National Nutrition Month: Discover the Power of Nutrition | | |
National Nutrition Month® is an annual campaign established in 1973 by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. This year's theme is "Discover the Power of Nutrition." Nutrition has the power to help individuals and communities thrive. Discover how food and beverage choices can help power your day, learn tips for accessing healthy foods in your area, and build healthy habits into your day to help you feel great now and in the future.
Check out these tips:
-
Eat a Hearty Breakfast: Start your day with a healthy breakfast that includes lean protein, whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Try making breakfast burrito with scrambled eggs, low-fat cheese, salsa and a whole wheat tortilla or a parfait with low-fat plain yogurt, fruit and whole grain cereal!
-
Bring Some Color to Half of Your Plate With Fruits & Veggies: Fruits and veggies add color, flavor and texture plus vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber to your plate. Make 2 cups of fruit and 2 ½ cups of vegetables your daily goal. Experiment with different types, including fresh, frozen, and canned.
-
Drink More Water: Quench your thirst with water instead of sugary drinks. Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water, especially if you are extremely active, an older adult, or live/work in hot conditions.
-
Be Active: Regular physical activity has many health benefits. Start by doing what exercise you can. Children and teens should get 60 or more minutes of physical activity per day, and adults at least two hours and 30 minutes per week. You don't have to hit the gym – take a walk after dinner or put on music and dance at home!
https://www.eatright.org/national-nutrition-month/resources
| | |
Is it still cold outside? Get competitive and play some games!
-
Simon Says: A classic for a reason! It’s a high-energy way to sneak in functional movements—like squats, lunges, or balancing on one foot—while keeping everyone sharp and laughing.
-
The Floor is Lava: Transform your living room into an imaginary obstacle course. This game challenges your agility, balance, and core strength as you stretch and leap between "safe" zones without touching the ground.
-
Stairway Sprints: Turn your staircase into a vertical track. Set a timer to see who can clock the most laps, or focus on "power climbs" to give your quads and cardio a serious boost.
-
Living Room Tug-of-War: Grab a sturdy rope (or a towel!) for a full-body burn. Whether you’re competing against the kids or a very determined dog, it’s an incredible workout for your grip strength, arms, and glutes.
-
Balloon Volleyball: Don’t let the light equipment fool you. Keeping a balloon airborne requires quick reflexes, constant movement, and overhead reaching, turning your lounge into a high-intensity "sweat forum."
Source: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-balance/winter-exercise-family-activities/
| | Harvest of the Month: Spinach! | | |
Fun Facts: Spinach is a very hardy crop and can withstand temperatures as low as 25°F; however, it does not tolerate hot weather well.
What To Look For:
- Fresh spinach can be found loose or bagged.
- Choose fresh spinach leaves that are green and crisp. Avoid leaves that are limped, damaged, or spotted.
- Store fresh spinach in an open plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to four days.
- Rinse spinach leaves in cool water and pat dry just before using.
- Spinach can also be found canned or frozen. They are nutritious, too. Choose low-sodium varieties.
Source: https://snap-ed.michiganfitness.org/wp-content/uploads/spinach-family-newsletter-2016.pdf
| | Recipe Highlight: Spinach & White Bean Stew | | |
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 garlic clove, minced (or 1/2 tsp garlic powder)
- 1 small onion, diced (or 1/2 tsp onion powder)
- 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 (14.5oz) can tomatoes, with juices
- 1 (15oz) can white beans, drained & rinsed
- 1/2 tsp rosemary or cumin
- 1 (14oz) can spinach, drained & squeezed dry
- 1 cup whole wheat pasta
- salt and pepper, to taste
Directions
- Heat oil in sauce pan over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and cook, stirring often, until softened.
- Add broth, tomatoes, drained beans and rosemary or cumin. Season with black pepper. Bring to a boil. Add pasta and cook until tender. Add spinach and cook until heated through. Serve hot.
Source: https://www.canva.com/design/DAG6RsiohAI/HwfVJRa-P15wXZuGExuCXA/view?utm_content=DAG6RsiohAI&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h1b27d66624
| | https://foodhero.org/sites/foodhero-prod/files/coloring-sheets/spinach_coloring_sheet_0.pdf | | SNAP provides monetary assistance to supplement the food budget of households that meet the financial and resource requirements. | | | | |
Foods available under SNAP:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Meat, poultry, and fish
- Dairy products
- Breads and cereals
- Other foods such as snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages
- Seeds and plants, which produce food for the household to eat
| | |
Second Harvest Food Bank's Nutrition Services is committed to working with low-income families seeking to improve their nutrition and health, partnering with our agency programs and community groups.
| | | | |
