eye drops are used to make your pupils larger so your eye doctor can see inside your eyes and check for signs of health problems.
How often should you have an eye exam?
- A child’s eyes should be checked regularly by an eye doctor or pediatrician. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends vision screening for all children at least once between age 3 and 5 years to detect amblyopia or risk factors for the disease. Amblyopia is when the vision in one of the eyes is reduced because the eye and the brain are not working together properly. The eye itself looks normal, but it is not being used normally because the brain is favoring the other eye. This condition is sometimes called lazy eye.
- People with diabetes should have a dilated eye exam every year.
- People with a family history of glaucoma should have an eye exam every year.
- Adults with good health should have an eye exam at least every 2 years.
Some people are at higher risk for glaucoma and should have a dilated eye exam every 1 to 2 years:
- African Americans, ages 40 years and older.
- Everyone older than age 60, especially Mexican Americans.
- People with a family history of glaucoma.
Early treatment is critically important to prevent some common eye diseases from causing permanent vision loss or blindness:
- Cataracts (clouding of the lens), the leading cause of vision loss in the United States.
- Diabetic retinopathy (causes damage to blood vessels in the back of the eye), the leading cause of blindness in American adults.
- Glaucoma (a group of diseases that damages the optic nerve).
- Age-related macular degeneration (gradual breakdown of light-sensitive tissue in the eye).
Other reasons to see your eye doctor: If you have any of the following eye problems, do not wait for your next appointment, schedule your eye appointment as soon as possible:
- Decreased vision
- Draining or redness of the eye
- Eye pain
- Double vision
- Diabetes
- Floaters (tiny specks that appear to float before your eyes)
- Halos around lights
- Flashes of light.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 10 Tips to Protect Your Vision:
- Get a regular comprehensive dilated eye exam.
- Know your family’s eye health history.
- Eat right to protect your sight. You have heard that carrots are good for your eyes. But eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables—particularly dark leafy greens, such as spinach, kale, or collard greens—is important for keeping your eyes healthy, too.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Wear protective eyewear when playing sports or doing activities around the home. Protective eyewear includes safety glasses and goggles, safety shields, and eye guards specially designed to provide the correct protection.
- Be cool and wear your shades. Wear sunglasses that block out 99% to 100% of UV-A and UV-B radiation (the sun’s rays).
- Give your eyes a rest. If you spend a lot of time at the computer or focusing on any one thing, you sometimes forget to blink and your eyes can get fatigued. Try the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look away about 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds. This short exercise can help reduce eyestrain.
- Clean your hands and your contact lenses properly.
- Practice workplace eye safety.
- Quit smoking or never start.
Of the estimated 61 million US adults at high risk for vision loss, only half visited an eye doctor last year. Regular eye care can have a life-changing impact on preserving the vision of millions of people. Be sure to make your eye health a priority in your life. Healthy eyes lead to better vision and an overall better quality of life. Sources: Vision Council of America https://www.thevisioncouncil.org/ Center for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/
by Samantha Kennedy | Aug 5, 2017
Oh, watermelon. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
Watermelon is the perfect warm weather treat and a summer holiday essential. It’s a sweet, light, and delicious snack and its versatility lends itself to a wide variety of beverages, salads, meals, and desserts.
Watermelon is more than just water and sugar. It’s jam-packed with a number of vitamins and minerals that can help you stay healthy, including vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, potassium, and lycopene.
Vitamin A is vital to eye health and helps boost your immune system by supporting the functions of the infection-fighting white blood cells.
Vitamin B6 has many functions in the body, including aiding in immunity by supporting the creation of antibodies, which are needed to fight off infection. It also helps maintain proper nerve function and aids in the creation of red blood cells, which carry oxygen to all parts of the body. Vitamin B6 is also used to break down proteins into smaller parts that can be used to build and maintain muscle mass.
Vitamin C also helps boost immunity and overall cell health by helping to break down free radicals in the body, which can deteriorate cells over time.
Potassium is a mineral that is necessary for keeping a healthy water balance in the body, helping to maintain proper water balance and reducing the incidence of painful muscle cramps.
