Carrots are rich in beta carotene — more than 400 percent of the recommended Daily Value (DV) — a form of Vitamin A when absorbed by the body. Beta carotene is important for eyesight, skin and normal growth. It may also help reduce chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
Baby-cut carrots are made from full-grown, small diameter carrots by peeling and cutting them to the desired length. They are planted closer together so the roots stay slim and there is less waste when the carrots are cut to their small size. True baby carrots are removed from the ground early and actually look like miniature carrots.
Carrots are biennial, meaning they have a two-year life cycle. In the first year, the edible root is formed, followed by production of the flower and seeds in the second year.
Even Cookie Monster would agree these are better then chocolate chip!
Carrot Cookies
Serving Size: 2 cookies
Yield: 30 servings
Ingredients:
1/2 cup soft margarine
1 cup honey*
1 cup grated raw carrots
2 well beaten egg whites
2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 cups raw oatmeal, quick cooking
1 cup raisins
Instructions:
In a large bowl, cream together margarine and honey. Stir in carrots and egg whites.
Stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, oatmeal and raisins. Gradually stir flour-oatmeal mixture into creamed mixture, just until all flour is mixed. Do not over mix.
Drop from teaspoon on greased baking sheet. Flatten slightly and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes, or until lightly browned.
*Note: Instead of honey, you can use 1 1/4 cups sugar mixed with 1/4 cup water.
Lisa Navarra, AmeriCorps Team Leader, Meadow View Elementary School
All week we had been learning about Cesar Chavez, a great inspirational social leader and Mexican American activist. Throughout the week students had been reading about Cesar’s life and discussing the values he stood for. Each tutoring student wrote about one important value and we compiled these into a ‘house of values’ (below). On Friday everything came together when both lower grades and upper grades had group tutoring sessions to celebrate and do activities, admiring what this man taught us.
While the older students heard a passionate piece of Chavez’ Grape Boycott speech the lower grades participated in an alphabet read aloud about Mexican culture and nature. All students also illustrated a favorite fruit or vegetable and wrote notes to the farmers who help to get this food to us; thus creating a ‘garden of thanks’ (also in photo above). To end our session of thanks and celebration, students planted seeds with their mentors to symbolize new life and the spring. A wonderful theme day enjoyed by all…the tutoring display is located in the Multi-Purpose Room to show off our students’ work.
Carrots, or “skirrets,” were originally purple, white and yellow. The orange carrot was developed in Holland as a tribute to William I of Orange during the Dutch fight for independence from Spain in the 16th century.
Yellow/orange fruits and vegetables help maintain a healthy heart, vision health and a healthy immune system. They may also lower the risk of some cancers.
This is a great recipes to help you eat many different colors, Enjoy!
VEGETABLE QUESADILLAS
(Makes 4 servings at 1 quesadilla each)
Ingredients:
1 large carrot, grated
1 zucchini, grated
8 flour tortillas
¾ cup shredded cheese
Bottled hot sauce, to taste
Directions:
In a bowl, mix carrot and zucchini.
Sprinkle ½ cup mixture over four tortillas. Top each with 3 tablespoons cheese. Add hot sauce.
Cover with a second tortilla.
Heat a nonstick pan over medium heat until hot. Place each quesadilla in pan and cook 1 minute.
Turn over and cook 1 minute longer or until cheese melts.
Cut each quesadilla and serve warm.
Adapted from: Healthy Latino Recipes Made With Love, California Latino 5 a Day Campaign, 2004.
The skin of Hass avocados turn a dark purple-black when ripe. Other California varieties are known as “greenskins” because their skins do not change color as they ripen.
California ranks number one in avocado production, growing more than 90 percent of the nation’s crop.
Many people think avocados are green vegetables, but they are indeed fruits.
Avocado is a source of monounsaturated fat and omega-3 fatty acids.
Spring is coming and things are going to start heating up. So add some cool avocado to your recipes, like this one.
Black Bean and Corn Pitas
A protein-packed mixture of seasoned vegetables, black beans, and cheese.
Makes 4 servings. ½ pita per serving.
Prep time: 15 minutes
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Ingredients
1 (15-ounce) can low-sodium black beans
1 cup frozen corn, thawed
1 cup fresh or no salt added canned tomatoes
1 avocado, chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley
1⁄8 teaspoon cayenne pepper or more to taste
2 teaspoons lemon juice
½ teaspoon chili powder
2 medium whole wheat pita pockets
1⁄3 cup shredded part-skim Mozzarella cheese
Preparation
1. Drain and rinse beans. In a medium bowl, combine beans, corn, tomatoes, avocado, and garlic. Add parsley, cayenne pepper, lemon juice, and chili powder.
2. Cut pita bread in half to form 4 pockets, and spoon equal amounts of filling into each half. Top with cheese and serve.
