Term papers!

If you're a foodie residing in either Connecticut or New York City, you'll absolutely L-O-V-E what's in store!  Fresh, local, sustainable foods are abound from September 26 through October 11, 2010 as chefs include local flavors in their deliciously prepared meals. 

In Connecticut, 85+ food establishments will take part in this first-ever Farm-To-Chef Celebration Week through October 6th (note: the NYC event goes through October 11th).  The 'golden rule' for this week is that each participating venue must include at least four items on the menu that showcase CT grown ingredients.  Truly this is a celebration of our local farmers who produce some of the best foods on Earth!

While I am not a vegetarian, one of my favorite local restaurants is purely plant based.   Bloodroot Vegetarian Restaurant, located in Bridgeport, is now celebrating their 33rd year (WOW!) and will feature several different cheeses from area farms as well as local potatoes, eggplant, and apples.  

My pals Glen Collelo and Lisa Storch of Catch A Healthy Habit in Fairfield are always using the fresh, local and seasonal ingredients in their raw food preparation.  As usual, they'll be serving up their mouth watering shakes and I bet their 'Boston Lettuce Salad' which features local beets from Fort Hill Farm, cashew "cheese", candied pecans, and a honey mustard dressing will be a hit!  Oh, and don't leave without dessert….Apple Pie Ice Cream!

If you're not as adventurous, go ahead and download this 64-page PDF which will introduce you to all the menus being offered and start planning out your week!  I was impressed to see that Fairfield University is even getting involved with an extensive local menu through Dining Services.  

New York City residents are now celebrating their 2nd annual Eat, Drink Local Week and this will go on for a full 11 days.  Theirs is a bit different as they are focused on getting to know the local farmers, markets, and artisan food makers.  

They've got a lot up their sleeves including: special locavore (that's someone who eats only foods within a certain radius of where they live) meals and deals; ingredients of the day; a vegetable and wine auction at Sotheby's Auction House and Wolffer Estate Vineyards respectively; a food film fest; an edible gardens exhibit at the New York Botanical Gardens; and so much more! 

The Edible Guide , resource for this celebration, will  point you in the right direction in terms of where to eat out.  And, if you'd rather just partake in some of the fun special events that I mentioned above, take a look at the full list and mark your calendar as it's going to be a jam-packed few weeks for food, food, food!

I love being introduced to new and good restaurants so please share your finds whether you decide to journey through the rolling hills of Connecticut or trek along the pavement in New York City in search of quality ingredients and fare.  Happy Healthy Eating!

In Health,

Alison Held, M.S.
Clinical Nutritionist

Over the summer I attended a wonderful outdoor patio party overlooking the Long Island Sound.  It was hosted by my dear friend and business colleague, Dr. Brett Denkin.  He sure knows how to throw a fun party!  While there, I had the pleasure of running into my friend Jamie.  We caught up on work and then transitioned our conversation to the beautiful potluck food before us.  This is when the topic of cinnamon and honey took hold!

Being a life long foodie, I've always known that both cinnamon and honey have therapeutic properties.  In the nutrition world, cinnamon is a spice known for it's ability to help balance blood sugar.  While honey, especially if locally sourced, can help with anything from allergies to acne.  

As I was leaving the party, Jamie said, "I'll send you that email…"  Sure enough, when I checked my inbox the following morning an email about cinnamon and honey was right there waiting for me to read.  "Maybe cinnamon and honey will take care of everything!" was Jamie's perfect response to a health complaint I had shared with her the previous evening.  

Below I summarize some of the contents from her email.  While the email (which was not Jamie's but one that had been forwarded to her) seemed to promise to "cure" one's ailments, I take a different stance*.  Try the remedies only if they sound doable and see how you do.  Too much of anything is not always a good thing…. however, it doesn't hurt to experiment & report back to us on your learnings*.  Remember, your body knows best!

Honey Tips!

Honey is the only food on the planet that will not spoil or rot.  It will do what some call turning to sugar.  In reality honey is always honey.  However, when left in a cool dark place for a long time it will,l "crystallize."  When this happens loosen the lid, boil some water, and sit the honey container in hot water, off the heat and let it liquefy.  It is then as good as it ever was.  Never boil honey or put it in the microwave.  To do so will kill the beneficial enzymes in the honey.

Possible Medicinal Uses for Cinnamon and Honey!*

Consider taking honey and cinnamon together to help relieve stomach upset & gas.

Sprinkle cinnamon powder on 2 TB of honey before food.  It may relieve acidity, helping you to better digest heavier meals.

Be youthful and try some tea with honey and cinnamon powder!  Some scientists claim that if one consumes 3-4 cups per day, your life span will increase!!!

Got pimples?  Try 3 TB of honey and one Tsp of cinnamon powder paste.  Apply the paste to your pimples before sleeping and wash upon rising with warm water.  It is suggested to use this remedy daily for two weeks to remove your pimples from the root.

Gargle your way to good breath.  Mix 1 tsp of honey and cinnamon powder with hot water and see if your breath stays fresh throughout the day.

Strengthen your immunity with daily consumption of small amounts of honey (make sure it's raw and unprocessed) and cinnamon as they could, according the email, help protect the body from bacteria and viral attacks.  

Experiment & Be Kind.

Remember, what is one person's healing agent could be another's poison.  Go slow and report back on your experimentation findings.  Be sure to buy your honey from a local farmer and make sure the honey has not been heated at high temperatures.  Next week I will be visiting Sherwood Farm in Easton, CT and picking up a jar of theirs (called Sal and Tom's Easton Honey).  One of my nutrition clients used their honey (along with love, good food, rest, etc) to help remedy her child's weakened immune system and she was floored by the positive results!

In Health, 

Alison Held, M.S.
Clinical Nutritionist