50+ Lifestyles

March is National Month

By Eloise Graham

According to nationaldaycalendar.com, there are at least 25 items that are given National Month status. Here are just a few
reasons to celebrate March.

National Frozen Food Month
Frozen food is convenient and is also healthy. Here are some fun and surprising facts about frozen food:
• Frozen food doesn’t expire! It will not spoil in the freezer, but it may lose flavor and texture.
• It is safe to refreeze food after you have taken it out and placed it in the refrigerator, but again, it may lose flavor.
• Buy frozen fruits and vegetables for a healthy diet. They won’t spoil like they do on the counter or in the fridge.
• Generally, it’s okay to eat items after their expiration date.

National Noodle Month
Many historians believe that the first mention of noodles appears in a book from the third century CE in China during the Eastern Han period. Noodles now come in all shapes and sizes and are consumed world wide. Federal law says that a noodle must contain 5.5% egg solids, or it can’t be classified as a noodle. It is a pasta. In Japan, one is actually encouraged to slurp the noodles. It shows that you enjoyed the meal. National Noodle Month also takes place concurrently with National Flour Month. So explore recipes with noodles,
pastas, breads cakes and cookies! As a side note, March 11th is National Meatball Day, so celebrate that day with some noodles.

National Peanut Month
Humans have been consuming peanuts since around 1400 BCE. In the late 1800s and early 1900s cultivating this legume really took hold. Dr. George Washington Carver is considered the Father of the Peanut. In 1916 he published “How to Grow the Peanut and 105 Ways of Preparing it for Human Consumption.” Peanuts, a member of the Leguminosae family, are relatives of peas and beans. These foods are high in protein and fiber, great for healthy diets.

National Celery Month
This little vegetable adds a crunch to salads but also adds flavor to soups and casseroles. A serving of celery is a mere 16 calories. It is a good source of fiber, potassium and vitamins A and C. It also has anti-inflammatory qualities.
Celebrate this month by trying a new recipe featuring
celery or adding to any soup recipe. You can add to any salad or create dips for dunking celery sticks.

National Sauce Day
This month experiment with the many sauces available. They will liven up, enhance any food. Mustard and ketchup are considered sauces, as well as mayonnaise or barbecue and tartar sauces. Aioli, a sauce made with garlic and olive oil, or remoulade, a spicy sauce often with chopped pickles added, are a couple of zesty sauces. But there are also many sweet sauces. Fruit sauces, such as apple, cherry or pineapple, are often served with ham. Chocolate, caramel, and vanilla sauces are used for desserts. Sauces may be hot or cold depending on what they are being used with. Get saucy this month.

No wonder March is also National Nutrition Month. To read more about good nutrition ideas, read Milestones’ article on page 17.