Holiday Greetings !!!!
… from all of us at Pathfinder Produce.  We’ll be open this Thursday at the Pathfinder  Village Commons from noon to 5 p.m. to help you with your fruit and veggie purchases for your festive year-end gatherings.  Our market staff has plenty of holiday cheer to go around and can’t wait to assist you with your purchases.  And of course, our online ordering is open at pathfindervillage.org/our-village/pathfinder-produce to help you during this very merry time of the year. Our market will be closed for Thursday, Dec. 27, so that our market staff may spend more time with their loved ones.  After a mini-break, our wonderful Pathfinder Produce team, all members of the Pathfinder Adult Day Services program, will be back to help you get into a healthy and nutritious 2019!  This week, our Director of Education Maura Iorio offers some last-minute ideas for gifts.  Enjoy and explore these tempting and unique ideas using fruits and veggies! *** Produce-Inspired Gift Ideas! With the year-end holidays right around the corner, you may find yourself scrambling for some last-minute gift ideas for family, friends, neighbors, teachers, etc. Here are some fruit and vegetable-inspired options that you can easily make and assemble yourself! 1. Natural Strawberry Facemask Crush up about a cup of fresh strawberries and let them soak in 1 cup of organic milk for at least 2 hours in the refrigerator. Strain well and keep the strawberry-infused milk refrigerated in a sealed jar. Apply the strawberry milk as a facial cleanser, leaving it on for about 20 minutes until gently rinsing it off. Your skin will appear brighter and healthier! Click here to learn more. 2. Homemade Pickled Vegetables Making pickled vegetables is easy, and the final product will last for quite a while if stored properly. Plus, these jarred gifts already look pretty—add some holiday ribbon around them and you will be all set! One great recipe to try is Pickled Heirloom Carrots from Country Living. (We recommend following standard cleaning and sterilization techniques to prepare your jars; use canning jars, which are able to handle the heat of sterilization). Using carrots, cider vinegar, honey, salt, mustard seeds, fennel seeds, black peppercorns, crushed coriander, and dried hot chili pepper, this recipe has a bit of a kick to it and takes about 30 minutes to make. It’s perfect for someone who likes to explore spicy foods. Check out this recipe, and several others, by clicking here.
3. Traditional Fruit Basket Fruit baskets are one of those traditional gifts that you can’t go wrong with—who doesn’t love fruit? Grab a pretty basket or decorative bowl, fill with your favorite fruits, and top with some holiday ribbons. This is a simple and nutritious way to cross some names off your holiday shopping list for hard to shop for friends and acquaintances! Need a more in-depth tutorial? Click here!
Wishing you and your families a warm and happy holiday season! Maura (and Lori)

Get Outside!

Hello everyone! We hope you’re enjoying all the festivities of the holiday season! Here at Pathfinder Village, we’ve been having a ball with community get-togethers, seasonal music concerts, and all other types of fun. But we’re never too busy to keep our tasty and convenient Pathfinder Produce market well-stocked for our customers. Come on down and check out all the great tasting fresh fruits and veggies on Thursday, Dec. 13, from noon to 5 p.m.

At this busy time of year, everyone is time-strapped, so let us take the hassle out of your produce shopping. Use our convenient online ordering system, pay with your credit card, and plan to pick up your purchases at our Edmeston or Morris locations on Thursday afternoon. It doesn’t get any easier!

***

“Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful …,” starts off one of my favorite seasonal songs.  But rather than stay inside, I really think it’s the best time of year to go outside and play!

I remember as a kid how my siblings and I would go out and play for long afternoons in the snow.  Building snow forts, throwing snowballs, and ice skating were great fun – we used to skate on an old farm pond that had cattails spiking up through the ice.  Talk about challenging!  However, the most fun was had when we went sledding … we’d see how daring we could be, standing on our Flexible Flyers and plastic toboggans like skateboards.  We got pretty good at sled surfing when the snow was right, but invariably our lunkheaded German Shepherd, who was never quite right in the head after a mishap with a truck, would chase us and knock us off the sleds.

