April 2011

April 1, 2011 in 2011 by Joyce Bunderson

April: In this Issue

Special Days and Monthly Celebrations

Grandma really enjoys celebrations and special days; so each month she will share a few ideas that she thinks are interesting.

Good Health Can Be Yummy

Recipes and thoughts from last months Foodland Chronicles on making food taste great and build healthy bodies.

Special Days and Monthly Celebrations

April is filled with events to celebrate; those below are a few that touched my heart this year.

National Education Month

I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.
— Maya Angelou

Dr. Grandma’s is dedicated to education — providing people with the latest research on how to maximize health. It is our sincere belief that when people become aware of the effects of eating foods high in saturated fat, sugar, salt, and/or nutritionally impoverished food, they will begin to change their eating habits. Knowledge is power.

National Garden Month

I am so looking forward to planting my garden: to feel the soil in my hands and smell its aroma. As the days grow longer and the sun warms the ground, it will be so exciting to see the plants sprouting up and growing into nutrient-rich vegetables. There is nothing like the taste of veggies fresh from the garden.

I’m sending best wishes to all my fellow gardeners for a beautiful growing season.

National Donate Life Month

Did you know:
– 110,567 people are waiting for an organ
– 18 people will die each day waiting for an organ
– 1 organ donor can save up to 8 lives

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, organ donors made more than 28,000 transplants possible last year. Another one million people received cornea and other tissue transplants that helped them recover from trauma, bone damage, spinal injuries, burns, hearing impairment and vision loss. Get involved. Donate life. Register to become a donor.

National Public Health Week: April 4 – 10

The theme of this year’s National Public Health Week is “Safety is No Accident.” According to the American Public Health Association, “Taking actions such as wearing a seatbelt, properly installing and using child safety seats, wearing a helmet and storing cleaning supplies in locked cabinets are important ways to proactively promote safety and prevent injuries.” It is important to remember that good health is no accident either – taking care of your body by eating nourishing foods, exercising and reducing stress is essential.

Easter and Passover
Both Easter and Passover are movable feasts — holy days not fixed to a particular calendar date, but calculated based on the relationship of the full moon to the vernal equinox. Passover is a predominantly Jewish holy day commemorating the ancient Israelites being freed from slavery in Egypt. This year Passover starts on Tuesday, the 19th of April and continues for 7 days until Monday, the 25th of April.

Easter is the day Christians celebrate the resurrection of Christ. It also refers to the season of the church year called Eastertide or the Easter Season. Traditionally the Easter Season lasted for the forty days from Easter Day until Ascension Day. Easter marks the end of Lent, a season of fasting, prayer, and penance.

Get the recipe for Hot Cross Raisin Muffins – it’s an Easter favorite.

Earth Day 2011: A Billion Acts of Green®

The theme of Earth Day 2011 is A Billion Acts of Green®, focusing on personal, organizational and corporate pledges to live and act sustainably. We owe it to ourselves and especially to future generations to live within our environmental means — including measurably reducing carbon emissions.

Two significant things you can do is to drive less and reduce meat consumption — healthier for you and healthier for the planet.

Good Health Can Be Yummy

Recipes and thoughts on making food taste good and build healthy bodies.

  • Clearing Up Carb Confusion — Be Picky in this March 8th post, Dr. Grandma shares information to help the public make good choices in carbohydrate foods.
  • Spring’s Around the Corner in this March 11th post, Mary Ireland discusses good reasons beside summer fashions for shaping up and shares a recipe for Ginger Sweet Potatoes.
  • Moderation and a Wildly Thrown Ball in this March 15th post, Dr. Grandma discusses moderation in food for the body, and moderation in food for thought.
  • A Lame Argument for Unlabeled Popcorn in this March 19th post, Dr. Grandma discusses the need for nutrition label on theater popcorn and other concession items.
  • Stopping the Pendulum –  in this March 23rd post, Mary Ireland talks about the dangers of the HCG diet and other diets. She explains why it is much more economical and reasonable to adopt a healthy eating plan and shares a recipe for Veggie and Chili Frittata.
  • A Pear-shaped Body — Not a Safety Net –  in this March 29th post, Dr. Grandma discusses a Lancet study’s outcome regarding apple and pear shapes.

Other links of interest

Other links of interest: