by Mary Ireland
August 2011
August 1, 2011 in 2011 by Mary Ireland
August: In this Issue
Special Days and Monthly Celebrations
Dr. Grandma really enjoys celebrations and special days; so each month she shares a few ideas that she thinks are interesting.
Good Health Can Be Yummy
Dr. Grandma’s blog – the Foodland Chronicles – has recipes and thoughts on making great tasting food that builds healthy bodies. Links to last month’s Foodland Chronicles are provided.
Special Days and Monthly Celebrations
August is for enjoying the last carefree days of summer. It is a time to relax and enjoy family and friends. Take advantage of opportunities to go on hikes, picnics, and bike rides; plan a backyard barbeque, a splash in the pool or a camping trip.
Special observances in August include:
Simplify Your Life Week – July 31st to August 6th
Throughout the year, there are natural breaks to reevaluate what we are doing and change our lives. August is a one of those times. As we prepare to end our summer vacations and return to work and school, it is a great time to simplify – to determine what is necessary and important in our lives and then proceed to eliminate or cut back on those things that don’t contribute to happiness, health and well-being. Challenge yourself to ferret out those things that unnecessarily complicate your life.
National Clown Week – August 1st to 7th
Perhaps National Clown Week is in August, because the white makeup that many clowns wear is called auguste. Or perhaps before ending our summer fun and relaxation, we need to remember to not take ourselves too seriously. Humor can be used to diffuse a tense situation, to help us see the silliness of our behavior and to bring people closer together through laughter.
National Relaxation Day, August 15th
Doesn’t it sound wonderful to have an entire day devoted to relaxation. The key to being truly relaxed is to be in the moment – no thoughts about what has to be done tomorrow; no regrets about what you didn’t do yesterday. Just a day with no cares or worries.
Sandcastle and Sculpture Day – August 15th
Sandcastle and sculpture day is a wonderful occasion to explore your creativity and get your hands dirty in making your vision become a reality. Of course we all know that sandcastles are very temporary; even if you can avoid high tide, the wind, rain and other elements will quickly destroy it and the sand will be there waiting in its natural state ready to give you another chance.
August is Back to School Month If you are like me, you are wondering where the summer went. It seemed to go by so quickly. Knowing how fast time can go by, take a few moments now before school starts, to assess how to make ensure your child gets the nutrition needed to study and participate in school activities. It might be a good time to make a goal to send the family out of the house with a healthy breakfast to start each day. Dr. Grandma’s muffins can be a great addition to your arsenal for eating better and including whole grain products in your family’s diet. They are really quick to make the night before so that the next morning they’re ready after a few seconds in the microwave and still have the ‘just made taste.’ They make great after school snacks too. There are many delicious recipes on the Dr. Grandma’s website that add different nutrients and provide variety for your family.
August Is for Remembering and Reconnecting August is a time for enjoying family and friends before the end of summer. The following seven holidays can encourage you to get in touch with those you care about.
- Girlfriend’s Day – August 1st
- Sister’s Day – August 2nd
- Best Friends Day – August 15th
- World Wide Web Day – August 1st
- Senior Citizen’s Day – August 21st
- Kiss and Make Up Day – August 24th
- Purple Heart Day – August 7th
The Purple Heart is the oldest award that is still given to members of the U.S. military. It is a military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving in the military. Let’s not miss an opportunity to be grateful for those brave men and women who fight for our freedom.
Spend some time laughing and relaxing with your girlfriends. It will be time well spent.
Sisters are perfect people for best friends or girlfriends – you share history and genes.
Best friends can be boyfriends, or your spouse, but girlfriends could enjoy two days in August for getting together. If your sister is your best friend, make that three days in August for getting together. Below is a recipe that is sure to work for these special days.
Recipe for Friendship
2 cups of patience
1 heart full of love
2 handfuls of generosity
2 cups of loyalty
1 cup of understanding
A dash of laughter
Mix all ingredients well. Sprinkle generously over a lifetime
and serve everyone you meet.
The web or Internet is a great way to communicate, share laughs, share pictures and catch up with important people in your life.
A good day to remember the wisdom, love, friendship and assistance we have received from senior citizens.
Don’t let petty grievances stand in the way of friendship or love. Be the bigger person; let bygones by bygones. Life is too short to hold grudges and let differences stand in the way of a good relationship.
August is for Eating Something Delicious and Nourishing:
- Sneak Some Zucchini onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Night – August 8th
I always get a chuckle from the stories about getting unsolicited zucchini. I wouldn’t mind a big bag of zucchini being left at my door or in my car. Just like sweet corn, I like to eat it steamed. If you want a little more variety, check out some delicious recipes in our Recipe section.
- The Date to Create – August 8th
I relish the idea of letting my creative juices flow. It is so easy to get caught up in day-to-day activities and not take the opportunity to look at things in a new way. Bringing to life a new idea or way of doing something is an excellent way to express your uniqueness. Take an opportunity to do this every chance you get – don’t wait for August 8th. - National Waffle Day – August 24th
Speaking of recipes – celebrate National Waffle day by making waffles using Dr. Grandma’s 100% Organic Whole Wheat Pancake and Waffle Mix, of course, because they need to be Yummy and Healthy. There are so many delicious waffle recipes to chose from – the Hot Apricot Topping with Pecan Waffles is absolutely heavenly.
Sweet Corn Day – August 1stFresh corn is one of my most favorite things about summer. To me, the sweet, delicious taste ranks right up there with fresh, vine-ripened tomatoes. Remember that corn is a whole grain and very nutritious. I like to steam it and eat it without salt or butter.
Good Health Can Be Yummy™
Recipes and thoughts on making great tasting food that builds healthy bodies.
Did you miss any of these articles? These were some of the most popular blog posts and the most fun to write:
- Roughage Restored to Its Place on the Plate – in this July 5th post Dr. Grandma talks about the health benefits of roughage.
- The Stroke Belt – in this July 8th post Mary Ireland discusses new research on neurodegeneration and how exercise can help.
- On Weeds and Weight Management – in this July 12th post Dr. Grandma discusses the summer challenges of adhering to your healthy eating program and gives tips for rescuing your eating plan.
- Who Knew What a Mess Nutritionism Would Become? – in this July 19th post Dr. Grandma discusses how prolific food processors are in creating new junk food with healthy sounding ingredients that cannot deliver.
- Garden Party – in this July 22nd post, Mary Ireland talks about the tasty greens from Dr. Grandma’s garden and the importance of dark green leafy vegetables in your diet.
Other Links of Interest
