That Gut Feeling

We hope everyone will join us later today for another delicious Pathfinder Produce market at the Village Commons from 1 to 5 p.m.  I stopped by our market this morning, which is staffed by members of Pathfinder Village’s Day Hab and Pre-Voc programs.  Folks were already very busy, moving in tables, getting them scrubbed, and waiting for the delivery of a truckload of fresh fruits and veggies. It really made my day to see how much these friends of mine enjoy what they do and the sense of accomplishment they gain from serving our community.

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Last weekend, we were having a lazy morning and tuned into one of our hands-down favorites, The French Chef with Julia Child.  This episode, in glorious black-and-white, was from one of the earlier years of the program, and Julia was at the top of her cooking game.

She was showing everyone how to make croissants, those super buttery staples of French breakfasts (my mouth is watering now).  She did a marvelous job in explaining what flour to use (all-purpose works, but it takes a bit of additional effort).  She used a mixture of 1/3 all-purpose and 2/3 unbleached pastry flour, which helps develop the wonderful light qualities of croissants. 

So there she was, in all her 1965 glory, describing how to prepare the butter (always butter, baby!) to roll into the dough, which must be chilled to keep it rolling well.  The secret to superb rolls is to keep rolling and turning it over several raises, provided you have good yeast and the right climate for those little beggars to generate CO₂.  Her rolling technique was great … she used an industrial-sized hardwood dowel, and with gusto tossed out a run-of-the-mill roller, based on its general uselessness.

As she was kneading, turning, chilling and flying through the steps, she explained the importance of gluten to breads, and how working the dough makes this sticky protein compound develop.  The more dough is worked, the less crumbly the resulting bread will be.

Of course, it would be interesting to hear her take on today’s many gluten-free items, a recent development in support of those who have Celiac Disease.  According to the Celiac Foundation, the condition is a “is a serious genetic autoimmune disorder where the ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine. When people with celiac disease eat gluten (a protein found in wheat, rye and barley), their body mounts an immune response that attacks the small intestine.”  CD can be especially harmful to children, as it stunts their growth.

I would dare say that back in the 1960s, gluten intolerance was virtually unknown, but today, it is common and about 1-of-133 people have it.  Its symptoms include weight loss, diarrhea, and intestinal discomfort; it can lead to significant health issues caused by malabsorption of nutrients … things like chronic tiredness, anemia, and osteoporosis.  It also can increase the risk of lymphoma, cancer of the lymphatic system, a key part of the body’s immune system.

Thankfully, Celiac Disease is detectable by blood- and other tests, and there are now many dietary options to combat the inflammatory symptoms, improve health, and lead a normal life.  If you think you have CD, learn more at celiac.org, talk to your doctor, and lessen your intake of wheat, barley or rye grain products.

Until next time, be well!

Lori

Freezer Meals!

We hope that everyone will come down to our next delicious Pathfinder Produce fresh fruits and veggie market, on this Thursday, September 22, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Village Commons.  We’re kicking off  cider and apple season, and we’ve got some other great harvest tastes for you to try from our Pathfinder Village Hoop House … YUM!

This week, our Director of Education Maura Iorio serves up some timely ideas about balancing family meals and busy schedules, now that school and youth sports are up-and-running!  Enjoy!

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Last month I wrote about getting ready to send the kiddos back to school, with healthy lunches in hand. Now that September is here, and life is in full swing, things have been a bit busy, and I'm sure many families out there can relate. Between work, school, Boy Scouts, and football practices and games, our schedule has been a whirlwind of activity!

When we are on the go constantly, fast foods like pizza and McDonald’s can be pretty tempting dinner options. However, this year I did things a little differently to make sure our family could eat quick, easy meals that are on the healthier side—and don't kill the bank account like take-out can.

For years, my grandmother has been telling me to learn the art of making freezer meals. I always smiled and nodded politely, and then promptly forgot every word, and went about trying to cook and eat dinner in the 23 minutes between getting home and running out the door for football practice. Note to self:  Always take the advice of a woman who raised four boys more seriously.

With a later work schedule, and a husband who is trying to balance work, coaching, and being a Scout Master, plus keeping up with two rambunctious boys who always seem to be hungry (and aren't even teenagers yet!), I knew something had to give this year.  So I gave Grandma’s crazy freezer meal idea a try.

