March 2008
Volume 3, Issue 3

In This Issue
 
Momference: Power, Passion & Play
Is Community Supported Agriculture for You?
Food Focus: Brussels Sprouts
Recipe of the Month: Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Five Reasons Why You Are Not Losing Weight
Coming Events
 
Quick Links 
 
Momference Teleconference – Divorce: Power, Passion & Play
Information on Community Supported Agriculture
Community Supported Agriculture in Connecticut
Brussels Sprouts Recipes
Five Reasons Why You Are Not Losing Weight
Healthy Endeavors
 
Greetings! 
 
Do you have spring fever? If you’re anything like me, you’re probably ready to shed heavy winter clothes, spend more time outside and lighten up with your eating. Spring is the perfect time for new beginnings and spring self-renewal – really making a commitment to take care of yourself like never before. What will you do to lighten up and take care of yourself this month?

Read on for information to support you in healthier eating and a more robust lifestyle.

In great health,
Wendy
 
Momference: Power, Passion & Play
 
If you’re going through a separation or divorce or have experienced it before, you won’t want to miss this Momference teleconference on April 9 & 12. Come for the entire two days, including my session, “Healthy Meals With or Without Kids!: Simple Strategies for Optimal Health & Nutrition.”

Why a Momference session on divorce? From the contemplation of separation to well after everything is divided including child custody, every step of divorce is difficult. With topics that range from self esteem to sexuality and financial recovery to co-parenting, your top questions are addressed by experts in a friendly format of a webinar conducted via phone and computer connection with like-minded divorced women with many of the same, “I wondered that myself” questions.

Please join me and other experts for this fantastic two day teleconference. The cost is only $19.95 which includes audio recordings of all the sessions. For more information, click the below and get the whole scoop!
Is Community Supported Agriculture for You?
 
Imagine if you could indulge in locally grown, fresh vegetables throughout the warm weather. And imagine if you could feed your family only the highest quality products that are bursting with flavor and have optimal nutritional value.

In fact, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) makes it possible. CSAs combine the best of both worlds – you have the opportunity to buy the freshest quality produce while also supporting local farmers, guaranteeing them a market for their seasonal produce.

Here’s how it works: after locating a local CSA in the spring, you sign up to receive a weekly “share” of fresh, often organic, produce throughout the harvest season. Unlike what we often purchase at the grocery store that may have been picked weeks ago, CSAs provide a mix of vegetables, herbs and even flowers, so you get produce that’s picked at its peak, loaded with essential vitamins and minerals.

Depending upon the CSA, you either pick it up from the farm, or in some cases, it’s delivered right to your doorstep. Either way, you also have the added benefits of buying produce at a fair price, supporting the local economy and getting more in tune with eating seasonally.

Sound intriguing? Whether you live in Connecticut or elsewhere, now’s the time to learn more about CSAs in your area. Check out the quick link for more information. And if you live in Connecticut, there’s even a listing of local farms that participate in this initiative.

Food Focus: Brussels Sprouts
 
I was in the health food store a few weeks ago and saw a beautiful display of fresh Brussels sprouts. I’ve never been particularly enamored with them, but at the same time, I know that they are full of important nutrients. So instead of completely ignoring them, I decided to be adventurous and give them another try. And good thing I did, they were simply delicious!

A member of the cabbage family, Brussels sprouts often get a bad rap. Sometimes considered bitter or unappealing, these mini-cabbages are nutritional powerhouses. Packed with copious amounts of Vitamins C and K, as well as Vitamin A, folate, and fiber, the benefits can’t be overstated.

Brussels sprouts, like all cruciferous vegetables, play an important role in cancer prevention, helping to detoxify cells. From breast cancer to colon cancer, they contain vital antioxidants to help keep us healthy. In addition, they also contribute to healthy skin, protect against arthritis and aid in heart health.

How do you make Brussels sprouts appealing? Believe it or not, preparing Brussels sprouts is relatively quick and easy. Braising, boiling and roasting are simple techniques to use. Roasting, in particular, brings out the natural flavor and sweetness. Check out the following ultra-simple recipe and give them a try.
 
Recipe of the Month: Roasted Brussels Sprouts
 
I found this recipe on the Food Network website and thought it sounded delicious. I embellished it a bit by drizzling on some pure maple syrup. Brussels sprouts have taken on a whole new meaning for me!

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 35-40minutes

Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds Brussels sprouts
3 tablespoons good quality olive oil
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Cut off the brown ends of the Brussels sprouts and pull off any yellow outer leaves.
3. Mix them in a bowl with the olive oil, maple syrup, salt and pepper.
4. Pour them on a sheet pan and roast for 35 to 40 minutes, until crisp on the outside and tender on the inside.
5. Shake the pan from time to time to brown the sprouts evenly. Sprinkle with more kosher salt and serve immediately.
 
Five Reasons Why You Are Not Losing Weight
 
New Haven area fitness expert Mubarakah Ibrahim discuss five common problems in the battle against the bulge. You may be making these mistakes and sabotaging your weight loss progress without even realizing it. Find out now by visiting www.balanceCT.com
 

Coming Events
 
Wendy Appears on WFSB-3’s “Better Connecticut”
Thursday, March 27, 10-11 am

Wendy will be a guest on “Better Connecticut” on WFSB, Channel 3 on Thursday, March 27 from 10-11 am with hosts Scot Haney and Kara Sundlun. Tune in to see Wendy discussing simple solutions for healthy living!

Care for the Caregiver, Brighton Gardens, Woodbridge, CT
Thursday, March 27, 3:30-4:30 pm

Do you feel burned out from caring for others? Would you like to learn simple strategies to put yourself first on the list instead of last?

Join Renee Baldo, Skin Care and Stress Management Specialist, and I for this complimentary, fun and engaging workshop on self-care. Learn do-it-yourself stress management techniques, how to avoid high-stress foods and simple solutions for enhanced health.

RSVP by calling Ethel Anne Chorney at 203-389-2911. Free and open to the public.

Filed under: Newsletter Archive