Author: Alissa Vandenbark

Ready, set, BOO! It’s time to #Run4UrLife on Thursday, October 29th. Team up with the MANNAmals, Unite Fitness, West Laurel Hill, and more for the the spookiest 3k run of the year. All proceeds from the run benefit MANNA clients who are battling life-threatening illness. Are you brave enough? We thought so. Check out our website and Facebook page for details and haunting highlights from last year’s run. And if you ran last year, we’re back with double the scares to keep you on your toes!

READY TO FACE YOUR FEARS? SIGN UP NOW!

Ghouls. Ghosts. Goblins. Who knows what terrors may lurk throughout the gorgeous (oh, and haunted) West Laurel Hill Cemetery? As you may have noticed, this isn’t your ordinary fun run. For the scary-low registration price of $30, #Run4UrLife is your chance to celebrate the Halloween season in a truly unique way while supporting a great cause. There’s really nothing quite like it.

October is reserved to raise awareness about the National Farm to School network! Farm to School programs enrich the connection communities have with fresh, healthy food and local food producers by changing food purchasing and education practices at schools and preschools. The initiative began in 2010 to encourage nutrition and healthier habits amongst children. These programs can be found in all 50 states purchasing and distributing local foods, educating students with activities and workshops and creating school gardens. Children are able to learn about agriculture and gain exposure to nutritious fruits and vegetables that were once inaccessible. The economy and environment are also benefitting from the programs! By buying local foods, the community is putting money back into it’s own economy. The community’s carbon footprint is reduced because less groceries are purchased from large food organizations.

Farm to School allows for communities to work together to help not only their health, but their economy, environment and education. Their website has a number of different online resources and a blog featuring interesting stories.  At MANNA, we advocate for proper nutrition because we believe that Food is Medicine. Many of our clients are impacted by a lack of access to healthy foods in addition to needing proper nutrition to fight their diseases, so we are happy to support an initiative that helps with both issues. Learn about the initiatives happening in the Philadelphia area here.

In 25 years, MANNA has provided nourishment to nearly 15,000 different clients all with unique stories and at all different walks of life. Illness does not discriminate against age, race or gender. The meal program and nutrition counsel ensure better healthcare outcomes to those we serve. From exclusively serving the HIV/AIDS population to expanding in 2007 and reaching clients with 60+ different illnesses, we have made a real impact in the Greater Philadelphia area. Telling our client’s stories is one of the highlights of celebrating 25 years.

Meet Tony, a current MANNA client, loving husband, father of four and a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. Tony has renal disease and MANNA intervened at a time when he was most vulnerable. Before starting dialysis treatments, Tony was experiencing kidney complications that caused fluid retention and limited mobility due to swelling. MANNA’s services in conjunction with dialysis treatment allowed Tony to live better and get back to the activities he enjoys. Tony explains that he would not have been prepared for dialysis without the power of proper nutrition. He shares that the program, “prepared me for battle.” He thanks MANNA’s Registered Dieticians for educating him on how to properly nourish himself and adhere to his strict diet restrictions. Managing his disease has become easier and so has enjoying life again.

Here’s to 25 years of nourishing MANNA clients like Tony!

Join MANNA on October 9th as Beautiful Blooms transforms Ranstead Street and our neighbor, the 23rd Street Armory, for an incredible night of celebration honoring our past 25 years and sharing our exciting future. Las Vegas legend Wayne Newton will help MANNA honor Steven Korman, Founder of Korman Communities, for his tireless efforts and deep commitment to MANNA’s mission. ChefAID alums Chef Robert Bennett, Chef Eric Gantz, Chef Jose Garces, Chef Michael Schulson, and other famed Philadelphia chefs will dazzle you with culinary treats.  Entertainment includes a special one-night-only aerial performance by Brian Sanders JUNK and a not-to-be-missed piece by Dancers of Pennsylvania Ballet in honor of 23 years of Shut Up & Dance.  And with the Eddie Bruce Orchestra playing, we will dance the night away!

To purchase tickets, please click here.

Whole grains are an important part of a healthy diet because they provide key vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that processed and refined grains do not! Whole grains such as wheat, corn, rice, oats, barley, quinoa, sorghum, spelt, and rye are nutrient-rich because the entire grain is consumed, including the germ, endosperm, and bran. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that everyone make half of the grains they are eating whole grains. This means that everyone ages 9 and up should be eating 3 to 5 servings or more of whole grains each day.

