Back to School

Hello friends!  Welcome to the official first week of the new school year!  As busy as this time of year is, isn’t it good to know that Pathfinder Produce is here to help?  We can provide your family with vegetables and fruits for a full week so that you serve up healthy and tasty dishes and snacks.  We work hard to keep our pricing competitive, and you will enjoy our fresh selections and our helpful market staff.

And now that fall is here, don’t forget our convenient online ordering option.  Just go to our website between Friday afternoon and Wednesday at noon, select and pay for your items with your credit card, and then pick up your order at our Edmeston market or at the UMC pick-up in Morris on Thursday afternoons.

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This week is Back to School week, and students and their families will be developing new routines.  One of the best ways to support your children is to provide them with some structure, so they learn important health practices, work habits, and time management skills.  This is important for students of all ages, from the very smallest pre-schoolers, right on through to high school seniors.  I almost think that routines may be even more important for older kids, as they have so many social and sports options, work schedules, and other distractions, that they are easily thrown off from hitting their scholastic stride.

Here are a few tips that can help, and I recommend reading this post from the Healthy Children website, especially if you have younger children:

Eat breakfast each day:  Whereas we may not always share family dinners together at our house, I always make sure we get up early enough so that we can share breakfast together.  Many reports indicate that students who eat breakfast perform better academically.

Limit sugar-laden snacks and drinks:  Sure, sugar-rich cookies, and candies give kids an energy burst, but overall, they aren’t beneficial and instill poor eating habits.  Offer students a variety of healthy fruits and veggies, or non-sugary snacks, for afterschool and mid-study breaks.  Focus on providing no- or low-sugar drinks, like milk, water, and limited amounts of unsweetened fruit juices when they are thirsty.

Go to bed:  Everyone needs adequate sleep, so it’s important that kids develop and stick to sleep routines.  Set regular bedtimes for everyone, and include some regular wind-down activities to get kids ready to sleep, like reading books before bed.  Studies recommend that kids should not have free access to TVs, cell phones, or other electronic distractions in their rooms at night.

Use organizers to track activities:  Families’ lives are complex, with many demands from work/school, extra-curricular activities, community organizations, and sports.  Visual organizers, like calendar apps or whiteboards, can help keep everyone on track and communicating about what their schedules are for the week.

Set up Homework Zones & Patterns:  Create a space--whether it’s in a child’s room or at the dining room table-- where kids can work on homework in a quiet, well-lit space that doesn’t have distractions, like the tv or electronics.  Establish routines that students automatically follow each day: After arriving home, kids should have a few minutes to unwind, but then they should help with some family chores and complete their homework assignments before they engage in leisure activities.  (And yes, chore participation is a good thing, despite the moans and static).

Encourage responsibility and time management skills:  Kids are human, and they may forget to do or turn in assignments.  They may also forget other tasks that they needed to follow up on (“Mom, there’s a bake sale tomorrow and I’m supposed to bring something!”).  They also procrastinate and put off for tomorrow what they should’ve completed yesterday.  Review their day and monitor assignments, club and team activities, and other topics to keep informed about what is expected of them by others.  Encourage them to start using planners, e-calendars and other visual organizers to plan.

There are many more resources online for getting back into the “school year gear” and it is always helpful to consult your children’s teachers, counselors and team coaches throughout the year.  The best advice is to be involved, but also let your child learn from his choices, and help him to use logic and thinking skills to connect the dots on cause and effect situations.

Good luck and study hard!

Lori

Drink Up!

Hello everyone, we hope that you’re enjoying the official last week of summer before the Labor Day holiday.  There’s no better time to put on a picnic and feature fresh summer veggies and fruits in your menus.  Come on down to Pathfinder Produce, this Thursday from 1 to 5 p.m. to check out all the great and tasty items we have “in store” for you.  You’ll want to try some of our delicious Pathfinder Hoop House products too … you can’t get anything fresher!

My son – now a high school senior – and other student-athletes are now in their full training schedule and running, pushing, striving and sweating.  (These past two weeks, my son’s been doing conditioning for Cross Country in the morning, with full Varsity Soccer practices in the afternoon … phew). It’s so important that athletes drink plenty of fresh, cool water each day to keep healthy and to stave off dehydration.  I took a look back at some of my older blogs on hydration and wanted to repost this one from September 2016. 

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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 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.

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 throughout 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 smartphone 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 urine. 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 scale, 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 very 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

I hope you'll dance!

Hello everyone, we hope you’re enjoying these last few weeks of summer, and are

savoring all the fresh and delicious produce that’s abundant at this time of the year!  My family is, and I’m loving all the great just-picked sweet corn and sun-ripened tomatoes.  Of course, our staff at Pathfinder Produce is there to help with your fresh fruit and veggie needs … just stop by each Thursday afternoon at the Village Commons from 1 to 5 p.m. to get some of the freshest, most-flavorful items around!

