We hope everyone is
hale and hearty on this bright and sunny Election Day 2016. No matter how local, state and national
elections turn out, we’re thankful for the right of making our voices heard.
November is the
season for gratitude, and this Thursday, Nov. 10 at 6 p.m., we will be hosting our second
annual THANKS FOR GIVING
gathering at Pathfinder Gym. This
get-together is open to everyone and offers a chance to visit with friends and
neighbors. It also benefits local food bank and toy drives that are conducted
by other local organizations. There’s no admission charged, but we request that
folks bring non-perishable food items or a new/gently used toy to share with
others this holiday season.
And of course,
Thursday is our regular Pathfinder Produce market day at the Village Commons,
starting at 1 p.m. Our crew will be at
the Morris UMC as well, on Friday, November 11, from 1 to 4 p.m. Veteran’s Day is also on Friday, and we honor
the service of our vets on that day, a day
originally celebrated to mark the end of the First World War back in
1918 (the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th
month).
Following, my
colleague Martha Spiegel offers some alternatives to adding flavors to
beverages, to both avoid added sugars and to get enough liquids each day.
Enjoy!
***
Flavor it Up!
One of the
tenets of our local 5210 committees is to consume “zero sugary drinks.” But
that can be easier said than done, especially if you don’t care for plain
water. Here are some suggestions of how
to flavor or sweeten your beverage, without using sugar or artificial
sweeteners.
I like
adding a little cinnamon to my coffee. I put a little shake on the grounds
before I brew them, and that results in a nice flavor. This works best if you have a drip coffee
pot, pour-over brewer or French press. If you brew with a Keurig-type machine,
you can add some cinnamon to the bottom of your cup (note: it does not
dissolve) or stir a stick of cinnamon in the hot coffee until you achieve just
the right flavor. I add a little skim milk and I find I like it as well as
other flavor additives that I’ve tried but which have a lot of sugar and can be
expensive.
If you are a
tea drinker, there are a lot of choices out there. There are black, herbal,
green, and white teas sweetened with fruit, cinnamon, herbs, and edible
flowers. One of my favorite ingredients is hibiscus! These blends are naturally
sweet, but have no added sweeteners, and are delicious hot or cold. In fact,
while some tea bags are marketed as “cold brew”—meaning you don’t need boiling
water—I have found that almost any tea bag will brew in any temperature water.
I usually bring a large reusable bottle of water with me to work and pop a
fruity, herbal tea bag in it. Within about 10 minutes or so I have a very tasty
beverage!
That brings
me to flavoring water. There are lots of ways to naturally sweeten water
without adding calories (or perhaps just a few). I find that a squeeze of lemon
or lime (or both) makes a plain glass of water more refreshing. If a tart taste
is to your liking as well, you can try a bit of cider vinegar (add it just a
drop at a time until you see what intensity you prefer). Sweeter fruits such as
crushed berries or oranges, work well, and I’ve heard that cucumber water is
very pleasant. You can drop the fruit right into your water, or use an infuser
bottle which will keep the fruit in the water but not clog the opening.
The
possibilities for flavoring your water are quite numerous. Here is a list of
blends that I found on the Reader's
Digest website. Some of these sound quite interesting! So experiment with different fruits, herbs
and spices, and see what you come up with. Remember to use a reusable water
bottle, and drink up!
Eat, drink
and be well!
Martha (and
Lori)
