August 8, Sneak Some Zucchini onto Your Neighbor's Porch

Due to overzealous planting of zucchini, people are asked to drop off baskets of squash on neighbors’ door-steps. Annually, August 8.

Hot weather brings an abundance of summer squash. Yellow crookneck, straight neck, zucchini, pattypan and Mediterranean are some of the popular varieties.

Fruits and Veggies More Matters has a list of 10 ways to enjoy zucchini.

The Produce Lady in the following video provides
preparation ideas, cooking tips and recipes for squash.

Sesame Street: Veg Side Story
Sesame Street introduces the zucchini to children everywhere through
music and a delightful story.

For more information about this event, visit
Sneak Some Zucchini onto Your Neighbors' Porch Day

July 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 up-dated daily and includes weekly and daily events. To view the entire Newsletter online click here or subscribe to Wellness News by adding your email address to the link on the left.

July Featured Causes and Events

An Independence Day Tribute

July Health, Nutrition, and Food Events

National Baked Bean Month National Blueberry Month National Culinary Arts Month National Grilling Month National Horseradish Month National Hot Dog Month National Ice Cream Month      National Pickle Month National Picnic Month National Watermelon Month

Smart Irrigation Month Herbal/Prescription Interaction Awareness Month International Group B Strep Awareness Month Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month      Family Reunion Month National Make a Difference to Children Month     National Recreation and Parks Month Sandwich Generation Month

Wellness News employs young adults with "Special Needs" (Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Down Syndrome, Muscular Dystrophy). Please visit our Gallery to purchase photographs of our Eatright Art with the proceeds going to the employment of special need 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)

Sandra Frank, Ed.D, RD, LDN

Jake Frank

John Gargiullo

Michelle Canazaro

May 6, International No Diet Day

International No Diet Day (INDD) is annually observed on May 6th. It is a celebration of body acceptance and body shape diversity. The day is dedicated to raising awareness of the dangers of diets. A blue ribbon is used to symbolized INDD cause.

The INDD was created in 1992 by Mary Evans Young, a British women who decided to fight the diet industry in order to raise awareness of the dangers of dieting, anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders.

The Goals of the INDD:
1. Doubt the idea of one "right" body shape.
2. Raise awareness to weight discrimination, size bias and fatphobia.
3. Declare a free day from diets and obsessions to body weight.
4. Present the facts about the diet industry, emphasizing the inefficacy of commercial diets.
5. Show how diets perpetuate violence against women.
6. Honor the victims of eating disorders and weight-loss surgeries.

Resources:
International No Diet Day. Wikipedia 
Bodies Endangered. 

April 14, International Moment of Laughter The Health Benefits of Laughter

"People who laugh actually live longer than those who don't laugh.
Few persons realize that health actually varies according to
the amount of laughter."

James J. Walsh, MD

Having a good laugh usually makes us feel good about ourselves.
This can be a factor in motivating a person to lose weight.

I Love to Laugh

Babies Laughing

A research published in the International Journal of Obesity discovered laughter can be beneficial in weight control.

Laughing helps burn calories by increasing the heart rate by 10 to 20 percent: The metabolism increases as well, meaning you will burn more calories at rest once you have stopped laughing.

Scientists calculated 15 minutes of laughter a day will burn 10 to 40 calories, depending on a person’s weight and the intensity of the laughter.

Laughter can relieve physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after.

Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, which promotes an overall sense of well-being.

Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which may benefit the cardiovascular system.

Laughter may benefit people with diabetes. One study showed after watching a comedy, the group had lower blood sugar levels than they did after listening to a boring lecture.

Laugh because it feels great,
because it is healthy for you and
because we take ourselves too seriously.
It’s time to lighten up.

“Laughter is the best medicine.”

Abraham Lincoln’s Favorite Foods and Dietary Habits

Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809. He served as the 16th President of the United States from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. The photos of Abraham Lincoln show a man who was tall and slender.

What did he eat while he led the country through the American Civil War,  ending slavery and promoting economic modernization?

Helen Dupre Bullock, Historian of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, wrote "Authorities agree that Lincoln was indifferent to food, not particularly knowing or caring what was placed before him, whether it was cold or hot, and even whether he ate it or not. If not reminded of meal times he forgot them." Lincoln was usually so preoccupied with problems of politics he gave little thought to food unless faced with it.

In the White House, President Lincoln’s eating habits were irregular. For breakfast, he would have an egg, a piece of toast and coffee, if he remembered to eat. Lunch consisted of “a biscuit, a glass of milk in winter, some fruit or grapes in summer,” wrote John Hay, an aide to President Lincoln. “He drank nothing but water, not from principle, but because he did not like wine or spirits.

President Lincoln was fond of certain foods, especially apples, and Mrs. Lincoln always had plenty of apples available. One of his favorite meals was fresh fruit and nuts, cheese and crackers. Some sources note, President Lincoln did have two favorite dishes, Chicken Fricassee with Biscuits and Oyster Stew. His favorite dessert was Apple Pie.

References
Lincoln's Table, by Donna D. McCreary, contains 125 recipes of foods the Lincolns enjoyed, including flannel cakes (pancakes) and corn bread. The book provides stories about Abraham Lincoln's childhood and background information about many ingredients used in the recipes, as well as photos and menus. The recipes, though historically authentic, have been converted to modern-day measurements.

Abraham Lincoln’s Health

Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

January 21, New England Clam Chowder Day

New England Clam Chowder

Yield: 4 servings
Serving Size: about 1 cup

Ingredients:
1 can Select Harvest New England Clam Chowder, 98% Fat free
2 cups fat-free, low sodium vegetable broth
Garnish each serving with
1 Tbsp Green Onions
1.5 Tbsp cooked Lentils
8 Oyster Crackers

Directions 
Combine New England Clam Chowder with low sodium vegetable broth. Heat to serving temperature. Garnish with green onions, cooked lentils, and oyster crackers.