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Last Saturday night, I stopped to take photos at Pathfinder Village for one of our final Summer Concerts this year.  Although the weather had been iffy earlier in the day, the evening was perfect at the Pavilion … cool temperatures and soft lighting tinged the sky.  And one of our favorite local bands, Dirt Road Express, was playing.

Many of our good friends from the community came to listen to Mike, Ray, Kenny, and Ellen play their versions of old-time country and early rock ‘n roll favorites. The foursome is a favorite at many regional venues, and once again they put on a great show. And to make a fun occasion even better, our young friends from Hamilton College HAVOC (Hamilton Association for Volunteering, Outreach & Charity) were there, celebrating as they finished their volunteer activities that had brought them to Pathfinder for the week.

 

Now, I may be hazarding a guess, but I would expect that many of these young adults did not know many of the well-loved country songs played by the band, but that didn’t matter at all. These students, who are from many different hometowns and immersed in different musical traditions, didn’t miss a beat … they danced the entire night along with many Pathfinder students and residents.

It was so much fun watching everyone on the dance floor. There were a few married couples, longtime fans of the band, who beautifully glided around the outside of the other dancers.  Some of Pathfinder folks are also very good dancers: Frank had a full dance-card, stepping and sashaying with college students, his Pathfinder friends, and several friends from the community.

With the lively music and high energy, the evening flew by and everyone had a great time. But that’s the great thing about dancing … one is moving, having fun, stretching muscles, and burning calories all at the same time.  The music reduces the effort, it seems.  And while it helps to be a little coordinated, social dancing doesn’t really require any strenuous preparation or training.  You just catch the beat and move!

According to a 2016 article from the Huffington Post, dancing offers some great benefits:

• It’s a good cardio workout, as long as you’re dancing to upbeat music.  
• Dancing’s fun, as it isn’t monotonous like a treadmill workout can be.  
• It can be a social activity, which enhances our enjoyment of dancing.
• It’s inclusive, and most people dance without feeling self-conscious.
• It’s good for your brain, and some studies indicate can regular dancing can stave
  off age-related dementia.
• Dancing can be low-impact, and you can always change your movements or pace if you need a break.
• It can improve your balance, which can help prevent serious fall-related injuries.
• And finally, you don’t need a ton of expensive equipment … you can dance to music on the radio, an mp3 player with earbuds, or for the full experience, you can go dancing at a club or concert. About the only real recommendations for equipment are supportive and non-slippery shoes.

Other benefits of dancing are listed in this CNN article.  If you’re interested in getting social and in dancing, come and hang out with Zoe Curtis at our regular ZUMBA sessions each Wednesday evening at Pathfinder Village (lessons are just $5, and the ZUMBA crew always has a great time stepping out to great Latin beats.).

Until next time, keep smiling, keep moving!

Lori

Pumping Iron

Hello, everyone!  We hope that you’re enjoying the last weeks of summer, managing with the unpredictable weather, and savoring all the great flavors.  We also hope that you’ll be able to visit us at Pathfinder Produce (“We’re rooted in community!”), at the Village Commons this Thursday, from 1 to 5 p.m.

It’s been a busy few weeks here at Pathfinder, and we’re getting in as much summer fun as we can!  This Thursday evening, the Norwich City Band will be putting on a free concert at the Pavilion at 6 p.m., and the public is welcomed.  And of course, we have our regular Summer Concert Series which continues on Saturday night at 7 p.m.  This week’s free concert will feature Dirt Road Express, one of our favorite regional country trios.  Come on down for some great music!

Below, my colleague Martha Spiegel recounts our recent American Red Cross Community Blood Drive and encourages everyone to donate if they are able to.  Our nation is in a blood shortage at present; donations are critical for trauma and burn patients, those needing surgery, and those who are undergoing cancer treatments.

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Last week, Pathfinder Village held its annual American Red Cross blood drive at the Gym, in partnership with NYCM Insurance. We had excellent participation from Pathfinder and NYCM staff, as well as the local community.  We want to send out our thanks to all who donated, our community volunteers, and to members of the Pathfinder Adult Day Services program, which helped people at the canteen following their donations.  Great job!

Donating blood is an easy way to do a good deed; it costs nothing but a bit of your time (and blood), and by doing so you can help save up to three lives! A very worthwhile effort!

I have been donating blood since I was 18, and over the past couple of decades, I have been trying to donate at least three times a year. One thing that can stand in my way is an occasional low iron level. A few times I have been disqualified from donating at all, or I’ve had to reduce my donation from “Power Reds” to regular donations due to insufficient iron levels. When I do have a successful donation, I am diligent about replenishing my iron levels. This is easily done by eating certain foods.