Nutrition information per serving: Calories 352, Carbohydrate 54 g,
dietary Fiber 17 g, Protein 16 g, Total Fat 10 g, Saturated Fat 2 g,
It's March, and that means CalSERVES is gearing up for our Annual Cesar Chavez Health Fair. This year, we will be celebrating our 10th Fair! We've been doing this awhile. Come join in the fun:
Focused on health, this community event is a place for families to learn about and access resources for health, safety, and education. Organizations all over the county come to celebrate with us and participate in providing this event. Sponsors for this year's fair include: First 5 of Sonoma County, Kaiser Permanente, St. Joseph's Health System, Redwood Credit Union, and Community Action Partnership. THANK YOU!
In 2010, we will be celebrating with:
FREE health screenings - Dental for kids, vision, blood pressure, blood glucose, H1N1 vaccinations, and more!
Free FOOD for families - donated by the Redwood Empire Food Bank, families will be able to take home bags of fresh produce. Also, everyone attending the fair will recieve a free, healthy lunch!
A BIKE RODEO for kids, put on by the Santa Rosa Police Department! Children 14 and under can bring their bikes and participate in free tune ups, safety info, and a practice course. There will also be prizes for kids who wear their helmets!
AWESOME Entertainment! Windsor Bloco will be performing with their high energy and crowd-pleasing routines. We will have Zumba for everyone to participate in, and speakers from the community will be addressing issues of community and health.
FUN activities for kids! Kaiser's Kids Course, a rock climbing wall, tons of games, face painting, balloons, and even a magician are on the FUN menu!
FREE information and support for families, offered by many community-based organizations.
Come to the Fair - we'll see you there! If you are interested in participating as a provider, please visit our website to download the application and learn more. www.calserves.org/events/chavez.html
Laura Butera, Promise Fellow at Sheppard Elementary
In my younger days, I harbored a particular dislike for that odd breed of human known as child. I abhorred their grubby fingers, their tempestuous dispositions, their brutally honest observations. Aside from the younger brother I so adored, I wanted minimal contact with what I perceived as bizarre creatures. Over time, my view softened considerably, and by my mid-twenties I was interested in working with children in a professional capacity. Enter my service term with CalSERVES, which would forever squelch any lingering misgivings and cynicism towards children.
Oh, how those who knew me as a teenager would be shocked to see how I now spend my days. In the mornings, I engage in competitive rounds of Sight Word Memory Game with my tutee Jerry, who attends meticulously to our score board. At lunch, fawning second-grade girls seek out my table and begin practicing for careers in cosmetology on my hair. In the afternoon, a theatrical and imaginative third grader named Diego shouts “Princess!” and throws his arms around my waist; we waltz. As the after school program reaches full swing, I laugh as Raul, acknowledging our shared fandom, exuberantly cries, “Michael Jackson is legendary! He’s the best of the best!” As I begin my lesson for art specialty, I present the primary-colored ice cubes I have concocted, then embrace the kids’ enthusiastic delight in witnessing this mundane yet somehow dazzling spectacle. At twilight, when the palm trees bordering the school become silhouettes against the indigo sky, I watch homeward-bound children walking with siblings, parents, aunts, and uncles. I smile and bid them goodnight.
Our very own Annette Zucconi, CalSERVES Program Manager, has been recently featured on the Breakfast Club Blog. This is a resource connected with the BOOST After School Conference, and is a collaboration of important contibutors in the world of of After School. You can visit the Breakfast Club Blog, or read her article here.
TAKE COVER, AND BE PREPARED, HERE COMES THE RAIN!
by Annette Zucconi, CalSERVES Program Manager
I had 30 minutes to kill this morning after eating my standard: oatmeal, fruit, and 2 eggs breakfast. While waiting for my 13 year old to get her lunch together, I decided to see if I could catch up with local news. (Side bar: Being that I am a busy mom, wife, and full-time professional, I’ve had to cut some non-essential activities out. Currently, I’m on a media fast, meaning I read and watch VERY little news. I actually find that I’m a much more peaceful person, but I digress. Back to the shocking headline I found as I opened up the front (web) page of our local newspaper, The Press Democrat.)
“Enjoy the dry, albeit chilly weather while it lasts because the storm door is expected to open wide next week, with wet, windy and potentially hazardous weather starting Monday.” (Press Democrat, 12/4/09)
EEEEEEEK! Are my after school line staff ready for rainy days in after school? I have exactly 1 day to prep folks for the glory and bliss of holding students captive indoors from 3pm-6pm, after a full day of school, with the minimal chance of an outdoor recess. Fret not my dedicated youth workers! Mama Sheppard has a plan! (Side bar: I’ve served at all levels of after school, but just prior to my current position as the Program Manager of “whatever comes up”, I was a site director and earned the name Mama Sheppard. First, because I am totally a Mom to anyone more than 13 months younger than I. Secondly, because I shepherd folks in the direction of their own potential. And three, because I was working at Sheppard Accelerated Elementary School at the time. Endnote.)