The Whole Grains Council has compiled the results of various medical studies, which have shown that consuming whole grains regularly can have protective effects against many chronic diseases, like heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and obesity. While no one food can guarantee good health, every whole grain in place of a refined grain can help!

Enjoy whole grains easy with this quinoa salad recipe for dinner (serves 4):

Ingredients: 1 cup cooked quinoa, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 2 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp fresh or dry basil, 1 can (15oz) of garbanzo beans, 1 can (7.25oz) whole kernel corn, 1 tomato, diced, 1 bell pepper, chopped, ½ cup feta-cheese.

Directions: Cook quinoa as directed on package. While quinoa is cooking, chop and mix remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Mix quinoa in with vegetables once done cooking. Sprinkle feta-cheese, serve, and enjoy.

Other Examples of One Serving of Whole Grains

• 1/2 cup cooked rice, bulgur, pasta, or cooked cereal
• 1 ounce dry pasta, rice or other dry grain
• 1 slice bread
• 1 small muffin (weighing one ounce)
• 1 cup ready-to-eat cereal flakes

In the fast paced society that we live in it can be very difficult to get the family together for a healthy, well balanced meal. This leaves many families left to choose high calorie, fat and sugar options that are commonly found in local convenience stores, take-out joints and fast food restaurants. Taking the time to plan a family meal has shown to have many positive health benefits, especially with children. Studies have shown that children who participate in homemade family meal gatherings are more likely to form healthy eating habits that carry into adulthood compared to those who do not. More specifically, children who do not participate in family meals are more prone to snack on high sugary foods and beverages and less likely to consume fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Family meal time also allows families to reconnect and for parents and children to develop a strong bond which is essential for behavioral development in adolescence.

Remember family meals do not have to be stressful. Here are some tips to plan quick and healthy meals for you and your family.

• At the beginning of each week look at the calendar to determine the best days you and your family can have a sit down meal and mark them down. Do not worry if this number is only once per week. You can always strive for more family sit downs in the future.
• Plan the meals you are going to make ahead of time when making your food-shopping list. It’s best to start by looking in your cabinets at what you already have and build from there.
• Try to keep a supply of nonperishable food items on hand in the kitchen including: brown rice, whole grain pasta, beans, frozen fruits and vegetables, cooking oils, sauces, and seasonings.
• If you have a busy work week and a lot of family meals scheduled, choose a day where you can chop vegetables, prepare, and freeze your meals. Have extra storage containers on hand. The only work that needs to be done at meal time is to heat up the food.
• If time allows, involve your children in meal preparation. This allows for extra family bonding time. It has also been shown that the more exposure children have to certain foods like fruits and vegetables, the more likely they are to try them.

Here are some websites that can further aid in your family meal planning:

• http://food.unl.edu/fnh/basic-list This website helps develop a grocery list from items that are already in the kitchen.
• http://food.unl.edu/fnh/recipe-central This website provides information on cooking with your children, quick healthy recipes, and food safety and storage tips.

Resources

Child Development Institute. Why Your Family Should Eat Together: 2 Critical Reasons. Available at childdevelopmentinfo.com/development/why-your-family-should-eat-together-2-critical-reasons/ Accessed 30 July 2015.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Family Meals Month. Available at food.unl.edu/fnh/august#family_mealsmonth/ Accessed 30 July 2015.

At MANNA, food safety is a TOP priority because many of our clients have compromised immune systems.  The hot summer months are a great time to update your own food safety knowledge. With many outdoor events and barbecues, we often overlook proper handling food. 1 in 6 Americans gets sick from food poisoning, resulting in roughly 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths each year. You can prevent food-borne illness by being more cautious and it’s easy! Help keep your family and friends safe and healthy with these simple food safety practices below.

1. Practice good hygiene and wash your hands before eating, preparing food, or between foods that would cross contaminate such as red meat and fresh vegetables. Always wash hands with warm soapy water for at least 20 seconds.
2. Marinate your food in the refrigerator to prevent bacteria from growing.   Always reserve a portion of unused marinade to brush on food while it is cooking. Never re-use marinade that was used to flavor raw meat, poultry or fish.
3. Preheat your grill approximately 20-30 minutes before grilling. For charcoal grills, the coals should be just coated with ash.
4. Use a food thermometer to ensure that food is cooked to the proper temperatures.
5. Food should never sit at room temperature for more than two hours. Use chafing dishes, slow cookers, and warming trays to keep hot food hot. Keep cold foods cold by nesting them in bowls of ice or rotating items into the refrigerator/freezer.

Keep these tips in mind always and grill on!