Mom always made sure we were well bundled for these hours in the snow, with dry mittens, warm socks, and boots.  Our toes and faces were a little chilled though, I recall, as we came inside for warm mugs of tea and sitting by the woodstove.  It’s always important to make sure kids and older folks aren’t frostbitten when they go outside on cold days.

Recently, I’ve enjoyed some fun times hiking during this crisp weather, taking walks around “Graceland.” The snow, dusted on our hemlock trees, fairly sparkles in the sunlight; the air is so fresh that it stings the skin just enough so you really feel awake.

Plus, walking in colder temperatures helps one burn more calories, as your body expends energy to keep warm as you walk. And, if you’re lucky enough to go out on a sunny day, time in the sunlight helps your body in getting sufficient Vitamin D.

One challenge I find is gaining a firm footing on our hillside, which is slippery in the snow (and mud from all the rain we had this past fall).  I’m grateful for a great pair of sturdy, yet light, insulated boots, plus a pair of lovely alpaca-wool socks I “borrowed” from my son.  (You can’t beat good wool socks for keeping your toes nice and warm – they also make toasty warm gifts!).  Before you go out, even if it’s only down the block, make sure your feet are well-insulated and shod to negotiate the ice and slush that you may encounter.

Until next time, get some fresh air and enjoy winter!

Lori

Within Moderation

Welcome to December, a month of holiday lights, celebration days, great eats, and fun parties!  We’re here at Pathfinder Produce to help you prepare for all of your get-togethers by providing the freshest, tastiest fruits and veggies around!  We’re open at the Village Commons every Thursday afternoon in December, with extended hours from Noon to 5 p.m.  Also, we have our convenient online ordering … check it out at our website and pick-up on Thursday afternoons!

During this festive time of the year, we all try to shine in the art of entertaining. If you have a veggie tray arrangement or table display that you’d like to share, take a picture and send it to us at lgrace@pathfindervillage.org.  We’ll be happy to share it on our blog posts. Also, if you’re feeling a little hurried and stressed in the next few weeks, take time to relax, pamper yourself, and perhaps follow the advice of these seasonal quotes from the Huff Post.

Below, my colleague Martha Spiegel shares some other year-end strategies to manage the mountains of treats that come our way each holiday season.  Enjoy -- but within moderation!

***

For many people, the holidays are a time when we gather friends, family, and pounds. If it were only Thanksgiving, New Year’s Day, and Christmas or Chanukah, it would not be so bad, but from Thanksgiving Day through the first week in January there is a constant supply of treats, party food, and feasts. If you’re like me, you have to take precautions not to put on the Holiday 5!

I did a search on the internet for suggestions for managing caloric intake during this ever-so-tasty time of year, and here are a few that seemed fairly doable.

1.     If you go to a potluck gathering, be sure to bring something that you like that is healthy, and eat that first, along with other healthy choices. This does not mean that you have to eat nothing but carrot sticks with no dip, but a tasty vegetable casserole or something made with a lean protein and not a lot of gooey cheese would be a good option. Here is one of my favorite potluck contributions: Southwestern Spaghetti Squash. (I make it in a casserole dish, not stuffed into squash halves.)

2.     Use the smallest plate available, and take tasting portions of several items. This way you can try a bite or two of several dishes or desserts without stuffing yourself.

3.     Be selective. Try foods that are new to you, that you can’t get other times of the year, or that look particularly amazing. And again, remember to take small portions. 

4.     Eat before you go. If you are hungry when you arrive, you’ll be more likely to overeat.

5.     Be sure to balance alcohol, sodas or punch with water. Calories in beverages can add up quickly, so perhaps go with a glass of water instead of a refill.

6.     Engage in conversation. You’ll eat less if you are spending more time chatting.

7.     Eat slowly, savor the flavors, and be mindful of your appetite. Stop eating when you feel satisfied, not stuffed.

For more suggestions, see the following:

Mindful Eating - Savor the Flavor (American Heart Association)

Smart Ways to Eat Healthy During the Holidays (EatingWell)

11 Holiday Healthy-Eating Tips from a Registered Dietitian (Self)

5 Healthy Eating Tips for the Holidays (CDC)

So don’t deprive yourself, but do your best to not overindulge. That happy medium can be achieved!

Martha (and Lori)