Red Rabbit Blog
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Help a Farmer, Save the Earth – Eat Local!
Red Rabbit in MyBlog on May 17, 2013
Tagged in: Red Rabbit, Local Produce, Local, GROW NYC, Farmer's Market, Farm Fresh, Dirty Dozen, CSA, Clean 15
If you have never been to a farmer’s market or thought about buying local produce, springtime is a great time to start! Many fruits and vegetables are at their peak, which means they are at their most delicious! In addition, buying local means that you get the produce closer to harvest time – making them more nutritious.Many people think that buying locally grown food is more expensive than buying at a grocery store, when in fact you can save money both directly and indirectly! Here’s how: by selling locally, the farmer avoids incurring the cost of distribution, as well as avoiding wholesale and broker mark-ups. In turn, they can pass those savings on to you.
Indirectly, you are positively impacting the carbon footprint of that distribution model. For example, trucking your lettuce from the West Coast to your New York-based food store has a far more negative impact on the environment than buying directly from a farmer in the tri-state area. This ultimately saves energy, fuel, labor and transportation costs.
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What is the Deal with Gluten Free?
Red Rabbit in MyBlog on May 10, 2013
Tagged in: Red Rabbit, NYC, Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity, New York, NCGS, gluten free, food allergy safety, food allergies, Children, Celiac Disease
Over the last several years, there has been an invasion in grocery store aisles across America. You may have heard it on the news, or read about it in your daily magazine or newspaper. You’ve probably noticed it on bookshelves, too, at your local bookstore: “gluten-free” is fast becoming as ubiquitous as the “fat-free” stamps of the 1990’s.The rise in popularity of a gluten-free diet has millions of people across the country jumping for joy – and not because it is a weight-loss-miracle cure by any means. For those with Celiac Disease or Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS), the increased availability in gluten-free products translates to a sense of relief, freedom and normalcy.
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that is triggered when gluten - a protein found in wheat, barley and rye - is consumed. The body reacts to gluten as an enemy combatant, and it results in damage to the villi of the small intestine (tiny hair-like projections that absorb nutrients from food). This damage can be chronic and life threatening, causing an increased risk of associated disorders – both nutritional and immune related.
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"Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve."
Red Rabbit in MyBlog on May 03, 2013
Tagged in: SNAP, Red Rabbit, New York, Harlem, Community Supported Agriculture, Community Service, Community Food Projects, Clean UpIdeas of charity and helping our fellow neighbor tend to be more prevalent during the
holidays, but in order to make a real difference it has to be a year round effort! Many of us want to lend a hand in some way, but it can be an overwhelming task to decide how to become a change-agent in our neighborhoods.To assist in making the choice to act, below is a short list of opportunities during the month of May to help you decide how to take the first step and get involved!
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May is the Month to Jump-Start your Health Goals!
Red Rabbit in MyBlog on Apr 26, 2013
Tagged in: workplace exercise, vegetables, Red Rabbit, NYC, New York, Healthy Snacks, Healthy Meals, healthy food, global employee health & fitness month, Get Active, Exercise, Encouraging Healthy Choices, Breakfast
Did you know that May is Global Employee Health and Fitness Month? The goal of this month-long initiative is to encourage people to be fit and embrace a healthy lifestyle in the workplace. Here at Red Rabbit, we believe that the earlier healthy habits are formed, the better; however, it is never too late to start working toward a healthier you!Nearly 25% of our time during any given week is spent at work, and for some of us it is even more. Our daily routines are repetitive; we might skip breakfast, and then sit at our desk for several hours before picking up something fast and unhealthy for lunch and returning to our chairs for the rest of the afternoon. All of this—combined with a few trips to the vending machine down the hall—contributes to a sedentary and unhealthy lifestyle.
In honor of Global Employee Health and Fitness Month, and in hopes of creating lifelong healthy behaviors, here are some tips on how to incorporate healthier habits in and out of the workplace:
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It all Begins with a B(ee)
Red Rabbit in MyBlog on Apr 12, 2013
Tagged in: Save our Bees, Red Rabbit, pollinators, New York, Mother Earth, honey, Fresh Vegetables, Fresh Fruits, flowers, Farmers Markets, Farm Fresh Foods
Spring is the time of year for outdoor sports and recreation, picnicking...and bees! While many of us regard bees with a certain level of apprehension, not everyone always thinks about their contribution to what we put inside our picnic baskets!From watermelon to the milk that we drink, bees play a vital role in our nation’s food supply. One way they do this is in their role transporting pollen from the anthers of a flower to the stigma of another, which enables the growth of seeds. This is the process of pollination.
Bees are not the only “pollinators.” Butterflies also pick up pollen when they stop to take a drink from a flower, and they carry that pollen to their next flower. The wind can also move pollen from plant to plant- but most of what we eat comes from plants that need a little more help than from the wind and butterflies. That’s when bees come in.
