Tired of buying cupcakes for your child's birthday? Want to bring something fun and healthy?With a bag of apples, balloons, and a pump... I present you with this "monkey" holding an apple!
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Jazz up an apple with a balloon!
Tired of buying cupcakes for your child's birthday? Want to bring something fun and healthy?With a bag of apples, balloons, and a pump... I present you with this "monkey" holding an apple!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
A new friend!
At Nutrition Link, we will be welcoming a new friend to the Division of Child Development & Community Health. Her name is Carissa! Carissa will be joining me into the classrooms to teach the nutrition education curriculum. I'm excited!
I wonder what is Carissa's favorite fruit and physical activity is? Guess, I'll find out soon.
I wonder what is Carissa's favorite fruit and physical activity is? Guess, I'll find out soon.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Snack Wars - The Documentary
For my class film project, I am working on a documentary that shows the foods students eat while at school. Let's say that Flaming Hot Cheetos are pretty popular with the students. The documentary includes interviews with teachers, principals, elementary students, and a food service director. They are asked questions about their understanding of the School Wellness Policy, school lunch program, and the health of students.
The documentary is almost complete, I have two more audio clips to clean and sync. Hooray! More to follow on this topic.
The documentary is almost complete, I have two more audio clips to clean and sync. Hooray! More to follow on this topic.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
All-American Breakfast
During my stay in Florida, the breakfast buffet always had the typical all-American breakfast. This breakfast included cereal, milk, fresh fruits, muffins, donuts, toast, hard boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, sausages, bacon, grits, and oatmeal. Going through this buffet line, there were healthier food choices to eat like oatmeal and fruit.
Being a health professional, my food choices differed from my friend that I traveled with. I consciously picked the grapefruit and orange slices, bananas, toast (with no butter), light cream cream, and hard boiled eggs. Sure I would alternate with oatmeal and some scrambled eggs with two sausages, but not everyday while I was there. My friend, first and far most loves bacon. And she had at least six or more strips of bacon everyday. She also had some scrambled eggs and one or two pieces of sausages depending on how she felt in the morning. But, it was the amount of bacon she ate was what had bothered me.
I'm wanted to say, "stop eating all that bacon!"
Bacon is high in saturated fat and sodium (salt). On top of that, she mentioned to me in a previous conversation that her mother was diagnosed with high cholestrol. If her mom has high levels of cholesterol and my friend enjoys eating bacon, she might have high levels of cholesterol too. My mind began to prepare a speech about the health risks related to high cholesterol and heart disease.
But, we were on vacation and I did not want to lecture her about how the plaque (waxy fat) can get stuck in her artery walls and may stop the flow of blood to her heart because she eats large amounts of animal fat. Perhaps in her mind, because she was on 'vacation,' she ate bacon everyday to satifsy her taste buds.
Because I know she doesn't literally eat bacon everyday while back in California, I convinced myself she was on "vacation" and wanted to enjoy her strips of bacon.
So, I'm writing about my all-american breakfast experience because I want readers to think about the foods they choose to put on their plate and eat. I feel that being on vacation should not act as an excuse for vacationers to splurge on foods high in fats, sodium, and sugar. Whether on vacation or not, making healthy choices should be part of daily routine. This does not mean, while on vacation or at home ice cream, cakes, and six or more strips of bacon should not be eaten. Just have it in moderation, not everyday. Or make a plate with a smaller portion of the foods you want to splurge on.
And lastly, exercise for at least 60 minutes on most days. Making and eating healthier foods is only one part of good health practices.
Being a health professional, my food choices differed from my friend that I traveled with. I consciously picked the grapefruit and orange slices, bananas, toast (with no butter), light cream cream, and hard boiled eggs. Sure I would alternate with oatmeal and some scrambled eggs with two sausages, but not everyday while I was there. My friend, first and far most loves bacon. And she had at least six or more strips of bacon everyday. She also had some scrambled eggs and one or two pieces of sausages depending on how she felt in the morning. But, it was the amount of bacon she ate was what had bothered me.
I'm wanted to say, "stop eating all that bacon!"
Bacon is high in saturated fat and sodium (salt). On top of that, she mentioned to me in a previous conversation that her mother was diagnosed with high cholestrol. If her mom has high levels of cholesterol and my friend enjoys eating bacon, she might have high levels of cholesterol too. My mind began to prepare a speech about the health risks related to high cholesterol and heart disease.
