National Nachos Day Election Day Nachos

Happy Birthday America Healthy Red, White, and Blue Foods with Recipes

Red, White, and Blue Food Choices
	Apples, Beets, Cayenne, Cherries, Cranberries, Guava, Kidney Beans, Papaya, Red Grapefruit, Pomegranates, Radicchio, Radishes, Raspberries, Red Bell Peppers, Red Cabbages, Red Chili Peppers, Red Corn, Red Currants, Red Grapes, Red Onions, Red Pears, Red Peppers, Red Plums, Red Potatoes, Red Tomatoes, Rhubarb, Strawberries, Watermelons
	Cauliflower, Coconut, Garlic, Ginger, Green Onions, Scallions, Horseradish, Jicama, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Millet, Mushrooms, Onions, Parsnips, Quinoa, Shallots, Soy Products, Sunflower Seeds, Tofu, Turnips, White Beans, White Corn, White Sesame Seeds, Eggs, Milk
	Blue Grapes, Blue Potatoes, Blueberries, Dried Plums, Plums, Eggplant, Blue Corn

Red, White, and Blue on a Bun

Yields: 2 servings

Ingredients

1 Whole Wheat Hamburger Bun
1 Whole Wheat Hot Dog Bun
1 Strawberry
9 Raspberries

3 Blackberries

14 Blueberries

1 Tbsp Cream Cheese, reduced-fat

Red, White, and Blue Parfait

Ingredients

1/3 cup Blueberries
1/3 cup Fat free Vanilla Yogurt
1/3 cup Strawberries, sliced

Red, White, and Blue Sandwich on
 Sourdough Bread with Cream Cheese,
Yogurt-Covered Raisins, Blueberries,
Raspberries, and Strawberries

Ingredients

2 slices thin Sourdough Bread

2 Tbsp Cream Cheese, low fat

7 yogurt-covered Raisins

1/2 cup Blueberries

2 Strawberries

4 Raspberries

Directions

1. Spread cream cheese on half the bread.

2. Use the yogurt-covered raisins and blueberries as the stars on the flag.

3. Slice strawberries to form the stripes on the flag.
4. Garnish: Blueberries and Raspberries.

Introducing the Blue and Purple Foods National Nutrition Month

Blue and Purple Foods

Hosts: Brooke, Betty, and Peggy

Food Sources

Blue Grapes, Blue and Purple Potatoes, Blueberries, Dried Plums, Plums, Eggplant, Pomegranates, Elderberries, Juniper Berries, Purple Belgian Endive, Purple Cabbage, Purple Figs

Do you know other foods rich in blue or purple?

About Blue and Purple Foods

Blue and Purple fruits and vegetables get their color from a natural plant pigment called anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are an antioxidant and belong to the phytochemicals called flavonoids. Anthocyanins are found in blueberries, grapes and raisins.

Anthocyanins have health-promoting benefits, such as:

·         Reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke.

·         May reverse the short-term memory loss associated with aging.

·         Reduces the risk of several types of cancer.

·         Protects the urinary tract from infections.

·         May help control high blood pressure

·         May help boost the immune system.

·         Protects our cells from environmental damage (harmful free-radicals)

Ways to Increase Blue and Purple Food Intake:
   Add blueberries in muffins, pancakes and hot or cold cereals.
   Grab some plums or raisins for a snack on the go.
   Use Purple Belgian Endive as a main ingredient to a salad
   Use Purple Cabbage when preparing cole slaw.

Definitions
Phytonutrients (or phytochemicals) are found in plants. They are part of what gives fruits and vegetables their colors. Phytonutrients help protect plants from diseases found in the environment and protect us in a similar way. Studies have linked an increase of fruit and vegetable intake with lowering the risk of specific cancers and heart disease. The following list describes how phytonutrients may also help protect human health.
1. Act as an antioxidant.
2. Improves immune response.
3. Improves cell-to-cell communication.
4. Destroys cancer cells.
5. Repairs DNA damage caused by toxins in the environment.

