Northern Shenandoah Valley Food, Nutrition, and Health

Virginia Cooperative Extension creates a monthly newsletter entitled Buzz, Body, and Bites that is created for actively aging adults, but is useful for anybody desiring information concerning health, exercise, healthy eating, and more! This month's Buzz section focused on Intellectual Wellness!

Enjoy this quick and easy side dish from North Dakota Extension with your dinner.

Bacon Parmesan Snap Beans Make this tasty recipe in a snap!

It's officially summer, let’s talk about ways to move and get active during our warmer months. Each Wednesday in June I will share three ways to get moving this summer! Remember to stay hydrated!
- Dancing
- Outdoor sports with loved ones
- Jump roping

Who doesn’t love pizza? Here’s a healthy take on mini pizzas from Oregon Extension!

Eggplant Pizza Slices Recipe, Eggplant Pizza Slices, Cheesy, melty, and topped with a dash of crunchy breadcrumbs. This is a great recipe for getting the whole family cooking!

As we move into summer, let’s talk about ways to move and get active during our warmer months. Each Wednesday in June I will share three ways to get moving this summer! Remember to stay hydrated!
- Shopping
- Jogging
- Cycling

Happy Fix It Friday! Try this Cheesy Enchilada Stack from Missouri Extension that serves 6! Great for a family or to meal prep your weekly lunches.
Link to recipe: https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/nc140

Virginia Cooperative Extension creates a monthly newsletter entitled Buzz, Body, and Bites that is created for actively aging adults, but is useful for anybody desiring information concerning health, exercise, healthy eating, and more! This month's Buzz section focused on ways to engage in Social Wellness! If you would like to receive next month's newsletter in your email subscribe here: http://tinyurl.com/mt6xpzue

As we move into summer, let’s talk about ways to move and get active during our warmer months. Each Wednesday in June I will share three ways to get moving this summer! Remember to stay hydrated!
- Yoga in nature
- Kayaking
- Hiking

As we get closer to summertime, salads are a great, refreshing choice! How about this Easy Greek Salad from MyPlate?

Easy Greek Salad | MyPlate While feta cheese is the star of any Greek salad, this recipe contains all of the must-have ingredients for a classic salad that is sure to please.

I will be at Jon Henry General Store this Friday, 6/7 testing dial-gauge pressure canners! Stop by and get your canner tested anytime between 1 pm and 5 pm!

As we move into summer, let’s talk about ways to move and get active during our warmer months. Each Wednesday in June I will share three ways to get moving this summer! Remember to stay hydrated!
- Gardening
- Cleaning/decluttering
- Swimming

To end Mental Health Awareness Month, I am going to share an inspirational quote from Martin Luther King, Jr.: “You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” To use this quote to boost your mental health, think of something in your life you want to improve, and figure out what you can do to take a step in the right direction. By Using this graphic from the “Mental Health America” organization, you can take that step to begin your mental health journey.
To see the remaining 24 tips for boosting mental health use this link: https://mhanational.org/31-tips-boost-your-mental-health

I will be at the PAGE County Cooperative Extension Office this Thursday, 5/30 testing dial-gauge pressure canners! Stop by and get your canner tested anytime between 9 am and 3 pm!

Have a hankering for something sweet this week? Try these yummy Chocolate Zucchini Brownies from Utah Extension!

Chocolate Zucchini Brownies This hybrid of zucchini bread and homemade brownies will get even the pickiest of eaters to ask for seconds. The mild and adaptable taste of zucchini is perfect to blend into a dark, thick brownie. Also the batter is perfect for tasting because there are no eggs in the recipe!

Take time each day for your mental health. Here are five ways you can do that this week.

I will be at the CLARKE County Cooperative Extension Office this Monday, 5/20 testing dial-gauge pressure canners! Stop by and get your canner tested anytime between 9 am and 3 pm!

Happy Fix It Friday! Our recipe this week comes from Texas Extension. Try this delicious vegetarian Southwest Bean Burrito!

Southwest Bean Burrito | Dinner Tonight This delicious burrito is a refreshing and filling meal. You can eat the bean mixture in a burrito or add it to a bowl of steamed rice. Don’t be afraid […]

I will be at Jon Henry General Store this Saturday, 5/18 testing dial-gauge pressure canners! Stop by and get your canner tested anytime between 1 pm and 5 pm!

I will be at the SHENANDOAH County Cooperative Extension Office this Friday, 5/17 testing dial-gauge pressure canners! Stop by and get your canner tested anytime between 9 am and 3 pm!

As we continue into Mental Health Awareness Month, here are two more tips to boost your mental health by meeting your daily needs:
- Work some omega-3 fatty acids into your diet: they are linked to decreased rates of depression and schizophrenia among their many benefits. Fish oil supplements work, but eating your omega-3s in foods like wild salmon, flaxseeds or walnuts also helps build healthy gut bacteria
- Take 30 minutes to go for a walk in nature: it could be a stroll through a park or a hike in the woods. Research shows that being in nature can increase energy levels, reduce depression, and boost well-being

I will be at the WARREN County Cooperative Extension Office this Thursday, 5/16 testing dial-gauge pressure canners! Stop by and get your canner tested anytime between 9 am and 3 pm!

Virginia Cooperative Extension creates a monthly newsletter entitled Buzz, Body, and Bites that is created for actively aging adults, but is useful for anybody desiring information concerning health, exercise, healthy eating, and more! This month's Buzz section focused on Environmental Wellness! If you would like to receive next month's newsletter in your email subscribe here: http://tinyurl.com/mt6xpzue

Today begins Food Allergy Awareness Week. More than 33 million Americans suffer from life threatening food allergies.
There are nine foods that account of 90% of all food allergy reactions:
- Peanut
- Tree Nut
- Egg
_ Soy
- Dairy
- Wheat
- Fish
- Shellfish
- Sesame

As the temperatures begin to feel more and more like summer, try this Honey Sweetened Lemonade recipe from Maine Extension to cool off!
Link to recipe: https://extension.umaine.edu/food-health/recipes/honey-sweetened-lemonade/

Happy
Our two tips this week for booting mental health are:
- Take time to laugh: Hang out with a funny friend, watch a comedy, or check out cute videos online. Laughter helps reduce anxiety.
- Dance around while you do housework: Not only will you get chores done, but dancing reduces levels of cortisol (the stress hormone), and increases endorphins (the body's "feel-good" chemicals)

Today is World Hand Hygiene Day! Remember to be safe and wash your hands before preparing foods for yourself and others, in between food prep tasks, and throughout the day! Keep the germs out!

I will be at the FREDERICK County Cooperative Extension Office this Monday, 5/6 testing dial-gauge pressure canners! Stop by and get your canner tested anytime between 9 am-1 pm.

Make your own salsa to celebrate Cinco De Mayo this weekend with one of these recipes from Oregon State Extension!
https://foodhero.org/recipes/pico-de-gallo
https://foodhero.org/recipes/salsa-roja
https://foodhero.org/recipes/salsa-verde

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, so we are going to focus on ways we can improve our mental well-being. Each Wednesday I will share two tips to boost mental health from the “Mental Health America” organization.
This week’s tips are:
- Track gratitude and achievement with a journal: Include 3 things you were grateful for and 3 things you were able to accomplish each day
- Work your strengths: Do something you're good at to build self-confidence, then tackle a tougher task