February 2011

February 1, 2011 in 2011 by Joyce Bunderson

February: 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 on making food taste good and build healthy bodies. Read more…

February Happenings

A time for celebrations of love, heritage and the Super Bowl. A time when your diet resolutions may be challenged.

February Monthly Celebrations include:

American Heart Month
February is a great time for us to remember heart health since Valentine’s Day is symbolic of the feelings that come from our heart. Heart awareness helps us to strengthen our resolve regarding our New Year’s resolutions of healthy eating and getting plenty of exercise. The American Heart Association’s Make New Habits Permanent gives you excellent ideas for increasing heart health throughout the year.

Black History Month

Did you know that the following are among the many ideas/inventions contributed by black Americans?

  • The blood bank and a system for the long term preservation of blood plasma (Dr. Charles Richard Drew)
  • Potato Chip (George Crum)
  • Embossing machine (Philip B. Downing)
  • Gas mask (Garrett Augustus Morgan)

The expression “the real McCoy” originated from the high quality inventions of Elijah McCoy, a mechanical engineer and inventor.

National Children’s Dental Health Month

Remember that sugar is bad for children’s teeth — in addition to negatively affecting their longer term heart health. Give kids healthy snacks such as fruits and whole grain products. Help children develop tastes for healthy food early in their lives.

Developing healthy eating as well as healthy oral hygiene habits at an early age helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

Sweet Potato Month

What we call yams in the U.S. are actually sweet potatoes. The name yam came from the African word nyami and was used by producers and shippers to distinguish sweet potatoes from white potatoes. The orange flesh of the sweet potato delivers many nutrients for a relatively low caloric price.

Other February celebrations include:

National Freedom Day, February 1st

National Freedom Day celebrates freedom from slavery. While acknowledging that America is a symbol of freedom for all people, you can expand the day to include freedom from addictive foods or any other substances that steal your health, energy and vitality. Declare your freedom; take control of and responsibility for your health and well being.

Super Bowl, February 6th

Be sure to check out Dr. Grandma’s Appetizers/Snacks for healthy foods for your Super Bowl party.

Valentine’s Day, February 14th

Make an extra effort this Valentine’s Day to show the special person in your life that you love them. Loving feelings can help you and your special person lower stress levels which is very good for your heart. You can also incorporate Random Acts of Kindness — observed February 17th — in your celebration of love and goodwill throughout the month — and maybe beyond?

 

Good Health Can Be Yummy

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

Did you miss any of these articles? These were some of the most popular blog posts and the most fun to write:

  • Made from Actual Food in this January 5th post, Dr. Grandma shares the joy of reading a NY Times article by Mark Bittman, who observes the benefits of eating actual food. In addition, she gives ideas for beginning to make permanent changes in eating and exercise – the end of the perennial quest for unsustainable quick weight-loss.
  • Ratatouille and a Gray Winter’s Day in this January 12th post, Dr. Grandma discusses her dream of helping others improve their nutritional status. In addition, she shares a recipe for Flavorful Ratatouille Soup.
  • What’s Up Doc? in this January 19th post, Dr. Grandma writes about beneficial root vegetables and focuses her attention on carrots. In addition, she shares a recipe for Roasted Apple Herb Carrots.
  • Not So Happy Meals in this January 21st post, Mary Ireland discusses some implications of poor childhood nutrition.
  • Consumers Get Confused, Ya Think? in this January 26th post, Dr. Grandma discusses the confusion caused by cereal processors and gives some hints of how to avoid impoverished grain products.

Other links of interest: