DAY

Peanut Butter Lover's Day (March 1) / Peanut Month

Peanut butter is a convenient and inexpensive staple to keep in your kitchen. The DASH diet to lower blood pressure found a healthy diet included 4 to 5 servings of nuts, seeds and legumes weekly. For some sample DASH menus containing peanuts and peanut butter, check HERE (pdf format). A tablespoon of peanut butter has about 95 calories; enjoy in moderation.

For some unique recipes made with peanuts and peanut butter, check these Web sites:

• www.peanutbutterlovers.com (Peanut Advisory Board)
• www.peanut-institute.org (The Peanut Institute)

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Cereal Day (March 7)

This holiday originated to commemorate the anniversary of the invention of corn flakes by William and John Kellogg in the late 19th century.

• When All You Feel Like Fixing is a Bowl of Cereal (easy cereal supper idea)
• A "Nutritionally Hot" Recipe for Oatmeal
• Cereal Snack Mix pdf (from our 4-H/Youth section)
• Triple Play Walnut Crunch (use as a crisp, cereal, or energy mix)

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"What's on My Plate?" Day (March 8)

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced "What's on My Plate?" Day is on March 8. This day was created to increase public awareness of the importance of choosing nutritious foods for a healthy meal.

The goal of "What's on My Plate?" day is to create a nationwide buzz about food choices on March 8 as part of national Nutrition Month activities. By leveraging the strengths of social networks such as blogs, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook, to promote MyPlate and its related messages and resources like the new SuperTracker and the ChooseMyPlate.gov website, these resources empower consumers with the how-tos to build healthier plates.

The public can post pictures of their plates on Twitter using the #MyPlate hashtag or on Flickr. "Partners along with the general public can use the hashtag #MyPlateYourPlate to tie into this social media event."

To find out more information about this event, check out USDA's news release about this special day.

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Ag Day (March 8)

National Ag Day was created to recognize and celebrate the contribution of agriculture in our everyday lives. It is coordinated by the Ag Council of America.

1 in 3 jobs in Nebraska are tied to agriculture. Cash receipts from farm marketings contribute 5% of the U.S. total economy. Nebraska ranks #1 in the nation in dry edible bean and red meat production. (More Nebraska ag facts, Feb. 2012...)

• Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom resources
• Fun facts about the food we eat (Source: Agricultural Council of America)

Download the free app “We Grow It, Do You Know It” from the University of Nebraska’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. It is a lively free app that gives kids their first lessons in how agriculture produces the things they love to eat – and even their crayons.

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St. Patrick's Day (March 17)

Go for the GREEN on St. Patrick's Day. Get healthy with green fruits and veggies:

• Green food ideas for St. Patrick's Day and throughout the year
• Search for recipes that include the color "green" (Source: Produce for Better Health Foundation)

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(Image courtesy of Food and Health Communications)

World Water Day (March 22)

World Water Day is an international day declared by the UN General Assembly.  Water is a basic requirement for life. World Water Day focuses on promoting concrete activities regarding the world's water resources.

• World Water Day website
• View World Water Day Photostream on flickr (some beautiful pictures!)
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln Water Website
  
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln Water Center
• Water for Food - a Global Institute at the University of Nebraska
• Take the 100-Gallon Challenge!
  

NebGuides from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources

• An Introduction to Drinking Water
• Drinking Water: Hard Water
• Drinking Water: Testing for Quality
  
• Drinking Water: Bottled, Tap, and Vended

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(Photo: Paolo Margari at photo link / Creative Commons license: Attribution, Noncommercial, No Derivative Works)

Pecan Day (March 25)

Pecans are a source of protein, potassium, zinc, vitamin E, magnesium, carbohydrates, and folic acid. They contain mainly polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fat -- the type considered “heart healthy." A handful of nuts a day, such as pecans, can help you stay on a diet by contributing to satiety. This means they will help you feel full longer.

More information and recipes for pecans at:

• National Pecan Shellers Association
• Georgia Pecan Commission
• Texas Pecan Growers Association
• NutHealth.org

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(Photo courtesy of National Pecan Shellers Association)

Spinach Day (March 26)
 

• Canned Spinach Handout (Source: NEP)
• Spinach: Nutrition . Selection . Storage (Source: Fruits & Veggies More Matters)
• Spinach Handout (Source: NEP)
• Types of spinach, nutrition, storage, recipes (Source: CDC)
• Meal in a Potato & Spinach-Orange Salad recipes in "2 (or More!) Cooks Are Better Than 1!"

