Tuesday 29 October 2013

Seasonable Vegetables - Get Your Squash On!

Buying seasonable vegetables is much easier on the wallet and allows you to buy locally for as long as possible. Here is a chart of vegetables that are in season right now:

Locally Grown Vegetables
October
November
Beets
a
a
Broccoli
a

Cabbage (Green, Red, Savoy)
a
a
Chinese Cabbage (Suey Choy)
a

Carrots
a
a
Cauliflower
a

Cucumbers (Greenhouse)
a

Kale (Green, Purple)
a

Leeks
a
a
Lettuce (Greenhouse)
a
a
Onions (Yellow)
a
a
Parsnips
a
a
Peppers (Greenhouse)
a

Potatoes
a
a
Pumpkins
a

Rutabaga
a
a
Squash (Acorn, Banana, Butternut, Spaghetti)
a
a
Tomatoes (Greenhouse)
a
a

Now what are you supposed to do with all these beautiful veggies? Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network Registered Dietitian, Sally Ho, provides some delicious and nutritious recipes:



Baked Leeks
(adapted from Allrecipes.com)
Makes 6 servings

Ingredients:

2 tbsp margarine
0.25 cup all-purpose flour
1.5 cups skim milk
0.5 cup reduced-fat cheddar cheese (18% milk fat)
0.5 tsp garlic powder
4 medium leeks, halved length-wise
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1) Preheat over to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).  
2) Lightly grease a baking pan (9x12 inches)
3) Melt margarine over low heat and stir in the flour until smooth.  Slowly add milk and cheese until cheese is melted.  Season with garlic powder and salt and pepper.  Remove from heat.  Arrange leeks in a single layer in pan and cover with sauce.
4) Bake for 30 minutes until leeks are tender and sauce is bubbling.

Nutrition Information per serving

Analyses of nutrition information provided by Recipe Analyzer function on the Dietitians of Canada website.

Calories (kcal) 139
Fat (g) 6.0
  Saturated Fats (g) 1.8
  Trans Fats (g) 0
Cholesterol (mg) 7
Sodium (mg) 111
Carbohydrate (g) 16
   Fibre (g) 2
   Sugar (g) 6
Protein (g) 6
Vitamin A (RAE) 149.6 (16-20% of daily requirements for most adults)
Calcium (mg) 201.9 (20% of daily requirements for most adults)
Folate (DFE) 60.6  (15% of daily requirements for most adults)

Compared to Canada’s Food Guide, 1 serving is equal to:

Vegetables/Fruits 1.5 servings
Grain Products 0 servings
Milk/Alternatives 0.5 servings
Meat/Alternatives 0 servings

Warm Spaghetti Squash Salad
(adapted from Allrecipes.com)
Makes 6 servings

Ingredients:

1 spaghetti squash, halved lengthwise and seeded
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1.5 cup chopped tomatoes
0.75 cup crumbled feta cheese
2 tbsp chopped fresh basil

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F 175 degrees C).  Lightly grease baking sheet.
2) Place squash cut side down, on baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes or until flesh is soft.  Remove from oven.
3) Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat.  Add onions and cook until tender.  Add garlic to cook until fragrant.  Stir in tomatoes and cook until tomatoes are warmed throughout. 
4) Use large spoon or fork to scoop stringy pulp from squash and place in a medium bowl.  Toss vegetables, feta cheese, and basil with squash.  Serve warm.  

Nutrition Information per serving
Analyses of nutrition information provided by Recipe Analyzer function on the Dietitians of Canada website.

