March is National Nutrition Month®
National Nutrition Month® was initiated in 1973 as National Nutrition Week, and it became a month-long observance in 1980 in response to growing interest in nutrition. The second Wednesday of March is Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day, an annual celebration of the dedication of RDNs as the leading advocates for advancing the nutritional status of Americans and people around the world. This year's observance will be March 10.
For National Nutrition Month® 2021, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends people adjust their eating habits to address the nutritional needs of their bodies during all stages of life.
"What works for you in your twenties won’t necessarily work for you in your fifties. As you age and evolve, so do your health and nutrition needs. It's important to eat right for life," said registered dietitian nutritionist Colleen Tewksbury, a national spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in Philadelphia, Pa.
In March, the Academy focuses attention on healthful eating through National Nutrition Month®. This year's theme, Personalize Your Plate, promotes creating nutritious meals to meet individuals’ cultural and personal food preferences. The Academy encourages everyone to make informed food choices and develop sound eating and physical activity habits they can follow all year long.
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Teens to 20s — Build bone density by eating and drinking calcium-rich foods and beverages such as fat-free or low-fat dairy milk or yogurt or calcium-fortified soy beverages. Non-dairy sources of calcium include fortified cereals, beans, some leafy greens and canned salmon with bones.
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20s to 30s — Reduce your risk of chronic diseases such as obesity, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease by eating more dietary fiber, including whole grains, legumes, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. Women of childbearing age should include sources of folate, such as beans and peas and dark-green leafy vegetables, and eat foods fortified with folic acid such as breads, cereals and other grain products. A folic acid supplement may also be needed and should be discussed with a health care provider.
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30s to 40s — Continue to eat a variety of nutritious foods, especially plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and beans, peas and lentils for vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and dietary fiber.
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40s to 50s — Fine tune your healthful eating habits and continue to incorporate regular physical activity as your body changes due to fluctuating hormones and slowing metabolism. Also continue to focus on ways to limit foods and beverages with added sugars, salt and saturated fat.
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60s and beyond — Continue to include a variety of protein-rich foods to maintain bone strength and incorporate strength-building activities to maintain muscle. Good sources of protein include seafood, lean cuts of meat, eggs, beans, tofu and nuts. Animal-based protein foods also provide vitamin B12, which is a concern for some older adults. Foods also may be fortified with vitamin B12 or a supplement may be recommended by your health care provider.
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Oliver Healthy Choices Grants
Next Grant Deadline April 15, 2021
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Upcoming Events
Live Smart Texas
World Obesity Day Summit
March 4, 2021
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM (CST)
Join Live Smart Texas as we observe World Obesity Day with a summit highlighting the impact of obesity and how we can work together to address its many root causes.
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Texas Department of Agriculture
2021 Spring Farm Fresh Challenge
Registration Now Open
The Texas Department of Agriculture is excited to invite all child nutrition operators to participate in a special spring Farm Fresh Challenge this April. To learn more about how to encourage participation in the Spring Farm Fresh Challenge, Visit SquareMeals.org
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School Breakfast Week, March 8-12, 2021
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Health Ambassadors for a Ready Texas (HART)
Application Now Open for 2021-2022 School Year
Deadline to apply is April 9, 2021
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Meet the Oliver Teen Advisory Board
The Oliver Foundation Teen Advisory Board is a 12-18 member organization represented by students across the Houston area. Each month you'll meet a different member who will share their perspective on living a healthy life.
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Serena Hou, Board Member
Bellaire High School - Bellaire, Texas
Teen Board Member 2020 - Present
Serena is a senior at Bellaire High School. She started dancing at the age of 5 and practices Chinese dance, modern, and ballet. She is Vice President of her school’s modern dance company and captain of her dance team outside of school. She was a 2020 TDEA All-State dancer and her dance team received the highest honor at Taoli World Dance Competition. She has won 1st place twice with her school’s Community Problem Solving team at Future Problem Solving Program International. In her free time, Serena enjoys playing with her dog and spending time with her friends and family.
Staying Motivated While at Home
As we head into the second semester in school, it is very easy to lose motivation to end the school year with a strong finish. After 10 years of dancing surrounded by my teammates, I found myself a bit lost after all my practices were suddenly switched to virtual. Dancing over Zoom didn’t give me the sense of fulfillment that it once did; I even contemplated quitting for good. I gradually found the appreciation I had for dance once again, and here are some tips that helped to regain my passion and motivation.
1. Prepare for success
While I took online classes, I found myself swapping ballet tights with leggings and leotards with t-shirts. However, when I prepared myself as I usually would for in-person practice, I felt more professional and engaged. This strategy does not only apply to sports, but also for work. Performance is correlated with your surroundings, so be sure to create an atmosphere tailored to yourself that promotes productivity and creativity. This is a great way to foster a positive and open mindset.
2. Be open to changes
At the beginning of quarantine, I dreaded attending Zoom classes because they were so different from life before. However, taking class at home gave me more time to focus on myself and allowed me to pace myself accordingly. Even though the pandemic has limited us to our own homes, find the benefits of this new lifestyle and focus on how you grow from them.
3. Reconnect with friends
Recently, I have found myself talking to old teammates and peers, especially those whom I share the same hobby with. Talking with friends has helped me stay engaged in my sport and is a way to keep social. Whether through a simple text or a video call, it is important to stay in touch with the people close to us.
These are just some ideas to motivate you to regain your passion for hobbies and exercise! It is important to stay mentally and physically active through these uncertain times. I hope these tips can help you like they did for me! Stay safe!
Serena Hou
March 2021
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Teen Board Recipe
Lauryn Tu
Co-Event Coordinator
Healthy Banana Bread!
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 55 mins
INGREDIENTS
- 1/3 cup (75 grams) melted coconut oil or extra-virgin olive oil or high quality vegetable oil*
- 1/2 cup honey (168 grams) or maple syrup (155 grams)
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup (225 grams) mashed ripe bananas (about 2 1/2 medium or 2 large bananas)
- 1/4 cup (56 grams) milk of choice or water
- 1 teaspoon baking soda (NOT baking powder; they aren’t the same!)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus more to swirl on top
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1 3/4 cups (220 grams) white whole wheat flour or regular whole wheat flour**
- Totally optional: 1/2 cup mix-ins like chopped walnuts or pecans, chocolate chips, raisins, chopped dried fruit, fresh banana slices…
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (165 degrees Celsius) and grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan.
- In a large bowl, beat the oil and honey together with a whisk. Add the eggs and beat well, then whisk in the mashed bananas and milk. (If your coconut oil solidifies on contact with cold ingredients, simply let the bowl rest in a warm place for a few minutes, like on top of your stove, or warm it for about 10 seconds in the microwave.)
- Add the baking soda, vanilla, salt and cinnamon, and whisk to blend. Lastly, switch to a big spoon and stir in the flour, just until combined. Some lumps are ok! If you’re adding any additional mix-ins, gently fold them in now.
- Pour the batter into your greased loaf pan and sprinkle lightly with cinnamon. If you’d like a pretty swirled effect, run the tip of a knife across the batter in a zig-zag pattern.
- Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean (typically, if I haven’t added any mix-ins, my bread is done at 55 minutes; if I have added mix-ins, it needs closer to 60 minutes). Let the bread cool in the loaf pan for at least 10 minutes. You may need to run a butter knife around the edges to loosen the bread from the pan. Carefully transfer the loaf to a wire rack to cool before slicing.
Author: Cookie and Kate
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The Oliver Foundation
5535 Memorial Drive
Suite F, #256
Houston, TX 77007
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