Here’s the plan:
Wise Up! Please, please, please, be realistic in your expectations of what students can, or should be asked to do, after a day stuck indoors watching skilled contortionists (aka Highly Qualified Teachers) kill themselves implementing the next best thing for closing the achievement gap. It’s a little like going to the Cirque du Soleil; you’re exhausted just watching. So after a day of observing acrobatics from their seats, our sweet youth just may be itching to move their own bodies. So move the furniture, and keep the song “I like to move it, move it” playing in your own head (if not in the room). Because if you have ANY delusions of “Quiet Seatwork” in after school, you’d better get your hands on a bulk size Acetametaphin bottle from Costco, because you WILL go home with a headache. Be realistic, make space for movement = No headaches.
Bring it! Now is the time for pulling rabbits out of hats, fancy dance moves, and bringing the WOW factor. You have a captive audience, but don’t take it for granted. You MUST pull out all the stops, and bring lesson plans that Rock the casbah, rock the casbah! You know what I mean? We’ve all experienced that Dyn-O-Mite substitute teacher in school, the one that brought that reptile, or instrument, or game activity that was nothing like you’d ever experienced before? Those were brilliant substitutes. They understood the power of NEW and DIFFERENT to create a classroom atmosphere of anticipation, intrigue and 100% engagement? (We all know the value of student engagement …… if we don’t give them something they want to do, they’ll find something that they want to do. And heaven knows, I REALLY don’t want Hugo to choose his own activity, because it usually involves experimenting with devices not originally intended for insertion in your nose, ear or neighbor!) So, heed my advice, when you know that your students have been seat-bound most the day, you must BRING IT!
Collaborate, research and, oh heck, who are we kidding, Steal! Last I checked, the phrase “Three Heads are Better Than One”, was still being overused by my dad’s generation. (Side note: He seems blissfully unaware of toxic pollution, and genetic engineering. Although, you’d think he’d be sensitive to this phrase, considering he remembers those crazy-voyer-pleasing-inhumane “man behind the curtain” experiences at the fair. Again, I digress.) Even though the phrase is out of date, I think it still has some merit when considering the challenges of our vocation. The one thing I learned early was that there IS a limit to my creativity when working alone. But no limit when I reach out to pick others’ brains, exchange ideas, synergize new and cool activities. (Side note: I’ll spare you the detail of how these collaborative efforts transpired in my early 20’s. Suffice it to say, half the games I learned, I couldn’t bring to school on Monday.) So, keep your eyes and ears open, make it a priority to never leave a conversation with a colleague without a new idea to try, and steal all of the tricks you can from teachers and others who are successful in keeping kids engaged.
Eat Healthy: Now, you’ll notice that my breakfast included a serving of whole grain, fresh fruit, and a protein. I highly recommend a diet that includes these items AND lots of fresh veggies. No flour, no sugar, nothing that is more than 2 steps from the earth. Your body was not meant for “pretend” food. So abstain and THRIVE! You’ll surely have energy AFTER 6pm if you fuel yourself with good food.
Resources: Here are some sites & resources for fun Rainy Day activities.
In a large pot over high heat, combine chicken broth, tomato soup, cilantro, garlic and ground black pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
Cool slightly, then puree small batches in a blender.
Return to pot and add avocado. Heat thoroughly.
Ladle into soup bowls and sprinkle with crumbled tortilla chips.
Kate Briggs, Full-time Mentor/Science Specialist at Sheppard Elementary
When I walk across the playground at recess, bathroom key in hand, I suddenly become like the magnet in my most recent science activity. Small children emerge from the darkest corners of the blacktop, hurtling toward me like so many asteroids from last month’s solar system lesson. They cling to my legs, arms, waist; as high as little fingers can reach. I am caught in an eight-armed hug, snared by a rare breed of first grade arachnid.
Wishing I could fly away like the paper airplanes we made back in October while experimenting with flight, I plead for momentary release. Two of my captors refuse and latch themselves to my legs, one sitting on each foot, tiny limbs wound around my calves. Finally, I recruit some second graders to tickle the parasites, and I escape to the momentary relative serenity of the teachers’ bathroom.
Finally relieved, but knowing what danger awaits me outside, I crack the door and cautiously peer out. The coast appears clear. Three steps out and from the corner of my eye all I have time to see is a streak of brown hair and there she is, a firecracker of a first grader, adhered to my thigh.
Amused, I keep walking, unfazed by this new attachment. She stares up at me, contemplates her situation, and delivers the best line of the year. “I’m a magnet! And we are opposite poles! I’m stuck!” Struck, I halt my awkward lope. I taught the magnet lesson to the first graders a good four weeks ago, and here is this six-year-old recalling and correctly applying a detail I’d spent all of five minutes teaching. And she is still stuck to my leg, grinning up at me. I would be jumping for joy if she weren’t enhancing my gravitational pull toward Earth.
Not entirely sure if this is just a lucky guess, I test her knowledge. “Uh oh, but what if I switch my pole? Then we have the same poles! Will we still stick?” This is the fastest I’ve ever had a child detach herself from me. She leaps back, mouth contorted into an anxious smile, eyes wide, searching. Is she correct? Had jumping away been the right magnetic movement? Beaming, I applaud her, already sprinting back to the safety of the CalSERVES cave.
