Cooking Matters Omaha

If you’ve ever hosted a Superbowl party, you know how much hungry football fans can eat and drink. The chefs and nutritionists at Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters have some ideas for feeding a crowd on a budget and lightening up the fare you serve.

You may be surprised at how easy Homemade Corn Tortilla Chips are – just two ingredients! Dip chips into Mango Salsa — check the freezer aisle for frozen mangoes which are more affordable than fresh at this time of year. Tomato Salsais another option that won’t break the bank. Just make sure the canned tomatoes you choose have no added salt.

Swap out beef for lean ground turkey and get in a serving of vegetables with thisTurkey Chili with Vegetables. Confetti Pepper Cornbread makes a great accompaniment.

Everyone loves cheesy goodness in the cold winter months, so check out ourMozzarella Sticks. They’re made with affordable pantry staples like dried herbs and canned tomato sauce and boast big flavor.

Raspberry-Lime Fizz makes a great substitute for sugary drinks and looks pretty served in a big pitcher or punch bowl. Set out some Trail Mix made with whole wheat cereal and chocolate for your guests to munch on during the game.

Article written by: Jill Panichelli from Share our Strength

Did you catch Anna on the Morning Blend?! Are you interested in finding out more about Shopping Matters day?! If so, you have come to the right spot!

To learn more about Shopping Matters Day, click here.

To find out how to register for the event, click here.

Weren’t able to catch the Morning Blend show this morning?! You can view our segment by clicking here!

Not sure if a Shopping Matters Tour would be helpful for you? Read this article, to find out the benefits of taking a guided grocery store tour!!

Five Power Foods for Reversing Mesothelioma

All fruits, vegetables and whole grains have a unique nutritional profile. The vitamins and minerals in these foods help strengthen the body so that it is best equipped to fight off disease. The phytochemicals and antioxidants in these foods also boost the immune system and initiate the body’s natural cancer-killing processes.

Since each food offers a unique set of benefits, it’s important for cancer patients to eat a wide variety of these foods. However, certain foods possess phytochemicals and antioxidants that are especially effective at preventing or eliminating cancer. Some of these foods – five power foods for healing mesothelioma – are listed below.

Broccoli – Broccoli is a member of the cruciferous family of vegetables. Other cruciferous vegetables include cabbage and cauliflower. In addition to vitamin C and calcium, broccoli also contains a phytochemical called sulforaphane. This compound helps prevent certain cancers and inhibit tumor growth.  Sulforaphane is actually more concentrated in broccoli sprouts than plain broccoli. However, regular broccoli also contains indole-3-carbinol, which can raise the amount of protective enzymes in the body.

Try it: Steamed and sprinkled with lemon juice or roasted and drizzled in olive oil.

Kale – Kale, a hardy leafy green vegetable, contains several different classes of cancer-fighting compounds. Basic vitamins, such as A (which may help prevent against lung diseases) and K are found in high amounts in kale. Kale is rich in indoles, which help eliminate toxic compounds from the body, and quercetins, which reduce internal inflammation.

Try it: Blended into fruit smoothies or added into soups and stews.

Figs – Figs are packed with various antioxidants. They contain more polyphenols per serving than red wine and tea, along with a powerful organic chemical called benzaldehyde. Benzaldehyde has demonstrated significant tumor-shrinking activity, eliciting response rates as high as 55 percent in various cancer studies.

Try it: Raw, thinly sliced and tossed into a salad with leafy greens, walnuts and a tangy vinaigrette.

Garlic­ – Garlic (in its various forms, including garlic essential oil and garlic powder) contains a number of active cancer-fighting compounds. These compounds are released when the garlic bulb is crushed, peeled or otherwise altered. The strongest compounds in garlic include allin, diallyl disulfide and s-allylycystene. These compounds damage cancer cells and help slow down or stop tumor growth. Diallyl disulfide stands out as an especially potent anti-mitotic agent.