While it is tempting to reward myself with cookies at the canteen after a donation, I go for the raisins instead. A serving of raisins provides 4% of the daily recommended amount of iron, so it’s a good start, especially when combined with a beverage rich in vitamin C, such as cranberry juice.

The American Red Cross website provides a long list of iron-rich foods.  Most people know about iron in red meat, but there are so many more options, including varieties of seafood, vegetables, grains and fruit.  It’s important to have adequate iron in your regular diet, but it’s a good idea to increase your iron consumption in both the week before and the week after a blood donation.

Why is iron so important?  According to Web MD, iron is a key component of hemoglobin, which carries oxygen from your lungs to enrich all the cells in your body.  If you have iron deficiencies, then the corresponding lack of oxygen can affect every system, from brain function to the immune system.  Check this link out for signs of iron deficiency; it’s extremely important that women who are expecting be checked out to see if they are anemic.

For more information about being a blood donor, and to find the next blood drive near you, check out RedCrossBlood.org. 

Until next time, eat and be well!

Martha (and Lori)

Summer Sweetness

Hello everyone!  We hope that you and your family are well and enjoying the best that summer has to offer … we are at Pathfinder Village!  Last week, during our Thursday night social hour at the Pavilion, many of us gathered with our friends and area Boy Scouts to sing old-fashioned campfire songs.  This week on Thursday from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Pathfinder Village will host a Cruise-In at the Pavilion, which is being organized by volunteers from NYCM Insurance.  The public is invited to join in the fun!  I can’t wait to see some of the vintage cars … I’m an old softie when it comes to old cars.

Of course, we invite everyone down to our next tempting Pathfinder Produce market on Thursday, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Village Commons. Our market staff has some great produce for sale – delicious fruits and veggies that turn a ho-hum supper into a summer treat. 

Below, my colleague Sally Trosset shares some thoughts on one of the sweetest summer treats, fresh corn.

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Everyone is thinking it, but no one wants to say it: fall is just around the corner. 

I was recently chatting with a teacher friend of mine.  “I can’t believe it's already August,” I said.  “Wasn't it just July 4th?"

"I know," she responded. "The August blues are like the Sunday night blues, but for a full month!"

So true, I thought.  That anxious feeling...we have to get everything done before Labor Day or before the weather turns.  Eventually, we’ll get excited about all the apples and “pumpkin-spiced everything” that’s coming our way.  Not yet though. 

With that thought, I called a friend who I usually bike ride with and told her we NEEDED to go for a nice long excursion on the weekend.  The rain that had plagued us for many days was going to clear and the skies promised to be blue.

So, ride we did!   Sunday morning we set out on our usual long trek through the back roads of Cooperstown, through Springfield, out to Van Hornsville, and back into Cooperstown.  It had been so long! 

As I was pedaling, I felt like I was in a life-sized corn maze the entire 30-mile ride: windy side roads, up-hill, down-hill, going past cornfield after cornfield.  My mouth was watering by the time I got home two hours later.  Yes, I literally needed water, but I quickly announced to my family, "Tonight we are grilling and we need corn-on-the-cob! It's August and we are going to savor this summer month in the best way we know how--eating!”

Everyone loves eating the freshest seasonal vegetables. But it's even better when you can get locally grown veggies at the peak of freshness. So where can you get local, homegrown sweet corn?  This time of year, any roadside stand is almost guaranteed to provide you with succulent corn.  I sent my son out to the east side of Otsego Lake, and I told him to take his pick on where to stop. I had passed nearly six stands in about six miles when I was riding back into town.

This sweet and savory side is made even more delicious when prepared on the grill.  Grilling the corn is our method of choice.  I quickly did some research and found some great recipes at the Hello Fresh blog.  Always a fan of the classic ear slathered with butter and sprinkled with sea salt, I was ready to try something different. 

We opted to try Mexican-, Italian-, and American-style corn.  These were all delicious, but my personal favorite was the Italian-style, grilled with a touch of pesto and parmesan cheese.  My kids were split between the Mexican-style (opting for butter instead of mayo), and American.  The American style featured a slight taste of maple syrup, which was a nice complement to the sweet corn.  Even though these extras make corn-on-the-cob less healthy (and corn does have a reputation of being high in carbohydrates), one should note that corn is actually healthy and you can indulge in this treat without guilt at the next family barbeque.

According to The Huffington Post, some of corn’s health benefits include being low in calories and high in antioxidants, protecting against cardiovascular disease and benefiting eye and colon health.  And even though it is sweet, it is also okay for those who are watching their blood sugar levels.

A yummy dinner was had by all, and our family agreed that we're not quite ready to throw in the towel on summer!  There are lots of late summer fruits and vegetables to enjoy and experiment with; we decided we would try to do more experimenting in the remaining weeks.  Our next adventure? Grilled peaches and watermelon!

Until next time, eat and be well,

Sally (and Lori)