Living Well In Yalobusha County

Crochet MHV Club will meet at the Extension office on Thursday, March 2, at 10 a.m. 

Healthy You exercise classes are free and meet every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 until 9:45 a.m. Make sure that you wear cool, comfortable clothes, good walking shoes and bring some water to drink. A health care professional from the clinic will be here to take blood pressure and glucose on Wednesday, March 8 beginning at 8:45 a.m..

Sewing for Service will meet on Monday, March 6 at 10 a.m. at the Extension Office. They have started on a new sewing project: Pillowcase dresses for Operation Christmas Child.  If you can sew and like to help others, this is the perfect group for you! 

 

Flavors for Nutrition Month

When it comes to flavor, we all use condiments, herbs, spices, and seasoning blends, but maybe it’s time to stop using the jar or bottle and go with fresh ingredients to add pizazz to your meals! March is National Nutrition Month so this is the perfect time to visit the fresh produce section of the grocery store it contains many excellent flavoring options that are fresh and plant-based. Consider:

•Limes

•Lemons, especially Meyer lemons

• Oranges

• Berries

• Ginger root

• Mushrooms

• Horseradish

• Tomatoes

• Parsley

• Fresh herbs like basil, rosemary, thyme, oregano, and lemongrass

• Garlic

• Onions

• Carrots

• Pineapple

• Peppers – sweet and hot

• Arugula

One of the best things about all of these ingredients besides the “no significant added fat, sugar, or salt” factor is that they are dual duty. Most of them can add special flavor as condiments and be ingredients in the actual meals, too. They freshen our palates and our cooking, offering new twists and “aha factors” at the table.

Here are some ways that you can put these ingredients to good use:

• Lemons can flavor water, tea, freshly-steamed vegetables, seafood, poultry, or pasta. I can’t think of an ingredient that I love more than lemons for flavor! Ditto with limes and oranges. Use a microplane on their zest for a more intense citrus experience.

• Mushrooms add richness to poultry, potatoes, and pasta; you can even make pizza, soups, and salads with them.

• Freshly-grated horseradish can pep up salads, protein items, and dips.

• Tomatoes add a lively flavor to many dishes. Consider cherry tomatoes, vine-ripened, or even dried versions. You can dry extra cherry tomatoes yourself in a dehydrator or oven.

• Hot and sweet peppers can be shaved and placed onto protein foods to help them retain moisture, flavor, and color while roasting.

• Arugula adds a rich, pungent, and bitter element to pasta, soups, and salads.

(Article Source: Communicating Food for Health)