Try it: Minced and spread across toasted whole grain bread with olive oil and fresh parsley.

Blueberries – All berries contain a wide variety of antioxidants. However, some studies suggest that blueberries contain the highest quantities of these antioxidants. In fact, in 2004, the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry placed both wild and cultivated blueberries in their list of the top five antioxidants. Cancer-fighting compounds found in blueberries include anthocyanins, catechins, quercetin and kaempferol.

Try it: Stirred into Greek yogurt with honey and flax seeds for a high-protein snack.

Author bio: Faith Franz researches and writes about health-related issues for The Mesothelioma Center. One of her focuses is living with cancer.

The Mesothelioma Center provides up-to-date information on mesothelioma cancer, the latest treatments, and top doctors for their website’s visitors. Mesothelioma cancer is quite rare and is mostly caused by asbestos exposure. For further information on the latest news related to mesothelioma cancer please visit our News Section.

It’s the most wonderful time of year, or at least to some it is! The weather is hot, the pools are packed, and the Farmer’s Markets are rockin’!! Here are some tips and recipes to make your next trip or first trip to the Farmer’s Market a little easier!

While researching ideas for tips, I discovered this great blog called “Eating Bird Food” where the host of the blog,Brittany, provided some great tips, to keep in mind when you’re headed to the market. 

1. Arrive earlier rather than later. Popular items tend to sell out fast so head to the market early – you’ll beat the crowd and get the best selection.

2. Bring a reusable bag (or 2) and stash some cash $. We live in a credit card world, but some vendors only accept cash.

3. Bring a list with a few ideas of what veggies you need/want, but also be willing to comprise once you see what vegetables are available and look the best that week

4.. Shop around before deciding to buy. Nothing is worse than buying produce at one stand and finding the same item is cheaper and looks better from a vendor two booths down.

5. Talk to the vendors/farmers – how is their produce grown, what’s the best way to cook a particular item? They might even have recipes available to share.

6. Try at least one “new-to-you” item. Farmers markets have some obscure items that you might not know what to do with. Pick one out, ask the farmer about it and then research recipes online. Who knows, you might just find your new favorite fruit/veggie.

7.  It’s fun to come hungry – often times farmers markets have coffee, food trucks and samples. If you come hungry you’ll be more likely to try something new.

8. Go beyond the produce. One of my favorite items to buy at the farmers market is flowers but you’ll also find meats, eggs and dairy. The best part is that they’re usually from local, eco-friendly farms.

9. Most markets also sell crafts and baked goods. Handmade artwork, jewelry, candles and sweets make great gifts!

10.  Make a date of it! Go with your hubby/boyfriend/best friend and enjoy yourself. It’s fun just to walk around and take in all the sights.

Jillian McKee is a writer for the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance Blog. A cancer patient herself, she shares her experience and knowledge of how eating healthy can help cancer patients deal with the complexities of treatment. To learn more about Jillian please visit this website.

Fighting Cancer With a Healthy Diet
By Jillian McKee
A well-balanced diet is one that is low in saturated fat, sodium and sugar. This diet is also rich in whole-grains and plant-based foods.  Eating healthy is one of the most important things that cancer patients can do to cope with this illness. There are numerous benefits that can come from eating a healthy diet. Below are some of those benefits:

Increased energy level

Fatigue is one of the most common mesothelioma treatment side effects.  Eating lots of fruits and vegetables can help patients fight fatigue. Blueberries, oranges and spinach are examples of foods that have been shown to increase energy and alertness.

Can help treat the cancer

Diet alone cannot treat cancer, but it can aid in helping the body fight this condition. The antioxidants in plant-based foods have been shown to reduce the number of free radicals in the body. Free radicals are the molecules that can cause cancer to develop. Additionally, antioxidants can also help strengthen the immune system. A strong immune system is needed to fight cancer.

