History: June 10th is National Iced Tea Day. Iced tea became popular in the early 1900s after the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904. In the 1920s-30s in home refrigeration became accessible to more people. This also increased popularity of iced beverages as ice cubes became readily available to the masses for the first time. … Read more
This June marks the 11th anniversary of Myplate replacing the Food Pyramid as visual aid for the USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Although it has been eleven years since it started, many people may be unfamiliar with Myplate. Myplate is divided up by food groups: grains, fruits, vegetables, low fat dairy and protein. We’ll go … Read more
Older adults make up about 16% of the population, or about 54 million Americans. This population has grown since early 2000s and it is expected to grow over the next decade. Here’s a few lifestyle tips to promote independence, decrease risk for chronic diseases and increase overall quality of life. MIND Diet (Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for … Read more
Did you know that carrots come in different varieties like orange, white, red, yellow, purple and even black? Activity: try the different varieties to see if there are any differences in the flavors or textures! Selection Always choose carrots that are brightly colored and feel firm. Avoid carrots that feel limp or are sprouting. Storage … Read more
January is World Mindful Eating Month! In our last blog, Self-Care December, we briefly discussed the practice of mindfulness. This month, we’ll apply it to food and eating. Mindfulness: practice of bringing your full attention and awareness to one’s experience in the moment, without judgement, just observation. Mindful Eating: Helps us be aware of thoughts, … Read more
Healthy Weight Week 2020 starts January 17th! This week is probably not for celebrating what you think. In fact, it is likely the opposite. Healthy Weight Week was created in 1994 to celebrate healthy lifestyles that prevent eating disorders and other side effects from dieting and weight cycling. It is meant to encourage people of all sizes to … Read more
With the holiday season upon us, it’s important to recognize when we need a break before we boil over. This time of year is usually stress inducing, not to mention everything going on right now (I’m looking at you, COVID-19), especially with disruptions to our yearly traditions. Stress can wreak havoc on our health-mental, physical, and … Read more
Winter squash is part of the gourd family, there are several varieties: Tips To ease prep, cook winter squash in its skin whenever possible. To make peeling easier, halve or quarter winter squash. Save the seeds—toss with olive oil and salt, then bake at 375°F for 20 minutes. Sweet potatoes can be replaced by winter … Read more
Did you know that sweet potatoes are not related to the potato but are actually part of the morning glory family? Check out these tips and recipes for more “sweet” information:
Tips & Fun Facts: Apples are in the Rosaceae (rose) family, along with almonds, cherries, peaches, pears, plums, raspberries, and strawberries. The only apples native to North America are crab apples. Apple trees must cross-pollinate in order to produce fruit; therefore, they need to be planted within approximately 100 feet of another cultivated apple tree variety, crab apple tree, or wild apple tree. … Read more