Nutrition Information

Recipe Card

Modifying a Recipe to Meet Nutritional Needs.

Goals: 

1. Easy to prepare recipe (related to arthritis; difficulty cutting foods).
2. Lower Sodium (related to hypertension; family history). Canned soups are usually high in sodium. Used a low sodium vegetable broth to reduce the sodium in the chowder.
3. Increase Fiber (related to diverticulosis). Added cooked lentils.
4. Maintain calories around 100 calories per serving (related to weight control)
5. Easy to Chew (related to new dentures).  
6. Low in Cholesterol (related to history of elevated blood cholesterol; family history)

The Health Benefits of Laughter

Having a good laugh usually makes us feel good about ourselves.
This can be a factor in motivating a person to lose weight.

I Love to Laugh

Babies Laughing

A research published in the International Journal of Obesity discovered laughter can be beneficial in weight control.

Laughing helps burn calories by increasing the heart rate by 10 to 20 percent: The metabolism increases as well, meaning you will burn more calories at rest once you have stopped laughing.

Scientists calculated 15 minutes of laughter a day will burn 10 to 40 calories, depending on a person’s weight and the intensity of the laughter.

Laughter can relieve physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after.

Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, which promotes an overall sense of well-being.

Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which may benefit the cardiovascular system.

Laughter may benefit people with diabetes. One study showed after watching a comedy, the group had lower blood sugar levels than they did after listening to a boring lecture.

Don’t laugh just to lose weight. Laugh because it feels great,
because it is healthy for you and
because we take ourselves too seriously.
It’s time to lighten up.

“Laughter is the best medicine.”

Calories Count - The Twinkie Diet

Mark Haub, a Kansas State University professor participated in an experiment to prove calories count. He was not studying the quality of the diet; as Haub mentioned he does not recommend this way of eating.

This is an argument I’ve used numerous times to show some diet claims are not based on science or logic. Through the years I participated in numerous weight loss programs where I’ve been told "if I don’t eat everything I won’t lose weight". Many consumers believe this to be true.

Between 1974 and 1976, I volunteered to be in a weight loss experiment. This is an example of the foods I ate in one day. In a year and a half I took off 103 pounds. I would later become a registered dietitian and receive my doctorate degree in Nutrition Education.

Calories      Foods

130              1 cup Cereal, Cheerios  

 90               1 cup Milk, nonfat/skim, w/vit A-D

 69               1 med Orange

 84               2 sl lite Bread, whole wheat

10                2 Tbsp Salsa                        

 81               1/2 cup Cottage Cheese, 1% fat

 75               1/2 cup Pineapple, crushed w/juice

 18               2 cup Salad, mixed greens 

 10               2 Tbsp Salsa

150              1 pc Twinkie, Hostess

 54               1 cup Cantaloupe, fresh, cubes

155              3 oz Salmon, Grilled

 27               1 cup Green Beans 

 20               1 cup Broccoli, florets

 18               2 cup Salad, mixed greens

 10               2 Tbsp Salsa 

150              1 Ice Cream Sandwich

Summary of the Nutritional Content of the Meals from Above

Calories 1124

Protein 66 g
Fat 22 g

Cholesterol 95 mg 

Carbohydrates 177 g

Dietary Fiber 22 g

Total Sugars 99 g

Vitamin A  15,725 IU

Vitamin C 278 mg

Calcium 806 mg

Iron 17 mg

Sodium 1788 mg

The food plan lacks essential nutrients, but I was able to include some of my favorite foods without feeling guilty.

From the study, I learned how to deal with cravings and incorporate foods I enjoy in controlled portions. As time went on, I would choose healthier foods to replace the daily intake of Twinkies and ice cream sandwiches.

Calories Do Count!
Use them Wisely.

April Wellness News

April 2010 Current News and Resources in Nutrition, Food, Health, Recalls/Safety and Disability Rights. Encourages awareness and inspires ideas for Journalists, Educators, Consumers and Health Professionals.


April Monthly Events: Alcohol Awareness Month; Autism Awareness Month; Cancer Control Month; Child Abuse Prevention Month; Informed Women Month; Injury Prevention Month; International Customer Loyalty Month; IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) Month; Month of the Military Child; National Donate Life Month; National Occupational Therapy Month; National Parkinson's Awareness Month; National Youth Sports Safety Month; Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month; Women's Eye Health and Safety Month; World Habitat Awareness Month; Celebrate Diversity Month; Community Spirit Days; Emotional Overeating Awareness Month; Florida Tomato Month; Global Child Nutrition Month; National Garden Month; National Pecan Month; National Soft Pretzel Month; National Soy Foods Month; Jazz Appreciation Month; Keep America Beautiful; National Humor Month; School Library Media Month; Stress Awareness Month

National Poultry DayCooking, Safety and Nutrition

Poultry is an excellant source of protein and lower in fats than red meat (especially if you remove the skin). There are about 3,200,000 poultry recipes on the Internet.

Cooking, Safety and Nutrition are key to enjoying poultry.

USDA Guidance on Cooking Poultry


USDA Meat & Poultry Hotline answers questions about safe storage, handling & preparation of meat, poultry & eggs.
Call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at:
1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854)
Or send Email to: mphotline.fsis@usda.gov



Safety is important when handling poultry and meats. The USDA requires that safe handling instructions be posted on all packages of raw and not fully cooked meat and poultry.

Calorie Facts about Poultry.

For additional information on Poultry visit the USDA Website. There are Fact Sheets for Labeling, Safety, Handling and Quality.