June: 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

Time to celebrate June’s special days.

National Fruit and Veggies Month

Summer produce available in stores, farmers markets or fruit stands makes this time of the year perfect for increasing your intake of fruits and vegetables. The produce is plentiful, available at good prices and tastes so good. The Produce for Better Health Foundation, offers tools, recipes and ideas for increasing fruit and veggie consumption for everyone, especially families with kids.

If you are familiar with Dr. Grandma’s blogs, you know how important fruit and vegetables are for a healthy body. Fruits and vegetables provide vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and fiber. A diet high in fruits and vegetables helps prevent obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osterporosis and other diseases. Vegetables are an effective and healthy way to reduce or maintain weight.

National Great Outdoors Month and National Camping Month

Two of my most memorable vacations are backpacking trips I made to National Parks in the U.S. – Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park. The scenery at both were breathtakingly beautiful. As a person who spends most of her time in front of a computer monitor, I periodically need to unplug and get away from it all. There is no better way to get away than going camping – even car camping can get you out into nature. One of the things that I noticed on the Yellowstone trip was the percentage of people who spend most of their time riding in the car from site to site. While there are a great many things to see, taking time for day hikes will allow you to get exercise and commune with nature on a closer level.

Remember to plan for healthy meals and snacks on your outdoor adventures. Select fruits such as oranges and apples that hold up to travel. Choose trail mixes that don’t include candy. Take whole grain products. Dr. Grandma’s pancakes cooked on the camp stove can be mighty tasty.

June Celebrations: Weddings and Graduations

June traditionally includes wedding and graduation celebrations. If you are planning a celebration, consider including healthy food choices for your guests. With so many in our country struggling with diabetes or weight issues, having food that supports health will be appreciated. Fruits and vegetables are so colorful, they can be arranged as beautiful decorations or in handsome trays and platters. Remember Dr. Grandma’s saying, “Good Health Can be Yummy.”

D-Day, June 6

On June 6, 1944, 160,000 Allied troops landed along the heavily-fortified French coastline to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France. This assault was the largest air, land, and sea operation that has ever taken place. The D-Day cost was high with more than 9,000 Allied soldiers killed or wounded as the march across Europe to defeat Hitler began. My father and my uncles participated in this battle that changed their lives and the history of the world forever. I am humbled when I think about the sacrifices made for freedom – the same sacrifices that continue today, as we see people in the Middle East waging revolutions against dictators.

Raggedy Ann & Andy Day – June 13th and 14th

It’s time to make Raggedy Ann and Andy Salads again. Here are the ingredients in Dr. Grandma’s recipe:

• Face: peaches, pears, pancakes, or cottage cheese
• Hair: grated carrots or yellow grated cheese
• Eyes: raisins or olives
• Nose: cherries, sliced red apple or red pepper
• Lips: red apples or red pepper
• Ears: cucumbers or apples

Put each ingredient in a separate bowl and let the child choose how to create the ‘doll dish.’ You can tell the story of Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy while the child is creating the doll dish.

Father’s Day is June 19th

Father’s Day celebrates fatherhood and honors all fathers and father figures — such as stepfathers, uncles grandfathers and big brothers — for their contributions to your life.

Being a good parent takes patience, perseverance, wisdom and love. You may never know how difficult being a parent is until you are in that role yourself. Take this opportunity to express gratitude to your father all he does for you.

Summer Solstice is June 21st this Year

I love the summer solstice, especially after such a long winter. I so look forward to the long, warm days filled with sunshine. However, it is a bittersweet celebration — it means the days will be getting shorter, starting their slow march to December 21.

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:

• Reduce Your Diabetes Risk – Just Do It in this May 3rd post, Dr. Grandma discusses how diet and exercise have allowed Dr. Grandpa to win over diabetes and shares some first steps to prevent diabetes.
• Exercise Protects Against Disease in this May 13th post Mary Ireland provides data on how exercise can help protect against arthritis, osteoporosis, and fibromyalgia.
• May is National Mediterranean Diet Month in this May 17th post Dr. Grandma discusses how researchers keep finding facts in support of the Mediterranean style of eating.
• Resisting Resistance in this May 20th post
  Mary Ireland discusses the importance of resistance exercise and give some hints for starting a resistance exercise program.
• Empowering Ourselves against Cravings in this May 24th post
  Dr. Grandma discusses new research that may help you resist cravings.

Other Links of Interest

You might be interested in these links:

• USDA Healthy Meals Resource System for June
• D-Day History and Information
• Father’s Day
• Dr. Grandma’s Pancake and Waffle Mix
• Dr. Grandma’s Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Dr. Grandma’s All Natural Zero Calorie Sweetener – Delight
• Dr. Grandma’s Organic Hard Red Spring Wheat
• Dr. Grandma’s Muffins Your Way Mix

Get 10% off of your next order. Just enter the promotion code DRGNEWS in the coupon area of the shopping cart.