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(Photo: Greg Wagoner  at http://flic.kr/p/6rzk5v / Creative Commons license: Attribution, Noncommercial, No Derivative Works)

Make Up Your Own Holiday Day (March 26)

If you could create a food-related holiday, what would it be? Email Kayla Colgrove with your proposed food holiday by Monday, March 5, 2012 and I'll post it in this section by March 9.

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American Diabetes Alert Day (March 27, fourth Tuesday in March)

There are 25.8 million people in the United States, or 8.3% of the population, who have diabetes. Take the Diabetes Risk Test from the American Diabetes Association to find out if you are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Check out the American Diabetes Association website to find out more information about the American Diabetes Association Alert Day.

• American Diabetes Association Alert Day Risk Test Flyer
• American Diabetes Association Alert Day Fact Sheet

Control Diabetes for Life is an educational program that is offered by UNL Extension 1-3 times a year in various locations in Nebraska. Check out Control Diabetes for Life's website to watch archived sessions.

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WEEK

National Agriculture Week (March 4-10, 2012)

 
Check out these great resources for National Agriculture Week:

• Agriculture Council of America
• Agriculture in the Classroom (Source: USDA)
• Farm to School Resources (Source: USDA)
• Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom

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National School Breakfast Week (March 5 - 9)

National School Breakfast Week is celebrated during the first full week in March. It helps to raise awareness about the importance of a healthy breakfast for children in school. Check out these resources to help you with breakfast week:

• Breakfast = Achievement (Action for Healthy Kids Wyoming)
• Breakfast Month (Healthy Bites Newsletter)
• Discover School Breakfast Toolkit (USDA - Food and Nutrition Service)
• Expanding Your School Breakfast Program (USDA - Food and Nutrition Service)
• Nebraska School Breakfast Challenge 2011-2013 Video
• Nebraska School Breakfast Program (Nebraska Department of Education)
• School Breakfast Detectives (School Nutrition Association)
• "School Breakfast-Go for Gold" (School Nutrition Association)
• Power Up with Breakfast Poster (USDA - Food and Nutrition Service)

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MONTH

Colon Cancer Awareness Month

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death for both men and women. When should you get screened for colon cancer? Encourage everyone over the age of 50 to get screened regularly for colon cancer.

Additional Resources:

• Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month - National health Observances Toolkit (Source: Department of Health and Human Services)
• Colorectal Cancer (Source: Prevent Cancer Foundation)
• Dietary Fiber NebGuide (Source: UNL Extension)
• Colon Cancer Awareness & Prevention (Source: Healthy Bites Newsletter by Lisa Franzen-Castle)

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Flour Month

Learn more about different types of flours and substitutions from The Cook's Thesaurus:

• Wheat flours
• Nonwheat flours

Check our guidelines on storing flour:

• Cleaning the Kitchen Cupboard: Toss or Save?

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Frozen Food Month

Frozen foods picked and frozen at the peak of maturity can equal fresh foods in nutritional quality. They're washed and ready to go -- pour from the bag only what you need.

SMOOTHIE RECIPE: Make the smoothie on the right by blending 1 cup unsweetened frozen raspberries, 3/4 cup 100% orange juice, and 1/2 cup fruit-flavored, low-fat yogurt (such as peach).

• Learn how to freeze foods from UNL Food: Home Food Preservation
• Tips, recipes, kid's section from National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association
• Recipes for Smoothies and Shakes from our Youth / 4-H pages
• Sumptuous Smoothies & Shakes from Cook it Quick Newsletter

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National Nutrition Month®

The theme for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) 2012 National Nutrition Month is "Get Your Plate in Shape."

• Materials, recipes, quizzes & games, books & publications (Source: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics)
• National Nutrition Month® Media Materials (Source: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics)
• Simple Tips from Registered Dietitians Make It Easy to 'Get Your Plate in Shape' This National Nutrition Month (Source: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics)

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Noodle Month

Pasta, including noodles, is low in sodium. Look for either enriched or whole grain noodles. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 recommend making half your grain choices (cereals, pasta, rice, bread, etc.) whole grain.

For more information and recipes for cooking with pasta, visit the National Pasta Association website.

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(Photo courtesy of the National Pasta Association)

Sauce Month

Be careful when choosing a sauce to add to your meal. Cream based and cheese sauces are usually high in saturated fat and calories, so make sure to eat these sauces in moderation. For a healthier option, use lowfat or nonfat cream, lowfat or nonfat cheese, tomato based sauce, or salsa to decrease saturated fat and calories. Check out these great resources for National Sauce Month:

• Culinary Techniques for Healthy School Meals: Preparing Sauces from The University of Mississippi National Food Service Management Institute
• Quick and Easy Pizza Sauce from our Youth / 4-H pages

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