Calories (kcal) 135.2
Fat (g) 9.3
  Saturated Fats (g) 3.6
  Trans Fats (g) 0
Cholesterol (mg)      17
Sodium (mg) 231
Carbohydrate (g) 11
   Fibre (g) 2
   Sugar (g) 2
Protein (g) 4
Vitamin A (RAE)      49.1 (5-7% of daily requirements for most adults)
Calcium (mg) 126.3 (13% of total daily requirement for most adults)
Folate (DFE) 27.8 (7% of total daily requirement for most adults)

Compared to Canada’s Food Guide, 1 serving is equal to:

Vegetables/Fruits 2.5 servings
Grain Products         0 servings
Milk/Alternatives 0.5 servings
Meat/Alternatives 0 servings

Roasted Acorn Squash
(adapted from Allrecipes.com)
Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:

1 medium acorn squash, halved and seeded
1 tbsp margarine
2 tbsp brown sugar
Cinnamon to taste

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).  
2) Place acorn squash flesh side down onto a cookie sheet.
3) Bake for about 30-45 minutes or until the flesh begins to soften.
4) Remove squash from oven and turn onto a plate so flesh faces upward.  Put margarine and brown sugar into the squash halves.  
5) Place squash halves back into a baking dish with flesh facing upwards.  Cover squash with aluminium foil. 
6) Bake squash in oven for another 30 minutes.  
7) Remove from oven and cut squash into cubes (without skin), and serve.

Nutrition Information per serving
Analyses of nutrition information provided by Recipe Analyzer function on the Dietitians of Canada website.

Calories (kcal) 94.5
Fat (g) 3.0
  Saturated Fats (g) 0.4
  Trans Fats (g) 0
Cholesterol (mg) 0
Sodium (mg) 6
Carbohydrate (g) 18.0
   Fibre (g) 2
   Sugar (g) 7
Protein (g) 1
Vitamin A (RAE) 54.6 (6-8% of daily requirements for most adults)
Calcium (mg) 42.2 (4% of daily requirements for most adults)
Vitamin C (mg) 12 (13-16% of daily requirements for most adults)
Folate (DFE) 18.4 (4.6% of daily requirement for most adults)

Compared to Canada’s Food Guide, 1 serving is equal to:

Vegetables/Fruits 1.5 servings
Grain Products         0 servings
Milk/Alternatives 0 servings
Meat/Alternatives 0 servings


Roasted Squash Soup
Uses Seasonal Vegetables: Squash (acorn and butternut)
(adapted from Allrecipes.com)
Makes 6 servings

Ingredients:

1.5 lb butternut squash, halved and seeded
1 acorn squash, halved and seeded
3 tbsp margarine
1 large onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp ginger root, minced
1 tsp curry powder
2 tart granny smith apples, peeled, cored and chopped
2/3 cup sherry (optional)
5 cups vegetable broth (no salt added)
Salt and pepper to taste
1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C)
2) Place squash cut side down, on cookie sheet and bake for 45 minutes or until flesh is soft.  Scoop flesh into a large bowl.
3) Melt margarine in a medium saucepan over medium heat, and saute onions until tender.  Stir in garlic, ginger, and curry powder and cook for 1 minute.  Add apples and sherry and simmer until apples soften.   Turn off heat. 
4) Puree squash flesh and broth in a food processor or blender.  Mix pureed squash mixture and apple mixture from saucepan in a food processor or blender.  Puree combined mixture.
5) Pour from blender/food processor into saucepan and heat over medium heat.  Season to taste with salt, pepper, and/or cayenne. 

Nutrition Information per serving
Analyses of nutrition information provided by Recipe Analyzer function on the Dietitians of Canada website.

Calories (kcal) 179
Fat (g) 6
  Saturated Fats (g) 0.9
  Trans Fats (g) 0
Cholesterol (mg) 0
Sodium (mg) 38
Carbohydrate (g) 34
   Fibre (g) 4
   Sugar (g) 12
Protein (g) 2
Vitamin A (RAE) 688 (76-98% of daily requirements for most adults)
Calcium (mg) 92 (9% of daily requirements for most adults)
Vitamin C (mg) 36 (40-47% of daily requirements for most adults)
Folate (DFE) 48 (12% of daily requirements for most adults)

Compared to Canada’s Food Guide, 1 serving is equal to:

Vegetables/Fruits 3 servings
Grain Products 0 servings
Milk/Alternatives 0 servings
Meat/Alternatives 0 servings

