U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (ARS) researchers explore how regular protein consumption can ward off disability in older adults.
Read what ARS Office of Communications writer Kathryn Markham has written about it.

• Pancakes
  
• Pudding
  
• Muffins
  
• Smoothie
  
• Soup
  

That's something to delve into! 

Click the link below to dive a bit deeper into these five foods and learn how to incorporate pumpkin into them.

Ever wonder, if there is Good Nutrition what is it? Click below to read Healthline's take on what Good Nutrition is...

A properly stocked pantry is the key to preparing better-for-you meals at home. Having the right ingredients on hand lets you put together tasty meals in a hurry. Build your pantry over time by stocking a variety of the below items.

Balance of oils: canola and olive oil

• Use less expensive olive oil for cooking and more expensive extra-virgin olive oil for salads and finishing a dish. You won’t notice the difference in flavor when cooking with less expensive oil.
  

Variety of vinegars, citrus juices and fresh citrus

• Stock white, red, sherry and balsamic vinegars for salads, sauces and cooking.
  
• Lemons, limes and oranges have great flavor and acid, so they can be used as vinegar substitutes.
  
• Vinegars and citrus’ have unique flavors. Experiment to discover what you and your family like!
  
• Try vinegar on raw onions and garlic to cut the strong flavor but still maintain the powerful benefits.
  

Low-sodium stocks and broths

• These are useful for a soup, sauce or stir-fry base.
  
• Stocks and broths come in beef, chicken and vegetable flavors. Choose the unsalted or low-sodium varieties.
  
• Try stock or broth to thin homemade mashed potatoes instead of butter.
  

Herbs, spices and ethnic items
Herbs and spices add lots of flavor without adding fat. However, they should be used in moderation as they can be high in salt. Try a variety of the below items to add zest to your meals.

• Basil
  
• Cardamom
  
• Cinnamon
  
• Fish sauce
  
• Hoisin sauce
• Hot sauce
• Kosher salt
• Nutmeg
• Oregano
• Parsley
• Pesto
• Sage
• Sea salt
• Soy sauce
• Sriracha sauce
  

Assortment of whole grains
Whole grains are an excellent source of nutrients and fiber. Grains differ in their uses and flavors, so experiment to find the ones you and your family like best.

• 100% whole-grain breads
• 100% whole-grain oatmeal
• Variety of whole-grain, low-sugar cereals
• Brown, white or wild rice
• Brown or white rice pasta
• Whole-wheat pasta or couscous
• Quinoa
• Cellophane noodles or vermicelli
• Barley
• Flaxseed
• Quick cook, traditional or steel-cut oats
• Rice paper
• Wheat berries
• Wheat farro pearls
  

Thanks! to yumPOWER for these tips.

"I never follow recipes—I prefer to just cook with what I have."

• Soups are great dishes to use what you already have on hand and improvise! Almost any vegetable can be thrown into a soup or stew and it will just make the soup taste better.
• Soups and stews can be made to last for many meals. Simply add more water or broth to make more soup.
• Use the cheaper cuts of meats for soups and stews since they become tender when cooked for a long time.
• Soups freeze well. If you make a very large pot and freeze the leftovers, you can defrost them later.
• Add a hearty grain to your soup to make it more filling. Barley, farro, and brown rice hold up well in soups.
• Frozen and canned vegetables are easy additions to soups.
  

Follow the link below to reinvent the your leftovers into a delicious soup and find some enticing recipes.

Prevent foodborne illness during emergencies and disasters.

Check out these Resource Materials from USDA's Food and Nutrition Service.

Pumpkin, chia seeds, cactus, and chocolate - Who knew?!! 

Read the article by Krista Linares, MPH, RDN, from Healthline.

After reading yesterday's post we couldn't help but look at recipes for today's!  Check out these nightshade fruit and vege recipes...

What are nightshade fruits and veggies?
Nightshade fruits and vegetables are a broad group of plants from the Solanaceae family. Nightshade plants contain poisonous alkaloids, one called solanine.
While ingesting nightshade plants can be fatal, fruits and vegetables in this same classification of plant — many of which you’ll find at your local grocery store — are actually safe to eat.
This is because the amount of this toxic compound is lowered to nontoxic levels once the fruits and vegetables ripen. Still, the leaves and berries of the deadly nightshade plant are toxic and shouldn’t be consumed.
Find out exactly which of the nightshades are the most nutritious.

