What's the BUZZZZZZ?



Honey bees are busy workers! 

 According to honeybeehaven.com, these bees are responsible for pollinating one third of the worlds food supplies including: blueberries, melon, pears, apples, strawberries and tomatoes.  




Did you know?

• The top producers for honey in the USA by rank are North Dakota, South Dakota, Florida and California.   
• Honeybees enable the production of at least 90% of commercially grown food in North America
• The color and flavor of honey is dependent on the source of the bee's nectar such as clover or orange blossoms. The darker the honey, the more robust the flavor. 
• This summer,a federal task force was created to address the issue of rapidly declining honey bees since 1990's. 
• One hive of bees must collect pollen from an estimated 2 million flowers to gather enough nectar to product one pound of honey.
• Infants under one should not be given honey due to the possible presence of botulism spores.
• Honey contains 64 calories per Tablespoon
• Honey is 1.5 times sweeter than white sugar

           "The Dance of the Bees"

O Christmas tree, how healthy can you be?

Here are three different ideas for snack-appetizers to bring or make for a party or fix for your kids! When you choose to share your "eat healthier" goals, those around you will eat healthier too!

Fun fruit tray for sharing!

Apples, oranges and strawberries . . . Yummy!  bring a fun, fruit plate with you for a party or office break.  Be the role model for the "healthier you"!

Check out this site for fabulous pictures and ideas for healthy food recipes.  It is a real gem for inspiration
www.facebook.com/pages/Healthy-Eating-with-Michele-Holloman

Keep Holidays Healthy!

 

Youth & Family Services Team Wellness is promoting this 6 week national challenge to encourage staff to learn about making healthy decisions through the "challenging" holiday season.  Challenge begins  November 17th!  

Pumpkins!

Pumpkin season is here and what a fully loaded nutritious food to enjoy packed with vitamin A, potassium, fiber, and naturally low in sodium.  Beyond pumpkin pie and baked goods like muffins and cookies consider enjoying this sweet gourd added into soups and casseroles. a mashed  pumpkin side dish can be prepared just like mashed potatoes using half potatoes and half pumpkin.  

 The nutrition facts of 1 cup of pumpkin:  

• has less than 50 calories
• contains 3 grams of dietary fiber
• naturally a fat free food
• provides more than 240% of the daily vitamin A recommendation

 Check out the recipes below and the soothing video of the life cycle of a pumpkin plant at the bottom of this page.

 

Pumpkin Soup 

Ingredients:

6 cups chicken stock
1 teaspoons salt
4 cups pumpkin puree
1 cup chopped onion
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1-2 cloves minced garlic
1/2 cup milk or half & half 
pepper to taste

Directions

1. Heat stock, salt, pumpkin, onion, thyme, garlic, and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 30 minutes uncovered.
2. Puree the soup in small batches (1 cup at a time) using a food processor or blender.
3. Return to pan and continue to simmer for an additional 30 minutes, Stir in the milk or half and half (this adds creaminess). Serve. 

Makes 8-10 servings                                              (source allrecipes.com)
       

 

Classroom food experience: Pumpkin Pudding 

2 package instant vanilla pudding

2 cups  canned or mashed pumpkin

3 cups skim milk

1/2-teaspoon ground cinnamon

 

Beat pudding mix and milk together until well blended, about 2 minutes. Stir in pumpkin and cinnamon. Blend until mixed. Portion into 1/4 cup serving sizes and chill. The pudding will thicken as it chills. This recipe provides about 20 "sample" servings.

 

 

The life cycle of a pumpkin plant  

 

 

 

 

YFS Garden Update Okra and peppers



We spotted this green pepper recently in the YFS Kids Garden.  It was about size of a lime.  Some of the flower seeds are finally getting started and the hot growing season is on.    



This is an Okra plant. Okra is very popular in the South and used in recipes like fried okra and Gumbo stew. When cooked,  okra develops a characteristic  "slimy" or "gooey" texture that can be minimized by combining with an acid food such as lemon juice, tomatoes or vinegar. Okra is a powerhouse for nutrients including fiber, vitamin C,  folate, and antioxidants .

Great Summer Salsa recipe: Avocado Salsa with peppers, corn and olives.  

Need a snack idea for the classroom?  Here is a salsa recipes with an interesting twist of ingredients:  The recipe calls for corn, olives, peppers and avocados.  Serve it with a celery stick or whole wheat crackers. Children can help put the recipes parts together with easy to use ingredients.    

source: allrecipes.com

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Avocado-Salsa/Detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=salsa&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Recipe%20Hub&soid=sr_results_p1i1 

Thumping Watermelons!

picture from www.watermelon.org

 

Watermelon is a favorite summertime treat but do you ever hesitate to pick one out?  Here is are some tips to help you pick the perfect melon:

1. Sound.  Hold your melon with one hand and listen to it by thumping, tapping, slapping or rapping it with your other hand.  A great melon should carry a deep vibration and have a “full” sound.One person described the favored sound to be  “more like a tenor than a bass!” A melon that has a dull “thud” sound is not ripe.  In fact, a deep hollow sound may indicate the melon has a “hollow heart”.  This is a very disappointing melon to cut into.The center is separated into chunks, and the flesh is clearly overripe and mealy.   
2. Appearance.  Look on the underbelly for something called the “golden spot”, the “sweet spot” or the “field spot”.These terms indicate how the melon grew in the field as it lay in the sun. A yellow spot is better than a white spot and a white spot is better than no spot. 
3. Avoid a pigtail.  A great melon should be picked when it is ripe and not before.  If there is a existence of a green “stem” still on the melon this can indicate a melon has been picked before it’s time and therefore not as sweet.

The National Watermelon promotion board also has some other fun facts, pictures and games to check out on the following website:  www.watermelon.org