Borscht
Uses Seasonal Vegetables:  Potatoes, Cabbage, Onions, Beets, Tomatoes
(From Food Network Canada: http://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/borscht/3538/)
Makes 10 servings

Ingredients:

1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
⅛ teaspoon mustard seeds
3 sprigs parsley
3 sprigs thyme
2 cloves garlic
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium russet potato (3/4 pound), peeled, chopped
2 ½ cups chopped red cabbage (about 1/4 small head)
1 large onion, chopped
8 cups (or more) vegetable or chicken stock
6 2-inch-diameter beets, peeled and chopped
1 cup drained canned chopped tomatoes
1 Mutsu or Golden Delicious apple, peeled and grated
Rice wine vinegar, to taste
Coarse salt and freshly cracked black pepper
Sour cream, for garnish
Chopped fresh dill, for garnish

Directions:

1. Wrap the bay leaf, peppercorns, mustard seeds, parsley, thyme sprigs and garlic in a piece of cheesecloth and tie it securely with a piece of string. This is called a bouquet garni.
2. Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat.
3. Add potatoes, cabbage and onion and saute until cabbage softens, about 5 minutes.
4. Add vegetable stock, bouquet garni, beets, tomatoes and apple.
5. Bring soup to boil.
6. Reduce heat and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes.
7. Remove the bouquet garni.
8. Puree 4 cups of the soup in a blender and return to the pot so that the soup will still be chunky.
9. If desired, thin soup with more vegetable stock.
10. Add rice wine vinegar to taste and season with salt and pepper.
11. Ladle soup into bowls.
12. Top with dollop of sour cream and sprinkle with dill.

Nutrition Information per serving
Analyses of nutrition information provided by Recipe Analyzer function on the Dietitians of Canada website.

Calories (kcal) 127
Fat (g) 5.5
  Saturated Fats (g) 1.0
  Trans Fats (g) 0
Cholesterol (mg)       0
Sodium (mg) 105
Carbohydrate (g) 16
   Fibre (g) 3
   Sugar (g) 7
Protein (g) 6
Vitamin A (RAE) 26.5 (3-4% of daily requirement for most adults)
Calcium (mg) 39.9 (4% of daily requirement for most adults)
Vitamin C (mg) 23.6 (26-31% of daily requirement for most adults)
Folate (DFE) 66.1 (17% of daily requirement for most adults)

Compared to Canada’s Food Guide, 1 serving is equal to:
Vegetables/Fruits 2 servings
Grain Products 0 servings
Milk/Alternatives 0 servings
Meat/Alternatives 0 servings 

Thursday 24 October 2013

Halloween temptations

It’s that time of year when those tiny Halloween treats are haunting our attempts at following a healthy diet. Once you crack open that box, it’s hard to resist the temptation. Let’s face it, one little chocolate won’t kill us, but honestly, who just stops at one? Before you know it, you find yourself surrounded by tiny wrappers because you want to try one of each!

Did you know that one of those tiny chocolate bars has roughly 80 calories? Eating one might not make a big impact on your daily intake, but having more than one certainly can.

Here are 5 great tips to surviving Halloween temptations:

1. Don’t buy candy until the day before or even the day of Halloween. If it’s sitting in the pantry weeks before the big day, you’ll be tempted to try those tasty treats;
2. Don’t buy your favourite candy and then hope that trick-or-treaters don't come to your door. If you have candy that you’re not crazy about, chances are you won’t eat it;
3. Eat a healthy supper before giving out Halloween candy. This will make it less tempting to dig into the candy bowl throughout the evening;
4. Opt for giving out healthy Halloween treats such as: glow sticks, temporary tattoos, play-doh, pencils, stickers or trading cards. If you want to give out a food snack, try fruit leathers, raisin boxes, juice boxes or microwave popcorn packages;
5. Get rid of extra candy. You can bring your left over chocolates to soup kitchens, homeless shelters and outreach programs like Streetworks (in Edmonton). Or, give it to a neighbourhood kid who is too old to trick-or-treat. If none of those options work for you, then just throw it out.