Lycopene is one of a family of vitamin precursors known as carotenoids. This substance is what helps give those bright red and pink fruits and vegetables – such as watermelon – their lovely color. Lycopene and other carotenoids function as antioxidants, which help eliminate those previously mentioned harmful free radicals. And preliminary studies have shown that lycopene may help reduce triglycerides and LDL cholesterol, which may lead to a reduction in cardiovascular disease risk.
Nearly every part of the watermelon can be eaten, from the sweet and juicy fruit to the rind, which is often pickled or used in stir frys. Even the fruit itself can be grilled and served as part of a savory dish. And watermelon is a sweet addition to many colorful summer salads.
One of my favorite watermelon recipes is a twist on a traditional favorite – Watermelon Lemonade – and is sure to be a great addition to any of your summertime picnics. Try it today!
Watermelon Lemonade
Ingredients
1/2 cup lemon juice
2 1/2 cups water
2/3 cups agave syrup*
2 cups watermelon chunks
*Other sweeteners may be used instead of agave syrup. However, be careful when adding them, as you may need to use less. Add to taste, mixing in a little at a time until you reach the desired sweetness.
Instructions
Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Serve over ice.
Servings
Makes about 5 cups.
Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 cup
Calories per serving: 163
Fat per serving: 0.3g
Saturated fat per serving: 0.0g
Fiber per serving: 0.3g
For more delicious recipes, please visit http://www.watermelon.org/Recipes.
by Samantha Kennedy | Jun 27, 2017
There are few things more iconic during summer than a picnic. There’s just something fresh and fun about sharing a meal in the park or at the beach with family and friends. But just because you’re enjoying the warm, gentle breeze doesn’t mean you should throw caution to the wind. By following a few simple food safety tips, you can ensure that your perfectly planned picnic doesn’t make you sick.
Planning it out. Not all foods are picnic-appropriate. Anything that requires a lot of perishable ingredients and/or a lot of preparation should be avoided. Stick with foods that require little or no cooking and that contain just a few ingredients. Foods such as fruits and vegetables (especially whole ones), hard cheeses, peanut butter and jelly, cereal, bread, and crackers are ideal picnic items. Anything made with commercially processed custard or mayonnaise will stay safe as long as they are kept cold.
Packing it up. Use a cooler, if possible, and store cold foods together so they can help each other stay colder longer. Use ice or frozen gel packs to help keep foods cold. Pack foods directly from the refrigerator into the cooler; don’t leave them sitting out before packing. Store ready-to-eat foods separately from raw meats. If packing up hot foods, be sure to keep them in a thermos or other insulated dish. DO NOT store them in the same container as the cold foods. Paper towels, disposable utensils, and a food thermometer are ideal picnic accessories. Remember, keep cold foods below 41 degrees F and hot foods above 135 degrees F. Do your best to keep the cooler away from direct sunlight by storing it in the shade and be sure to replenish the ice and/or frozen gel packs when they melt. Consider packing drinks in a separate cooler, as they are consumed more frequently; this will reduce the exposure of food items to warm air until you’re ready to eat.
Preparing the feast. All food items should be kept at the proper temperature at all times. When cooking raw meats, use separate plates for the raw and cooked products and clean and sanitize utensils between uses. Cook meat to the proper recommended internal temperature to ensure doneness and safety. Click here for a list of recommended internal cooking temperatures.
Presenting the bounty. Discard any perishable foods that have been left out for longer than two hours. In really hot weather (generally above 90 degrees F), foods should not be left out longer than one hour. Keep food protected in storage containers such as coolers and lidded dishes to minimize contamination from flies and other pests. Serve small portions of food at a time and keep the rest in the cooler.
Picnics are an important part of summer and with just a little bit of planning and a few useful tips and tools, they can be safe and delicious for everyone!
Source: Beaugh, Kristina. “Checklist for the Perfect Summer Picnic,” Foodsafety.gov blog, June 16, 2015. URL: https://www.foodsafety.gov/blog/2015/06/picnic.html.