Antioxidants. As the body uses oxygen, there are by-products (known as “free radicals”) that can cause damage to cells. Antioxidants can prevent or slow down the damage caused by these free radicals and decrease the risk of many chronic diseases, such as heart disease and cancer. Antioxidants may also improve the immune defense and lower the risk of infection. Some examples of antioxidants include vitamin A (beta-carotene), vitamin C, vitamin E, lutein, lycopene and flavonoids.

Wellness News employs young adults with "Special Needs" (Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Down Syndrome, Muscular Dystrophy). My staff started the project in September 2010. Over the next five months, we would take over 600 photographs of colorful foods in order to create the March presentation for NNM. Many of the photographs are available for purchase with the proceeds going to special need young adults. Contact Dr. Sandra Frank for additional information (recipenews@gmail.com).

Prepared by
http://www.dietitians-online.com/
http://www.weighing-success.com/
Wellness News (www.weighing-success.com/WellnessNews.html)
http://www.wheelchair-connection.com/
Sandra Frank, Ed.D, RD, LDN
Jake Frank
Lance Li

Jonathan Cruz

Introducing the Green Foods National Nutrition Month

Green Foods

Host: Grace

Food Sources

Alfalfa, Artichokes, Arugula, Asparagus, Avocado, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccoli rabe, Brussels Sprouts, Celery, Chives, Collard Greens, Cucumbers, Dandelion Greens, Edamame, Endive, Fennel, Green apples, Green Beans, Green cabbage, Green Grapes, Green Olives, Green Onion, Green Pears, Green Peas, Green Pepper, Green Tomatoes, Honeydew, Kale, Kiwi, Leeks, Lettuce, Limes, Mint, Okra, Oregano, Parsley, Pistachios, Snow Peas, Spinach, Sugar snap peas, Swiss Chard, Tarragon, Tomatillo, Wasabi, Watercress, Zucchini.

Do you know other foods that are Green?

Ways to increase Green Food Intake:
•Add spinach or broccoli when cooking pasta, rice or soup.
•Freeze green grapes for a sweet snack.
•Add thin slices of green apples or zucchini on a sandwich.

About Green Fruits and Vegetables.
Green in plants signifies the presence of the plant pigment chlorophyll. The nutrients found in these fruits and vegetables may reduce cancer risks, lower blood pressure, and LDL cholesterol levels, improve vision, enhance the immune system, and fight harmful free radicals.

Green fruits and vegetables are rich in many vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, folate, vitamin C, and beta-carotene (vitamin A). They contain phytochemicals such as luteins and indoles, which may reduce the risk of heart disease. They are high in fiber and support a healthy digestive system.

Definitions:
Phytonutrients (or phytochemicals) are found in plants. They are part of what gives fruits and vegetables their colors. Phytonutrients help protect plants from diseases found in the environment and protect us in a similar way. Studies have linked an increase of fruit and vegetable intake with lowering the risk of specific cancers and heart disease. The following list describes how phytonutrients may also help protect human health.
1. Act as an antioxidant.
2. Improves immune response.
3. Improves cell-to-cell communication.
4. Destroys cancer cells.
5. Repairs DNA damage caused by toxins in the environment.

Antioxidants. As the body uses oxygen, there are by-products (known as “free radicals”) that can cause damage to cells. Antioxidants can prevent or slow down the damage caused by these free radicals and decrease the risk of many chronic diseases, such as heart disease and cancer. Antioxidants may also improve the immune defense and lower the risk of infection. Some examples of antioxidants include vitamin A (beta-carotene), vitamin C, vitamin E, lutein, lycopene and flavonoids.

Wellness News employs young adults with "Special Needs" (Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Down Syndrome, Muscular Dystrophy). My staff started the project in September 2010. Over the next five months, we would take over 600 photographs of colorful foods in order to create the March presentation for NNM. Many of the photographs are available for purchase with the proceeds going to special need young adults. Contact Dr. Sandra Frank for additional information (recipenews@gmail.com).

Prepared by
http://www.dietitians-online.com/
http://www.weighing-success.com/
Wellness News (www.weighing-success.com/WellnessNews.html)
http://www.wheelchair-connection.com/
Sandra Frank, Ed.D, RD, LDN
Jake Frank
Lance Li

Jonathan Cruz