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3 Ways to Beat the Heat and the High Sugar Drinks
Red Rabbit in MyBlog on Apr 05, 2013
Tagged in: Sugary Drinks, Red Rabbit, NYC, New York, Hydrated, High-fructose corn syrup, Fruit Smoothie, Fresh Fruits, Childhood Obesity, Bloomberg Ban
While the thermostat outside slowly rises, we all try to soak up the sun and get outside. As our outdoor activity increases, so does our thirst. Now is the perfect time to try out some great alternatives to the sugary drinks that crowd the supermarket shelves.
It can be difficult to decide what to buy when you’re grocery shopping. We have all seen the ads for sugary drinks that claim to quench your thirst, and you may be tempted to reach for the "on sale" jug of brightly colored liquid that appears to be made from fruit juice. Don’t be fooled. Many of these types of drinks are packed with empty calories, artificial flavors and high-fructose corn syrup.
A great alternative to sugary drinks is to make your own delicious and nutritious beverage. Try one of the ideas below to quench your family's thirst in a healthy way!
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A 12 oz can of Cola Can Contain 11 Teaspoons of Sugar....
Red Rabbit in MyBlog on Mar 29, 2013
Tagged in: Sugary Drinks, Red Rabbit, High-fructose corn syrup, Healthy, Harlem, food additives, Childhood Obesity, Bloomberg Ban, artificial dyes, artificial colors, ADHA in kids
The talk about sugary drinks is back in the news again, and with good reason. Many of us have heard the statistic in the news that a 12 oz can of cola can contain 9 to 11 teaspoons of sugar! Go ahead and see for yourself just how much that is. To help you get a better visual - the image to the left is from a middle school science project. It has been posted all over the web as a shining example of why we must Rethink What we Drink. At Red Rabbit we want you to understand at least on a basic level why high sugar content of any kind is not good for your body and what options are available to you. So we are re-posting one of our most popular blogs by our Program Development Director Shari Mermelstein, RD.
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Yes we said Zucchini – and Your Kids Will Love It! Pt 2
Red Rabbit in MyBlog on Mar 22, 2013
Tagged in: zucchini, vegetables, Seasonal, Red Rabbit, NYC, Kids Recipes, Healthy Kids, Harlem, Fun Activities, Fresh Vegetables, Encouraging Healthy Choices, Cooking Labs
Last week we told gave you the recipe for Zucchini Bread. So – now that you know how great it tastes, below are some health facts you may not have known about this yummy vege. Zucchini is packed with some of the key nutrients and minerals our bodies need to stay healthy:
- Manganese: One cup of zucchini contains 19% of the RDA of manganese, which helps the body metabolize proteins and carbohydrates and catalyzes the synthesis of fatty acids and cholesterol.
- Fiber: Zucchini peel is good source of dietary fiber, which can help reduce constipation and may offer some protection against colon cancers. One cup of zucchini contains about 6 grams of fiber.
- Potassium: One cup of Zucchini has 13% of the recommended daily amount of potassium, which is a mineral that, among other things, helps your muscles contract and blunts the effects of sodium to maintain normal blood pressure. Potassium may also reduce the risk of recurrent kidney stones and bone loss with age.
Next time you are out doing your grocery shopping, pick one out to try—and reap the benefits!
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Yes we said Zucchini – and Your Kids Will Love It!
Red Rabbit in MyBlog on Mar 15, 2013
Tagged in: Zucchini Bread, whole grain, Red Rabbit, Recipe, Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids, Harlem, Fun Activities, Fresh Vegetables, Family, Baked Goods, 2013
We have been getting a lot requests to post some of our yummy recipes. So, over the next few weeks we will post a series of some of our favorites -this week Zucchini Bread!Zucchini Bread is a great way to get your family (including the kiddos) to eat this ‘vege’ that is packed with some of the key nutrients and minerals our bodies need to stay well-balanced.
Also called courgette, zucchini has its origin in America. It is available in the market in yellow, light green or dark green color and has a white inner flesh with edible seeds. Zucchini is available year-round but it peaks in summer.
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With Spring Around the Corner - Let’s Go Local!
Red Rabbit in MyBlog on Mar 08, 2013
Tagged in: Spring, Seasonal Produce, Seasonal, Red Rabbit, Produce, Organic, NYC, Local, Healthy Kids, Healthy, Harlem, Farmers Markets, Farm Fresh Foods, Family
Spring is just around the corner! Flowers and trees are beginning to bloom and our winter clothes are ready to be put away. Soon we will begin to see farmer’s markets and produce stands popping up all over the city… and here at Red Rabbit we could not be more excited for seasonal spring produce!
It’s important to try and buy produce that is local and in-season, either at the grocery store or your local farmer’s market. Fruits and vegetables are at their peak nutritional value when they are ripe, but start to lose nutrients and flavor as soon as they are picked or harvested. Produce that travels long distance to markets is picked before it’s naturally ripened, to help it survive the journey. While the produce might gain color and softness on its way to the supermarket, nutritional value will not increase. Once harvested, a fruit or vegetable is as nutritious as its going to get- so that’s the time to eat it!