March is Nutrition Month
The arrival of March brings warmer weather (we hope), longer days — and Nutrition Month. Everyone staying healthy?
This annual event, hosted by Dietitians of Canada, is a great way to not only promote healthy eating but to raise the profile of the department of human nutritional sciences among staff and students outside of the Faculty of Human Ecology.
This year’s theme, “Simply Cook and Enjoy,” was chosen by Dietitians of Canada to address the lack knowledge and cooking skills among Canadians. Educating people about healthy foods as well as helping them develop the hands-on skills necessary to prepare nutritious snacks and meals is an important step in preventing nutrition related health diseases. It’s also a great way for students to save money!
The Human Nutritional Sciences outreach committee has organized a number of events to mark Nutrition Month.
Volunteers will be handing out apples and sharing their passion for nutrition with staff and students and everyone will have an opportunity to win some great prizes.
As with previous years, nutrition month displays will be set up in the University Center and the Engineering Atrium over the lunch hour on March 5, 7 and 25. Volunteers will be handing out apples and sharing their passion for nutrition with staff and students and everyone will have an opportunity to win some great prizes.
There are several unique additions to this year’s nutrition month events. First is the nutrition video contest where students will have a chance to create a short video on any nutrition related topic. Winners will not only receive bookstore gift certificates but will have their video shared on the DC Youtube channel, Human Ecology Student Organization blog, and the U of M Health 101 e-magazine.
To expand the nutrition month audience, posters that address some common sports nutrition questions will be placed in various locations in Frank Kennedy Center. Finally, as part of the graduate student wellness workshop series, students will learn tips and tricks on how to quickly make inexpensive healthy meals. See here for a list of activities.
Here’s one easy recipe to get you started:
Preheat oven to 400 F
Ingredients:
- 2 large red beets, peeled and halved lengthwise
- 2 cups cooked quinoa
- Juice from 1 lemon
- ¼ cup olive or camelina oil
- 4-5 fresh basil leaves, chopped
- ¼ onion, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
1. Rub halved beets with oil. Wrap in foil. Roast in oven for ~ 60 minutes.
2. Whisk together the dressing, lemon juice, oil, basil and salt & pepper.
3. Toss cooked, cooled quinoa & red onion together.
4. Cool beets, dice into cubes & combine with quinoa. Add feta & dressing, mix well.
Can be eaten warm or cold, and it only gets better the next day.
(Recipe from Dietitians of Canada)