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Some Fun Facts about St. Patrick's Day
St. Patrick's Day is observed on March 17 because that is the feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It is also a worldwide celebration of Irish culture and history.
Green became associated with St. Patrick's Day during the 19th century. Green, in Irish legends, was worn by fairies and immortals, and also by people to encourage their crops to grow.
The very first St. Patrick's Day parade was not in Ireland. It was in Boston in 1737.
In Chicago, on St. Patrick's Day, the rivers are dyed green.
In Seattle, there is a ceremony where a green stripe is painted down the roads.
In Ireland on St. Patrick's Day, people traditionally wear a small bunch of shamrocks on their jackets or caps.
One estimate suggests there are about 10,000 regular three-leaf clovers for every lucky four-leaf clover.
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Did you know... |
March is also Women's History Month! March 8th marked the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day. The first National Women's Day was observed on February 28, 1909 in the United States following a declaration by the Socialist Party of America.
Other countries followed, and the first International Women's Day was celebrated in 1911. International Women's Day is a chance to pay tribute to women throughout the world and is rooted in women's centuries-old struggle to participate in society on an equal footing with men. This day reminds us that, while enormous progress has been made, there is still work to be done before women achieve true parity. GO WOMEN !! |
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Welcome to Fiona's Granola
Happy St. Patrick's Day !
As the saying goes, we are all Irish for a day. Fiona really is Irish, don't ya know. So learn a limerick, bake some shortbread cookies, cook up some corned beef and cabbage, or simply go out and join the festivities. In addition to St. Patty's Day and the coming of Spring (the Equinox falls at 7:21 pm on March 20 this year), March is recognized as National Nutrition Month. To keep up with the green theme, and to recognize the importance of National Nutrition Month, our feature article focuses on how to incorporate nutrient-dense foods into your daily diet. So adopt a nutrition fairie and Go Green!
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Nutrient Dense Foods - What are They?
Nutrient-dense foods supply a significant amount of nutrients for their calories, meaning they have a high nutrient/calorie ratio. Nutrients, in general, consist of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water. Therefore, a food is more nutrient dense when the level of these six categories of nutrients is high in relationship to the number of calories the food contains. A good example of a nutrient-dense food is strawberries. Although one cup of strawberries contains only 150 calories, it also boasts 3.5g fiber, 86mg Vitamin C, and 27mcg folate. Dark-colored fruits and vegetables generally have more nutrients than light-colored fruits and vegetables. The color indicates vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, and the more prevalent those are, the darker the fruit or vegetable. The different colors also indicate different vitamins and minerals. So, go for a wide color palette when you choose your fruits and veggies, as the more colorful your diet, the wider range of vitamins and minerals you are consuming. When you have a choice, go for the darker colors! Of the thousands of different foods our planet provides, 130 edibles have been identified as the World's Healthiest Foods. A complete list of these can be found on the Whole Foods Market website.
Fiona's Strawberry Mango Quinoa Crunch is a nutritient-dense cereal. Quinoa is a complete protein and is considered the world's most nutritious grain. Strawberries and mangoes are also nutrient dense.
It's easy to incorporate nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables into your daily diet! 
- Go ahead and enjoy that pepperoni, but be sure to add vegetables to your reportoire of pizza toppings. Try broccoli, spinach, bell peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms, and zucchini.
- Get saucy with fruit: puree berries, mangos, or peaches to use as a sauce on grilled or broiled seafood and poultry, or on pancakes, French toast, and waffles.
- Mix up a breakfast smoothie made with yogurt, frozen berries, and a banana.
- Try crunchy vegetables instead of chips with your favorite dip or salad dressing.
- Add color to salads with carrots, grape tomatoes, spinach leaves, and bell peppers.
- Add grated or chopped vegetables such as zucchini, spinach, mushrooms, and carrots to lasagna, meat loaf, mashed potatoes, pasta sauce, and rice dishes.
- Make a habit of adding fresh fruit to your cereals and yogurt.
- Make your main dish a salad of dark, leafy greens and other colorful vegetables. Add chickpeas, edamame, tofu, chicken, or fish as the protein. Top with an avocado-based dressing.
- Fill your fridge with freshly washed raw vegetables and fruits that are ready to eat. This is nature's "fast food."
Information extracted from various sources, including www.eatright.org, and Whole Foods. Check out Fiona's creations at at www.fionasgranola.com. They are nutritious and delicious, and will make you feel ambitious! |
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St. Patrick's Day Salad
Try this zesty salad for your St. Patty's Day feast!
Salad: 2 cups mixed salad greens 1 cup thinly sliced Napa cabbage 1/2 cup grape or cherry tomatoes, halved 1/4 cup thinly sliced onions 1/4 cup green grapes 1/2 cup Fiona's Walnuts a L' Orange  Dressing: 1/4 cup olive oil 1 tsp. balsamic vinegar 1 tsp. rice vinegar Salt and pepper to taste Rosemary, oregano, or other herbs to taste To prepare dressing, combine all ingredients, stirring well with a whisk. The dressing can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator. To prepare the salad, combine the greens, cabbage, tomatoes, grapes, and onions in a large bowl. Toss with dressing mixture, and top with walnuts.
Fiona's favorite nut topping for salads: Walnuts a L' Orange |
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