November 2009
Tapping into our Neighborhood Resources
The Clintonville Neighborhood is extremely fortunate to have the assistance of the CRC, or Clintonville Community Resource Center. Located at 14 West Lakeview, the CRC provides this neighborhood with a wide variety of resources that are devoted to community betterment and help for individuals. The mission of this not-for-profit organization is to help improve social conditions by providing a range of services and promoting neighborly cooperation. With the help of up to 200 community volunteers annually, the CRC focuses on their 5 core values of: JUSTICE, ADAPTABILITY, EFFICIENCY, ENGAGEMENT, and DIGNITY. The CRC is able to work toward these 5 core values by providing the following services:
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...
So it has begun, the season of endulging in the most decadent of menus--Holiday season.
Although many of us have already gotten ourselves in a little bit of trouble four days ago, it is not too late to make sure that we do not get ourselves off track of healthy meals and on track to make losing weight our New Year's resolution.
Try some of these simple steps and save your resolutions for something better like doing one good deed a day or leaning another language.
1.) Plan menus in advance and shop bi-weekly for what you need. It is easy during the holiday season to skip cooking and stopping to grab something on the way home. That piles up the calories and spends more money that could be used to get Aunt Mable those slippers she wants.
"Midwest Thanksgiving"
I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving, full of time with loved ones. I have to admit, Thanksgiving is not my favorite holiday. I love the time with friends and family, but the emphasis primarily eating seems unheathy. Each year my family has the same menu, for as long as I can remember:
Midwest Thanksgiving Menu
A giant Turkey
Stuffing
Mashed Potatoes
Cheesy Potato Casserole
Green Bean Casserole
Candied Yams
Macoroni and Cheese
dinner rolls
Texas Corn Casserole
Oyster Casserole
Many pies
I leave each year feeling tired and needing a long walk. I am not used to eating such processed foods. All of the dishes have large amounts of fat and sugar. There is nothing fresh. I did ask if we had a fresh salad and the half joking response was, "This is Thanksgiving. We don't have salad on thanksgiving."
Recovering
Four days after Thanksgiving, and I am still trying to regain my equilibrium. I didn't overeat (I didn't show tremendous restraint either), but what I did eat on Thanksgiving was not what I would choose to eat or choose to prepare were I hosting the holiday. Without launching into a food-based jeremiad, let me just say that the Thanksgiving meal I ate satisfied neither my body nor my soul.
Shopping with a Purpose: Saving my Sanity as Well as my Budget
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Over the last year or so, I have become increasingly resistant to cooking dinner. I am responsible for doing the majority of the cooking in my household, and I am lucky to have a spouse who is very easy to please food wise, but for some reaon, the idea of cooking at the end of the day became totally daunting.
I re-examined the way that I had been shopping and cooking, and was able to discover what was at the root of my cooking issues: not enough forethought or planning. Usually, after work, I would come home, look in our nearly empty cabinets, try (often in vain) to come up with an idea for dinner, drag myself to the store, and then prepare dinner in a totally exhausted state. So, long story short, I am now doing the following:
7 foods that should never cross your lips...
This article outlines a few items that many people don't think about when making food choices that can cost us our lives in the long run.
7 Foods That Should Never Cross Your Lips (<--click here for article)
"Food scientists are shedding light on items loaded with toxins and chemicals—and simple swaps for a cleaner diet and supersized health."
Remember, when we buy LOCALLY it is easier to fulfil the healthy changes listed in the article.
Meatless Meals for Meat Lovers (Part Deux)
Ok, so I promised to provide more recipes for those who have a person in our lives that we have to ween off of meat at every meal. Here is another very hearty meal that they may not even notice is meatless.
I love eggplant, it is a great "meaty" fruit (we just went over fruits in Food is Elementary class, so I have to use the correct nomenclature, or believe me, the students will notice! lol) and because it can be so hearty, it is easy to eat it without the presence of meat. This Moroccan inspired dish is sure to please.
(the recipe is for a meal for two)
ROASTED EGGPLANT
1 small whole eggplant (around 5 in long)
2 tsp. pine nuts, toasted
1/2 cup cooked brown rice
"What should you buy organic?"
This is a helpful website that Local Matter's Noreen Warnock sent me. The site helps the user decide which produce to buy organic.
"Comments about our work at Local Matters."
We are in the middle of our second year of "Food is Elementary" being taught to hundreds of Columbus area children. It is difficult to explain how much of an impact our work has made,but let me try. Here are some of the comments that children, parents, teachers and staff have made about changes they have made in their lives regarding food:
"I eat more vegetables so I can be strong. See my muscles?"