I researched recipes on Pinterest, shopped for all of the ingredients, and got to prepping. For a little under $100, I was able to make 16 freezer meals.  Now instead of worrying about throwing something together when I get home (or caving and ordering a pizza), I can rest easy knowing that a healthy dinner is taken care of.  (Essential items include large freezer bags and a family-sized slow cooker.  Meals are thawed a day ahead in the refrigerator, and slow-cooked during the work day).

Check out these recipes (packed with veggies and fruits) to kick start your freezer meal planning! We hope to see you this Thursday at Pathfinder Produce to cross some fresh ingredients off your list. 

http://www.dessertnowdinnerlater.com/freezer-smoothie-packs/

http://www.superhealthykids.com/10-quick-healthy-freezer-slow-cooker-meals-no-prep-cooking-needed/

  

Until next time, eat well, and enjoy special times with your family!

Maura (and Lori)

Water-logged

Goodness gracious, we’re already half way through September.  It’s been an incredible month thus far at Pathfinder Village, and we’re so grateful to all of our community patrons who make our weekly fresh fruit and veggie market, Pathfinder Produce, such a great success.  We’re at the height of the harvest season, so be sure to stop by this Thursday from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Village Commons to get some tasty and healthy treats for your family. 

I apologize that last week we took a brief hiatus from our “veggie blog.”  Maura, our Director of Education, was welcoming her students back to another year of learning adventures at Pathfinder School.  Martha and I were working at the Otesaga Hotel Seniors Open and Pro-Am, the Chobani Tennis Classic, and the Juniors Tennis Classic in support of Pathfinder Village’s Scholarship Fund.  Thanks go out to all who made both the first week of school and our tournaments so successful!

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Over the past two weeks, the area’s youth soccer players and the members of the Edmeston Central School’s Cross Country Team have returned to Pathfinder Village for practices and competitions at Grant’s Field and the Pathfinder Community Fitness Trail.  It’s wonderful to have our youngsters enjoy Pathfinder’s athletic fields, and we offer a great round of thanks to the parents who support these teams.  We’re looking forward to a memorable season for all the athletes.

My own son, now on the varsity soccer team at his school, requested that I buy a new water bottle for him, large enough so that he has plenty of water during games and practices.  I was happy to do this, as I know how important it is for athletes to stay hydrated.  Typically, the kid will take a water bottle with him to school, sip it during the day and at lunch, and then refill it before his afternoon practices.  We ended up buying a 32 oz. stainless container, so if he fills it twice each day, he’ll be well on his way to getting enough to drink. 

(We tend to buy the stainless containers as they don’t break or leak, are easy to keep clean, and don’t contain BPA, a plastic that some studies have indicated can leach into food and beverages, and may have an effect on brain, circulatory and developmental health).

When I was looking online to purchase the bottle, I got thinking about how we can actually know if we get enough water each day.  Many folks use the general guidelines of the “8 x 8 rule.”  A quick online search reveals that the amount of water you actually need is more determined by your size, your level of activity, and other factors.  Some also believe that it is beneficial to drink water through the day, rather than at intervals.  And there are plenty of studies that show that drinking cold water boosts metabolism and can help you lose weight if you drink water about 30 minutes before eating.  (One thing that I’ve read online, and have experienced, is that it is possible to confuse thirst with hunger.  Livestrong recommends that the next time you think you are hungry, try drinking water and see if your cravings go away).

I found out too, that there are several free iPhone and Android apps that people can use to help track their water intake.  By logging in how often you drink, you understand your water needs better and reinforce the positive behavior of drinking regularly.  I think I’m going to download one of these and see how it goes.  If you don’t have a smart phone or aren’t tech savvy, there are plenty of page printouts you can use to help you get enough daily fluids.

And, not to gross anyone out, but if you aren’t one to track things, the surest indicator that you are getting enough water is to gauge the color of your pee. If it’s dark yellow, it’s too concentrated and you need to drink more.  For those who care for children, always check to see if they are getting enough water; monitor diapers and pull-ups using the color chart, and observe if their eyes appear sunken or if they have tears when they are crying.  If there aren’t any tears, the child is dehydrated, needs to drink and may need medical attention.  Older people are also highly prone to becoming dehydrated, which can cause a list of conditions from confusion to constipation, from rapid heart rates to serious UTIs.  Encourage your older loved ones to always drink enough water, even if they aren’t always keen on the idea.

Until next time, enjoy these glorious days of fall, and drink up!

Lori