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SNAP4CT Blog

Preventing the Flu: Good Health Habits Can Help Stop Germs

11/28/2016

1 Comment

 

​1. Avoid close contact.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
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​2. Stay home when you are sick.

If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. This will help prevent spreading your illness to others.
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​3. Cover your mouth and nose.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
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​4. Clean your hands.

Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
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5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
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​6. Practice other good health habits.

Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

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SOURCE: CDC, Preventing the Flu: Good Health Habits Can Help Stop Germs
1 Comment

Not sure what to do with leftover turkey?  Here are 5 ideas

11/24/2016

1 Comment

 
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Turkey Shepherd's Pie

Turkey Shepard's Pie
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Ingredients
​2 onions (sliced)
1 clove garlic (chopped)
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
4 cups turkey breast
¼ cup whole wheat flour
2 cups chicken broth
2 cups canned carrots 
2 cups canned tomatoes 
½ tsp dried rosemary
6 potatoes
Recipe

Turkey Roast & Rice Soup

Ingredients 
1 cup roasted turkey 
4 stalks celery (chopped)
4 carrots (peeled and sliced)
1 onion (chopped)
1 chicken bouillon cube
1 tsp black pepper
4 cups water
1 Tbsp margarine
1 cup rice (uncooked)
1 can green beans
Recipe
Turkey Roast and Rice Soup
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Turkey Tostadas

Turkey Tostadas
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Ingredients
2 cups cooked turkey
2 Tbsp taco seasoning
1½ cups water
4 corn tortillas
¼ cup black beans
¼ cup Cheddar cheese 
½ cup chopped tomatoes
½ cup lettuce
2 Tbsp chopped onion
½ cup taco sauce
plain yogurt
guacamole
Recipe

Turkey Potato Salad

Ingredients
1 cup cooked turkey, diced

¼ cup celery, chopped
1 cup cooked potato, diced
1 Tbsp onion, chopped
¼ cup green pepper, chopped
2 Tbsp low-fat mayonnaise
¼ tsp mustard
⅛ tsp salt
Recipe
Turkey Potato Salad
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Turkey Tetrazzini

Turkey Tetrazzini
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Ingredients
8 oz whole wheat pasta 
4 Tbsp butter
2 cups mushrooms
1 tsp dried thyme
½ cup all-purpose flour
2 cups chicken broth
1½ cups skim milk
4 cups chopped cooked turkey
1 cup peas (frozen)
2 Tbsp Parmesan cheese
Recipe
1 Comment

There are 3 ways to thaw your turkey safely, and letting it sit on the counter isn't on the list.

11/15/2016

0 Comments

 

There are 3 ways to thaw your turkey safely — in the refrigerator, in cold water, or in the microwave.

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Photo from: www.thekitchn.com

1. Refrigerator 

Keep the turkey in its original wrapper. Place it on a tray or in a pan to catch any juices that may leak. A thawed turkey can remain in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days. If necessary, a turkey that has been properly thawed in the refrigerator may be refrozen.
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CORRECT WAY
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INCORRECT WAY: Juices can leak on milk and other parts of the refrigerator

​2. Cold Water

Wrap your turkey securely, making sure the water is not able to leak through the wrapping. Submerge your wrapped turkey in cold tap water. Change the water every 30 minutes. Cook the turkey immediately after it is thawed. Do not refreeze.
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Photo from WikiHow

3. Microwave 

Check the owner's manual of your microwave (or look up your specific microwave online).  It should tell you what size turkey will fit, how many minutes per pound it will need to thaw, and what power level to use. Remove all outside wrapping, and place on a microwave-safe dish to catch any juices that may leak. Cook your turkey immediately. Do not refreeze or refrigerate your turkey after thawing in the microwave.

REMINDER: Remove giblets from the turkey cavities after thawing. Cook separately.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE TURKEY TIPS
Information from: USDA Let's Talk Turkey—A Consumer Guide to Safely Roasting a Turkey
0 Comments

It's healthier to cook your own meals rather than buy boxed or pre-made foods.  But why?

11/15/2016

1 Comment

 
Why are homemade meals generally healthier? It's because they are usually less expensive, made with fewer ingredients, made with more nutritious ingredients, and great opportunities for family time, cooking, and bonding in the kitchen.  What's not to love about that?!

If you aim to stock your pantry with items that will be used over time (i.e. more than once), your money ends up getting you more at the grocery store.  And by choosing recipes that are simple to make, cooking at home doesn't seem so difficult!  Easy recipes are also the ones we tend to remember, so they become favorite "go-to" recipes.  
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Let's choose one of our quick recipes from the Desserts section of our recipe library. We will look at the number and the quality of the ingredients.

