February 2008

HEALTHY
LIFESTYLE WEB SITES

Check Out These Web Sites

Finding Healthy Options at Restaurants

Before you head out to your favorite restaurant, check out this site to find out of the choices you are making are healthy! This website details nutrition information including calories, fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrates, fiber, sugars, protein and fruit/vegetable for featured menu items at popular restaurants nationwide.

http://www.healthydining finder.com

Eat Smart to Be Smart

Yummy Stuff™ is a club designed to help children and their families develop everyday habits of healthy eating. Yummy Stuff™ strives to nourish children's bodies while feeding their minds and creating healthy habits that last a lifetime. Join the club to learn all about healthy choices and have fun while doing it!

http://www.yummystuffinc.com

Pay Online for school meals with your credit card! You may use Visa or MasterCard by following the link at: http://www.d11.org/fns/payonline.htm

You will need your child’s student ID number, which may be found on their Student ID card or by calling the kitchen. Kitchen phone numbers may be found at:

http://www.d11.org/fns/phone_list.htm

NUTRITION TIDBITS

HARVEST OF THE MONTH: BEETS!

In order to “grow healthy students”, School District 11 Food and Nutrition Services has developed a program called Colorado School’s Harvest of the Month. This program was originally created and promoted by the California Nutrition Network and the California 5 a Day Campaign. We have tweaked the program to the meet the needs of school districts across the state of Colorado!

Each month a featured fruit or vegetable will appear on the school menus and will become a focus for nutrition education topics (in newsletters like this!). For the month of February, BEETS are the star. Let’s learn a little more about this delicious vegetable.

Did you know…beets have been cultivated since pre-historic times in the Mediterranean area and were originally grown only for their leaves. During the Roman empire, people began to eat the roots as well. Today, beets and beet dishes are still widely popular.

Beets are a good source of folacin and a source of Vitamin C and potassium. Red beets provide Vitamins A and C, calcium and iron, and add fiber to the diet.

A Few Quick Serving Ideas:

-Simply grate raw beets for a delicious and colorful addition to salads or decorative garnish for soups.

-Add chunks of beet when roasting vegetables in the oven.

-Healthy sauté beet greens with other braising greens such as chard and mustard greens.

-Marinate steamed beets in fresh lemon juice, olive oil, and fresh herbs.

Sources: www.whfoods.com, www.bellybytes.com

INTERESTING FACTS

Did you know…

That there are seven important steps that you can take for a healthier body?

1. BREAKFAST POWER

A healthy breakfast helps you think better, improves your attitude and keeps you from overeating later on.

2. SKIP THE POP

Thirsty? Drink water with snacks and low-fat milk with meals for strong bones and a healthy weight.

3. LIMIT SCREEN TIME

Get fit, improve sleep and perform better at school or work with the push of a button! Limit TV, computer and video games to less than 2 hours each day.

4. ADD 2000 STEPS

Wear a step counter to keep track of your steps. Try to increase your number by 2000 steps each day until you reach 10,000 steps per day.

5. CHOOSE HALF

Most packaged foods and restaurant portions are large enough for 2 to 3 people! To avoid overeating, choose half.

6. EAT A RAINBOW

All colors of fruits and vegetables

help you maintain a healthy weight by filling you up with nutrients and fiber instead of calories.

7. SLEEP IT OFF

Your body doesn’t work very well without enough sleep, even when it comes to maintaining weight. Make sure you and your family are getting enough rest.

Source: CanDo – Coalition for Activity and Nutrition to Defeat Obesity

HEALTHY RECIPES

A few healthy recipes for February’s Harvest of the Month: BEETS!!!

Beet, Bean & Apple Salad

1 (8.25 oz) can sliced beets, drained & diced

1 (15 oz) can cut green beans, drained

1 large Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored & diced

1 teaspoon olive oil

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

Combine the beets, green beans and apple in a serving bowl. Stir in olive oil and vinegar. Chill 1 hour before serving. Serve cold.

Makes 4 servings

Pineapple Beets

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 tablespoon cornstarch

¼ teaspoon salt

1 (8 oz) can pineapple tidbits, undrained

1 (16 oz) can sliced beets, drained

1 tablespoon butter or margarine

1 tablespoon lemon juice

In a saucepan, combine brown sugar, cornstarch and salt; add pineapple and bring to a boil, stirring constantly until thick, about 2 minutes. Add the beets, butter and lemon juice; cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Makes 4 servings

Source: www.allrecipes.com