But, we were on vacation and I did not want to lecture her about how the plaque (waxy fat) can get stuck in her artery walls and may stop the flow of blood to her heart because she eats large amounts of animal fat. Perhaps in her mind, because she was on 'vacation,' she ate bacon everyday to satifsy her taste buds.
Because I know she doesn't literally eat bacon everyday while back in California, I convinced myself she was on "vacation" and wanted to enjoy her strips of bacon.
So, I'm writing about my all-american breakfast experience because I want readers to think about the foods they choose to put on their plate and eat. I feel that being on vacation should not act as an excuse for vacationers to splurge on foods high in fats, sodium, and sugar. Whether on vacation or not, making healthy choices should be part of daily routine. This does not mean, while on vacation or at home ice cream, cakes, and six or more strips of bacon should not be eaten. Just have it in moderation, not everyday. Or make a plate with a smaller portion of the foods you want to splurge on.
And lastly, exercise for at least 60 minutes on most days. Making and eating healthier foods is only one part of good health practices.
Monday, April 20, 2009
ODE to the Tomato
Green, yellow and red tomatoes!Shiny leathery skin.
Why don't little kids like me?
I'm in spaghetti!
Okay, spaghetti sauce.
I'm in spaghetti!
Okay, spaghetti sauce.
I'm in ketchup!
And, there's a but!
There's added sugar to make me sweet!
But, I'm already sweet.
Did you know I'm also a "cherry" tomato?
And I'm also a "grape" tomato!
And I'm also a "grape" tomato!
There are many different types of tomatoes.
I can be a small tomato.
I can also be a big tomato.
I can also be a big tomato.
And I even rhyme with potato.
I'm juicy on the inside and have seeds.
I have Vitamin C!
I have Vitamin A!
I like to confuse you!
I'm am a fruit!
I do have seeds!
Put me in your sandwich.
Put me in your soup.
Slice me!
Slice me!
And dice me!
Cook me in a stew.
Cook me in the barbeque.
I hope you plant me!
I hope you grow me!
But please protect me too!
The horn worm likes to eat me!
Green, yellow and red tomatoes!
Fin
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
EAT CABBAGE!
It's that time of year to wear green and eat corned beef and cabbage.
If that is a little too extreme for you, let's take one step at a time. Let's start with cabbage!
Cabbage is a leafy vegetable that dates back all the way to the 1600's. It is part of the Family Brassicaceae or Cruciferae plant family.
There are different types of cabbage!
There's green and red cabbages!
Nappa cabbages!
Any smally cabbages, aslo known as brussel sprouts!
Cabbages are high in Vitamin K and C, which are good for your body! They are also rich in fiber!
Here's a fun trivia! What year did cole slaw become popular in the United States?
The answer is 1903! That was when bottled mayonnaise was invented!
Happy Eatings and Happy St. Patrick's Day!
If that is a little too extreme for you, let's take one step at a time. Let's start with cabbage!
Cabbage is a leafy vegetable that dates back all the way to the 1600's. It is part of the Family Brassicaceae or Cruciferae plant family.
There are different types of cabbage!
There's green and red cabbages!
Nappa cabbages!
Any smally cabbages, aslo known as brussel sprouts!
Cabbages are high in Vitamin K and C, which are good for your body! They are also rich in fiber!
Here's a fun trivia! What year did cole slaw become popular in the United States?
The answer is 1903! That was when bottled mayonnaise was invented!
Happy Eatings and Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Friday, January 23, 2009
Are you ready for Chinese New Year?
This year, Chinese New Year is on Monday, January 26! It's going to be the year of the Ox.
To get ready for the festivities, let's talk about dumplings! Dumplings are usually made of dough filled with sweet or savory fillings. Some popular Chinese dumplings are wontons and potstickers. Dumplings are symbolic and have different meanings. Some represent fortune, good luck, and family bonding. Making dumplings can be a great activity to get everyone together in the kitchen.
For recipes to make for Chinese New Year, check out the Champion for Change's website at
These recipes are in both English and Chinese!
For some more info about dumplings...go to
For a fun food inspired dumpling craft, go to
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