Welcome to the August issue
of “Making the Healthy Choice the Easy Choice.” Here you
will find information you can use on a timely topic,
healthy eating, recipes and more! I welcome your
feedback and questions. Please send them to
Janet@nourishyourlife.com Thank you!
August is
the month to say “Thank you.”
Last week
we took my almost 90 year old dad to the Air Force
Museum in Dayton, Ohio. He was a bomber pilot in World
War II, 448th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force. The B24 that
my dad flew was on display at the museum. It was our
son Chuck’s idea, for us to visit the museum; and so
we met Chuck, his wife Ashley and their Russian
adopted son, Paul (now five years old) in Dayton last
Tuesday morning.
The
display of aircraft began with the Wright Brothers; we
simply wandered through until we came to the B24 on
display-and then my dad came alive with stories and
thoughtful recollections. As he was recalling, a
probably almost 90 year old man came by; he too had
flown the B24. They briefly exchanged stories and the
man went on. But then, as we began to walk on, another
probably almost 90 year old man stopped him, put out
his hand and shook my dads. Looking into my dad’s
eyes, with tears in his, he said,
“Thank
you for fighting the war for all of us. Thank you
for coming home; my brother didn’t. Because of you
and my brother, we are free.”
My dad,
then with tears in his eyes, lingered a moment in the
hand shake and then simply and knowingly acknowledged
his gratitude with a nod of his head…We all walked
away with tears in our eyes, and a deeper
understanding of the power of saying Thank you…
We all
have our opinions of war; especially in these days of
global unrest. But, I am asking all of us to set aside
opinions, judgments and attitudes. Let us simply be
grateful for the freedom that we (I) so take for
granted…and say thank you.
My challenge for you this month is to say thank
you to a veteran, a soldier or a family who has been
deeply touched by war. Thank them that WE ARE FREE.
Write to
us at
janet@nourishyourlife.com and tell us about your
experience. We would be honored to hear about it,
Quote for
the month:
“Every
time that we say thank you, we experience nothing less
than heaven on earth.”
Sarah Van
Breathnach
Healthy eating in August: Watermelon!
What is
August, without watermelon; a big bite into a fresh
slice…the watermelon juice running down your forearm
and dripping onto the grass…Did you know that
watermelon is 92% water? It is high in B6, A and C .
It is fat free and contains some potassium and fiber.
Watermelon is also a good source of lycopene.
www.Watermelon.org
reports: “Lycopene is a carotenoid that gives
watermelon its red color, and it is only available in
a few other foods, including tomatoes.
Lycopene
is a powerful antioxidant. Researchers are finding
increasing evidence that proper diet and nutrition are
important factors in disease prevention. Watermelon
contains higher levels of lycopene than any other
fresh fruit or vegetable (15 to 20 mg per 2-cup
serving) and is part of a healthy diet.” This same
website also offers these FUN FACTS:
- The
first recorded watermelon harvest occurred nearly
5,000 years ago in Egypt.
- Over
1,200 varieties of watermelons are grown worldwide
in 96 countries.
- In some
Mediterranean countries, the taste of watermelon is
paired with the salty taste of feta cheese.
-
Watermelon's official name is Citrullus Lanatus of
the botanical family Curcurbitaceae. It is cousins
to cucumbers, pumpkins and squash.
- By
weight, watermelon is the most-consumed melon in the
U.S., followed by cantaloupe and honeydew.
- Early
explorers used watermelons as canteens.
- The
first cookbook published in the U.S. in 1796
contained a recipe for watermelon rind pickles.
- In
1990, Bill Carson of Arrington, TN grew the largest
watermelon at 262 pounds that is still on the record
books (1998 ed. Guinness Book of World Records).
My
challenge for you this month is to try a different
variety of watermelon than the usual one you munch on;
after all, there are 1,200 varieties! Eat it plain, or
try it in a recipe. Ideas for a recipe? Try this one:
Quinoa,
Watermelon and Blueberry Parfait
Serves 4-6
Ingredients
1 cup
quinoa
2 cups water
1-1/2 cups diced watermelon
1-1/2 cups blueberries
2 cups low fat vanilla yogurt
Directions
1. Rinse
quinoa before cooking to remove the coating of a
bitter substance called saponins.
2. Bring water to a boil.
3. Stir in quinoa, cover and simmer 15 minutes.
4. Allow quinoa to cool
5. In 4-6 parfait glasses (depending on size of glass)
layer quinoa, yogurt, blueberries, yogurt, watermelon
and yogurt. Repeat layering if desired.
6. Top with a few blueberries and watermelon for a
“patriotic” appearance.
7. ENJOY!
The
nutrition facts will depend on the type on yogurt that
you use and the amount of blueberries and watermelon.
These nutrition facts are using low-fat yogurt and one
cup each of blueberries and watermelon.
Nutrition facts: 4, 6 servings: 262, 174 calories; 49,
33 carbs; 11,7 gm pro; 5.5, 3.5gm fat
