The last two weeks of December are always a whirlwind, madcap dash from one party to another. No matter how well you plan, there’s always that one party that sneaks up on you, leaving you in a last-minute rush to put together some dish to contribute. These recipes start with pantry staples and canned goods to make your life easier. Tip: If you don’t have fresh or frozen produce on hand, you can generally substitute with star-earning canned goods.
As the holidays approach, those of us who are fortunate enough to have a roof over our head, food in our cupboards, and a little extra money to give our family gifts take the time to reflect on our good fortune. As we listen to the news about the economy and hunger and the misfortunes of others, we often realize just how well off we are–well off enough that we can spare a little of our time and money to help those who aren’t quite so lucky. In the spirit of community and kindness that surrounds the holidays, we start looking for ways to give back. Time being short and money being tight, we all want our donations to have the greatest benefit for those in need, so how do we do it?
It’s no secret that most caregivers are faced with a serious juggling act when it comes to balancing family, work and personal time. The challenge of planning and preparing nutritious, well-balanced and flavorful meals that please a variety of palates is a common dilemma. Couldn’t we all use a little assistance in this department? I know I can.
America is fat and getting fatter. Twenty years ago, no state in the country had an obesity rate above 15%. Currently, according to a recent study released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 38 states have obesity rates over 25%, and if you lump overweight people into the same group, the number jumps to 60%. These figures include kids, the future of our nation and two key parts of the problem are the persistent presence of junk food and a lack of access to scratch-cooked nutritious food. One of the key offenders making this problem worse day-by-day is…can you guess what I’m going to say? School lunches.
I would not characterize myself as one of those people that lack focus, but this time of year even I find to be utterly distracting. Even now as I type, emails are popping up, advertising “50% off and free shipping” (today only!…thus multiplying the distraction). So I am here to offer you some helpful, healthy tips for staying focused during this frenzied holiday season. Think of this as a road map to staying healthy.
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