Nutty Apple Crisp

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The next time you're shopping for that perfect dessert for your guests, instead of heading to the frozen apple pies, keep walking on over to the produce section and the baking aisle to select the individual ingredients. SNAP4CT recommends this favorite fall recipe for Nutty Apple Crisp.  It's full of nutritious *whole* ingredients like apples, old fashioned oats, and whole wheat flour.  Here is the full list of of the nine simple ingredients in this recipe: 
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apples
raisins
lemon juice
old fashioned oats
whole wheat flour
cinnamon
brown sugar
nuts
butter


Find the Nutty Apple Crisp Recipe here.

First, let's contrast the ingredients in the Apple Crisp to the ingredients on the back of a frozen apple pie we found in the grocery store freezer aisle.  Here they are:

Filling:
Fresh Apples
Water
Sugar
Modified Food Starch
Salt
Spice
Citric Rod

Crust:
Enriched Wheat Flour (Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid)
Vegetable Shortening (Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil)
Water
Dough Conditioner (Dextrose, Wheat Starch, Salt Baking Soda, Calcium Propionate, Vegetable Shortening (May Contain Partially Hydrogenated Soybean and/or Cottonseed Oil), Sodium Bisulfite)
Salt

Crumb Topping:
Enriched Wheat Flour (Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid)
Brown Sugar
Vegetable Shortening (Partially Hydrogenated Soybean and Cottonseed Oils)
Sugar
Salt
Spice
Dextrose

Yikes!  Too many to count.  And some have partially hydrogenated oils which are definitely not good for us!

Secondly, let's explore the quality of one of those ingredients in both lists.  See that 5th ingredient in the Nutty Apple Crisp list - whole wheat flour.  SNAP4CT posted back in early October about using whole grains such as whole wheat.  Compared to enriched wheat flour, which has been stripped of its nutrition and given additives to put the nutrition back in, whole wheat flour has more fiber, and will keep you feeling fuller, longer.  Including whole grains in a dessert, which is typically sweet, means you probably won't taste the difference!  So if you've been wanting to try out (or make the complete switch to) whole wheat flour, use this recipe as a test. It's a perfect opportunity!

The last and final reason it's healthier to cook at home is the chance to cook alongside family members, and then share that meal together around the table.  Research shows us that children who have at least three meals around the table with family per week are 12% less likely to be overweight than children who don't share meals.  They are also 20% less likely to eat unhealthy foods, and 24% more likely to eat healthy foods than children who don't sit down with family to share a meal.
1  So there is real evidence that spending time with family in a regular tradition of sharing meals together is good for kids!

Sticking with wholesome, homemade dishes cooked together with family at home is the healthiest way to cook!  

1. Hammons A and Fiese B.  
Is Frequency of Shared Family Meals Related to the Nutritional Health of Children and Adolescents?  Pediatrics. 2011 Jun; 127(6): e1565–e1574.
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Husky Nutrition at UConn Health
195 Farmington Avenue, MC 6030
Farmington, CT 06032​
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SNAP-ED Event Calendar
© COPYRIGHT 2018.  ​ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

This information was funded by the USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - SNAP.  
SNAP helps low-income people buy nutritious food for a better diet.
​To get more information contact the CT Department of Social Services at
1-855-626-6632 or www.CT.gov/dss.


This institution is an equal opportunity provider.​
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Aviso de No Discriminación
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Categories >
      • Kid Friendly Recipes
      • No Added Sugar
      • Vegetarian Recipes
      • Heart Healthy Recipes
      • Five Ingredients or Less
      • Quick and Easy Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Breads and Muffins
    • Desserts
    • Dips and Salsas
    • Drinks and Smoothies
    • Meatless Meals
    • Meals with Meat
    • Salads
    • Side Dishes
    • Snacks
    • Soups and Stews
    • Sodium Free Spice Blends
    • Recetas
  • Farmers Markets
    • Find a Farmers Market
    • CT Crop Calendar
    • Using SNAP/EBT at Farmers Markets
  • Education
    • Healthy Eating >
      • MyPlate
      • Understanding The Nutrition Label
      • Added Sugar
      • Healthy Snacking Tips
      • Calories Needed Each Day
      • What is "enough" fruits and vegetables
      • Recipe Videos
    • Budget Shopping >
      • Healthy Shopping on a Budget
      • What Can $16 Buy?
      • Budget Pantry
    • Diabetes >
      • Healthy Eating with Diabetes
      • "Diabetes-Friendly" Recipe Guide
    • Heart Health
    • Exercise Tips
    • Physical Literacy
    • Water First for Your Thirst
  • SNAP4CT Blog
  • Resources
    • DSS Offices and SNAP Help
    • FAQ
    • Free Health Events in CT
    • Organizations
    • SNAP-Ed Events Calendar
    • Healthy Food Pantry Donations