NOVEMBER FOOD FUN

November is the time to give thanks for all the great things in life. Whether its the smile of a child that causes your heart to skip a beat or sunshine on a cold winter's day, take some time every day this month to be thankful for all the little things that make you happy. No need to wait until Thanksgiving Day, start now!

National Diabetes Month: Did you know over 79 million people in America are at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes? Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, blindness, dying from heart disease or stroke, and amputations. Excess weight is a big risk factor for developing diabetes. Help stop diabetes by committing to practising healthy habits including: Eating a healthy breakfast. Limiting the amount of junk food and sugary drinks you keep in your house. Getting a good night's sleep. Engaging in physical activity every day. Paying attention to food portion sizes.

Child Safety and Protection Month: With time off from school for the holidays and lots of cooking on the family "to do" list, kids are eager to be a part of the kitchen activities. This means safety is even more important. Knives, hot ovens, and hot stovetops can all cause unnecessary harm in the kitchen. Cooking has activities for all ages. Read our Kids in the Kitchen article for suggestions of safe, age-appropriate kitchen activities. Food safety is also super important to cooking great meals.  Undercooked meats, improperly stored food and lack of hand washing can lead to food poisoning or something worse.

Hanukkah begins  - Nov. 27: Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a celebration in the Jewish Faith.  This holiday commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple after it was reclaimed from the Syrian-Greeks more than 21 centuries ago.  Fried foods are traditional fare during Hanukkah, commemorating the miracle of the Hanukkah oil that lasted eight days when it should have only lasted one.

November 28 - Thanksgiving: Thanksgiving brings us together as families, friends, and neighbors to gobble up a fall feast, share special times, and officially kick off the Holiday season. Make your family a turkey dinner that is delicious and healthy with MyPlate. Here are a few tips to help create a MyPlate-inspired Thanksgiving dinner:  Make side dishes with plenty of brightly colored vegetables Use whole grain bread to make stuffing Use fat-free or low-fat milk and cheese for ingredients Serve fruit pies or fruit crisp for dessert Try these recipes for a healthy Thanksgiving dinner:  Multi-Grain, Nut, Seed and Dried Fruit Stuffing Easy Fresh Cranberry Sauce Mashed Potatoes and Parsnips Maple Carrots and Cashews Crispy Kale Maple Apple Crisp

What's In Season: The fall harvest includes apples, bananas, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots, cauliflower, cranberries, garlic, ginger, grapes, mushrooms, parsnips, pears, pineapple, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, winter squash, figs, pomegranates, turnips. For seasonal recipes and fresh facts, check out the Peas & Carrots Blog post.

  
Holiday Season Kickoff: Food plays a big part in creating holiday traditions and memorable stories.  Whether you prepare the recipes you grew up with or are looking to start new holiday food traditions of your own, make an effort to include the season's freshest fruits and vegetables in your dishes. Our article, Starting Family Food Traditions, tells you a little bit about our family's traditions and gives you ideas for new traditions to share with your family.

 

 

 

 

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