Happy Halloween!














Ginette Markham is a Registered Dietitian at the Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network

Friday 11 October 2013

Mental Health Awareness Week

For decades, Mental Health Awareness Week has been observed every year during the first full week of October by various association and organizations across Canada and the United States.  The purpose is to promote community outreach and public education around mental illness and mental health.  
Within Mental Health Awareness Week is National Depression Screening Day (October 10, 2013) and is intended to raise awareness and to educate the public about depression and other mood and anxiety related disorders.  

What is mental illness?

Mental illness is marked by a disruption of mood, thoughts and ability to function in your daily life.  The disruptions to mood and thought are often overwhelming and can leave a person feeling as though they are unable to cope with life’s demands.  Some mental illnesses, such as depression, can be temporary or episodic, while others, such as schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder, are life-long.  It is not always easy to know if a person is suffering from mental illness, and if they are, sometimes it is unclear as to what illness that might be.  The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders – IV (DSM-IV) is used by mental health providers to diagnose mental illness.  At present, the DSM-IV includes over 300 different mental illnesses.  There is no one test that a person can take that will definitively diagnose a mental illness, though tests are given to provide some information.   A trained and experienced mental health provider can provide an accurate mental illness diagnosis and suggest appropriate treatment options.  
If you suspect that you or a loved one may have depression or another mood related concern, talk to your doctor.      

Markers of depression include:
(Most of the days, in the past two weeks)

Inability to feel:

o Pleasure,  hope,  love, or attachment
o Emotionally “flat”

Thinking:

o Poor concentration due to difficulty pulling thoughts together,  slow thinking

Thoughts:

o “I’m disgusting, worthless, inadequate.”
o “I’ve done something wrong; I’m at fault.”
o “Nothing will work out.”
o “Things will never get better”
o “I cannot do anything.  Nothing helps.”
o “Death would be a relief.”

Motivation:

o Loss of will, desire, interest
o Avoidance of people, work and activity

Physical:

o Disrupted sleep: too much or too little
o Poor appetite or overeating
o Weight loss or gain
o Reduced or no ability to respond sexually
o Possible crying spells without knowing why

Activity:
o Restless or slowed activity/speech
o Reduced talking, smiling, motion, energy

You can take an anonymous depression screening test at:  www.HelpYourselfHelpOthers.org

Additional Mental Health Resources:
http://camimh.ca/about-mental-illness-and-mental-health/
http://mentalhealthweek.cmha.ca/
Local Mental Health Services:
Leduc Mental Health Clinic  (780) 986-2660

Subsidized Counselling:
FCSS – Leduc (780) 980-7109 
FCSS – Beaumont (780) 929-1369 or (780) 929-3327
FCSS – Devon (780) 987-8325
FCSS – Leduc County  (780) 979-2385
Supportive Listening:
Leduc Regional Hub: Tues to Fri 2-6pm, Sat 11am-1pm      (780) 739-LHUB (5482)
Distress Line (780) 482-HELP (4357)

Local Private Counselling:
Connelly Counselling (780) 237-3510
Iasis Psychological Services –www.icanheal.ca (780) 739-0707 
Karunia Counselling –www.karunia.ca (780) 628-3939
Northern Aurora Counselling Services – (780) 980-3747 www.auroracounsellingservices.com 

Sheila Gothjelpsen is a Registered Psychiatrist with the Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network.  

Monday 7 October 2013

International Walk to School Week

In 1997, Walk our Children to School Day was launched in Chicago by the Partnership for a Walkable America. Canada held its first national Walk a Child to School Day in 1998 with participants from five provinces.

In 2000 the first International Walk to School day officially began and today schools from all eleven provinces and territories join millions of students all over the world as they walk to school.

Participating countries include Canada, United States, Mexico, Great Britain, Ireland, France, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Italy, India, Australia, New Zealand and other countries.

Join the movement and millions of walkers around the world as we walk to school during this week!

Visit the Shape website to register your group or school to receive ideas and participant items.

I Walk To School