Red Rabbit Blog
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Everything in Moderation...Including Frozen Yogurt
Red Rabbit in MyBlog on May 31, 2013
Tagged in: Yo-Way, TCBY, Red Rabbit, Pinkberry, ice cream, Harlem, frozen yogurt, Fresh Fruits, eating in moderation
With summer just around the corner, and hot weather headed our way, many of us opt for frozen yogurt instead of ice cream for a “healthy” refreshing snack. “Fro-Yo” is sweeping the nation with big names like Pinkberry, Yo-Way, and TCBY, but is this fad really the healthiest choice? With delicious toppings and dozens of “make it your way” restaurants sweeping the nation, who can say “No” to this refreshing treat on a hot summer day?As it turns out, eating frozen yogurt over ice cream, doesn’t offer much in the way of benefits. In a cup-to-cup comparison, frozen yogurt and ice cream are more similar than different. In an attempt to “eat healthier” many of us opt for frozen yogurt but what we don’t know can hurt us, or at least our waistlines. For example, did you know that “original” frozen yogurt has 30-35 calories per ounce with about 20g of sugar—so, that 16-ounce cup weighs in at 380 calories and 76g of sugar… before adding any toppings.
At Red Rabbit, part of our mission is to empower you with information so you can make healthier choices. Below are our tips to help you and your family enjoy a tasty, frozen treat, without overloading on extra sugar and calories:
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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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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!
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National School Breakfast Week!
Red Rabbit in MyBlog on Mar 01, 2013
Tagged in: Schools, Red Rabbit, NYC, National School Breakfast Week, Morning Meal, healthy breakfast, Harlem, Farm Fresh Foods, Family
This Monday, March 4th, kicks off the first day of National School Breakfast Week! The weeklong celebration brings light to the important relationship between the morning meal and positive results in the classroom. This year’s theme is “Be a Star with School Breakfast”, and emphasizes the benefits of eating a healthy breakfast every day at school. At Red Rabbit we couldn’t agree more! Breakfast is the most important meal of the day; it kicks our bodies into high gear and prepares us for a productive day. For active school children, it is especially important to create a habit of eating breakfast.
National School Breakfast Week highlights the wonders that breakfast can have on the attention span and focus level of children in school. Studies show that students who eat a morning meal everyday have higher learning retention and better test scores than those that don’t eat breakfast daily. Whether it means sitting down for some whole wheat pancakes or grabbing yogurt and a piece of fruit on the way out the door, it’s important to always find a way to squeeze in time for breakfast.
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Warm Up the Winter - Get Active!
Red Rabbit in MyBlog on Feb 22, 2013
Tagged in: Winter, Red Rabbit, NYC, Indoor Exercise, hi-performing kids, Healthy Kids, Harlem, Get Active, Family Fun, Exercise, 60 minutes of play
Spring may be just around the corner, but the cold weather is still here! With the winter weather hindering the time that we spend outdoors, it’s important to remember to still get the family up and active with physical activity. When it comes to kids, they need at least 60 minutes of active play per day to keep their body growing at a healthy rate. City living in the middle of winter can make it challenging that our children are getting enough active exercise, so get creative and use some imagination!
Here are some fun activities to get the family off the couch and energized:
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Chose Seasonal Produce - Our Top Winter Harvest Pick Part 2
Red Rabbit in MyBlog on Feb 15, 2013
Tagged in: Winter Produce, vegetables, Seasonal Produce, Red Rabbit, NYC, Kids, Healthy Meals, Harlem, Fruit, Family
To ensure everyone in your household is receiving the freshest selection of produce this winter and the right balance of nutrients chose to shop in-season. Just because it’s cold outside doesn't mean that there aren't plenty of delicious fruits and vegetables still available. With advances in farming, new methods are used to extend the growing and storing season of some of our favorite cold weather crops. Keeping your kitchen stocked with fresh produce encourages the family to reach for a piece of fruit or some veggies next time they’re hungry. Remember step one in encouraging your family to act more fruits and vegetables is to get them on the plate!
Earlier in the season we gave you some of our top winter produce picks… and now we've got more! Selecting in-season produce is a great way to provide your family with the best of what’s around! Check out some more of our favorites…
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The Valentine’s Day Secret Weapon… Dark Chocolate!
Red Rabbit in MyBlog on Feb 11, 2013
Tagged in: Vantine's Day, Valentine, Red Rabbit, NYC, New York, Kids, High Blood Pressure, Healthy, Harlem, Family, dark chocolate, Cupid, Antioxidents
Cupid is in the air, and we suddenly are finding ourselves thinking about hearts, flowers, and the people we love. Celebrate Valentine’s Day with the ones you love by preparing healthy treats that that they’ll adore. This year, your Valentine’s Day secret weapon is dark chocolate!Dark Chocolate is not only a great sweet, but contains strong antioxidants that destroy free radicals in the body, protecting against ailments such as heart disease. It can also –in moderation– help to regulate high blood pressure. To be considered dark chocolate, the cocoa level must be 50-60% or greater. Using dark chocolate you’ll get the full bodied sweet taste you love, while still sticking to the healthier side.