• Tomatoes
• Potatoes
• Bell peppers
• Hot peppers
• Eggplant
• Tomatillos
• Goji berries
• Blueberries

Avocados are in and easy to use in recipes.  Check out these four dishes with several ingredients in common—avocados, chicken, and tortillas. They would make great dinners to spread out over the course of the week.
Click the link below for downloadable recipes and shopping lists

Break out your best loaf pan, because there’s no way you’ll be able to browse through pumpkin recipes and not immediately want to try one. We can’t choose a favorite pumpkin recipe — how can you choose between pumpkin pie, roasted pumpkin seeds and pumpkin soup, all perfect in their own way? But we can easily say pumpkin bread is a classic we never get tired of making. The great thing about it is that it’s easy to enjoy year-round; many of these recipes call for canned pumpkin, so there’s no need to wait until fall. Start with our recipe for The Best Pumpkin Bread. It's perfectly moist, easy to make and not too sweet.
You can toast it and slather with butter or cream cheese, or maybe even try a slice with a drizzle of honey or maple syrup.

The US Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center has designed a cheat sheet for cooking with spices.  And, if you look at their information on a computer you can follow the links they provide to actual recipes to help you make the most of those often unused spices. 

Some people will eat almost anything. But whether it’s pungent cheese, fried spiders or chicken liver, it can take a few tries to develop a taste for something. Fruits and vegetables are no different. Believe it or not, five servings is about equal to two-and-a-half cups. Less than you’d think, right?
Click the button below to check out some great tips for getting creative in the kitchen!

"Sugary drinks taste good and my kids love them."
Some thoughts to consider:

• Sugary beverages are drinks sweetened with added sugars. Some examples include soda, fruit drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, sweetened coffee, or sweetened tea.
• The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend 12 teaspoons of added sugar per day. Some sugary beverages can have as many as 20 teaspoons of added sugar!
• Drinking too many sugary beverages can contribute to health problems, such as tooth decay, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.
• Drinking too many sugary beverages can also spoil our appetite to eat healthy foods.

Practical tips:

• Avoid stocking the fridge with sugar-sweetened beverages. Instead, keep a jug of fresh water in the fridge.
• Add flavor to water with herbs and sliced fruit, such as basil with berries, or mint with lemon and cucumber. 
• Try sparkling water if you like fizzy drinks. 
• Carry a water bottle with you and refill it throughout the day.
• Consider other beverages that contain more nutrients, such as plain milk, milk alternatives, or 100% fruit or vegetable juice.
  

Click the button below, then scroll down to watch an informative video and try related recipes.

Know the three P's: Plan, Purchase and Prepare
Practice these P’s to make tasty, good-for-you meals that are pocketbook friendly.
Plan:

• Plan meals and snacks for the week around a set budget.
• Find quick and easy recipes in the MyKitchen section of yumpower.com.
  
• Include meals that will "stretch" expensive food items (stews, casseroles, stir-fried dishes).
• Make a grocery list.
• Check for sales and coupons in the local paper or online and consider discount stores.

Purchase:

• Buy groceries when you’re not hungry and not too rushed on time.
• Stick to your list and avoid aisles that don’t contain items on your list.
• Buy store brands if cheaper.
• Find and compare unit prices listed on shelves to get the best price.
• Purchase some items in bulk or as family packs which usually cost less.
• Choose fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables and canned vegetables with less salt.
• Pre-cut fruits and vegetables, individual cups of yogurt and instant rice and hot cereal are convenient but usually cost more than those that require a bit more prep time.
• Good low-cost items available all year include: Protein — beans (garbanzo, black, cannellini); vegetables — carrots, greens, potatoes; and fruit — apples, bananas

Prepare:

• Some meal items can be prepared in advance; pre-cook on days when you have time.
  
• Double or triple up on recipes and freeze meal-sized containers of soups and casseroles or divide into individual portions.
• Try a few meatless meals by substituting with beans and peas or try "no-cook" meals like salads.
• Incorporate leftovers into another meal.
• Be creative with fruits and vegetables and use them in different ways during the week.