Can help control your weight

Cancer patients also need to make sure that they maintain a healthy body weight.  Excess body weight has been shown to increase the incidence of cancer recurrence.  Eating healthy foods is one of the keys to maintaining a healthy body weight. Fiber is a nutrient that has been shown to help control weight. Plant-based foods are rich in fiber.

Can reduce the risk of developing other illness

Studies have shown that people who have cancer are more likely to develop heart disease and diabetes.  Cancer has a tendency to weaken the immune system, which is why some patients end up developing other illnesses. A healthy diet not only fights cancer, but it also fights heart disease, diabetes and numerous other illnesses.

Again, eating a well-balanced diet is one of the most important things that cancer patients can do. A healthy diet can help the body fight cancer and increase a person’s energy level.  Healthy foods can also help patients maintain a healthy body weight and reduce the risk of developing other health conditions.

On Tuesday, May 1^st the participants of the Women’s Center for Advancement (WCA) class and members of the Cooking Matters Omaha staff found ourselves celebrating May Day in an inspiring way! The women from the WCA were so moved by the healthy habits they had been learning as part of the Cooking Matters for Adults class, they decided to plant items in a community garden for them all to share and use in the recipes they received from the course. After the fifth class in the series we all ventured out to City Sprouts located off of 40^th and Seward Street, where the ladies had purchased a garden box. We all jumped in to help dig up and clear out the weeds so the women could plant a variety of vegetables in the box. The women planted tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, some fresh herbs, and many other vegetables in their box. It was a great to watch these women, along with Chef Betty Deepe, work together on a garden that they all can share and enjoy!

You can find out more information about purchasing your own community garden box and City Sprouts at the following link: http://www.omahasprouts.org/demosite/.

To see photos of the event, visit our facebook page! You can get there by clicking on the link below or on the Facebook icon to the right! http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Cooking-Matters-Omaha/172759389404219

Exploring Food Together is a toolkit of simple activities that adults who work with young children can use in the class or in the home to help kids learn about new foods and start building the skills they need to make healthy food choices. These field-tested, easy-to-use activities are centered around five basic food concepts:

1) Food identification

2) Food purchasing

3) Food preparation

4) Food origins

5) Food culture.

Activities in this toolkit are simple and ingredients are low-cost. The Exploring Food Together toolkit is available for free download at http://cookingmatters.org/what-we-do/exploring-food-together.

Chefs and Kids is another toolkit available for free download from Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters. Chefs and Kids provides chefs and others with simple, hands-on activities and recipes to help kids develop a love of cooking and the skills to make healthy choices. This toolkit is adapted from Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters for Kids and Cooking Matters for Teens curricula. Chefs and Kids is available for download at http://cookingmatters.org/what-we-do/chefs-and-kids/.

March 8th is National “WHAT’S ON YOUR PLATE?” Day! In honor of this day we would like to share a few tips to help keep you and your family on track and eating healthy.

MyPlateYourPlate Tips:

1. Keep lots of ready-2-eat fruits & veggies in the house 2 add 2 meals/snacks.

2. Print out the MyPlate graphic. Let kids color it in. Laminate the paper and use it as a placemat for younger kids.

3. Let kids learn by letting them serve themselves small amounts at first, but tell them they can get more if hungry.

4. Start the day w/ breakfast. Include fruits/veggies like in yogurt parfaits or sauté veggies 2 add 2 scrambled eggs.

5. Eating Out? Split larger meals with a family member or friend. Or, take half of your dish home with you!

6. Wrap up leftovers BEFORE you start eating so you don’t overeat.

7. Make your calories count! Drink water, or add soda water to a little 100% juice, to cut back on sugar and calories.

8. Choose foods that do the portion-control for you like soups, small plates or appetizers.

For more information about MyPlate visit http://www.choosemyplate.gov/

Get your own FREE personalized nutrition and physical activity tracker! Try Super Tracker https://www.choosemyplate.gov/SuperTracker/