FALL: A GREAT TIME FOR FAMILY TIME
NORTHWEST CORNER PREVENTION NETWORK
November/December, 2013
Make Mealtime a Family Time
Make family meals enjoyable
From ChooseMyPlate.gov
Family meals allow your preschooler to focus on the task of
eating and gives you a chance to
model good behaviors.
It takes a little work to bring everyone
together for meals. But it's worth it
and the whole family eats better.
* Start eating meals together as a
family when your kids are young.
This way it becomes a habit.
* Plan when you will eat together as a
family. Write it on your calendar.
* You may not be able to eat together
every day. Try to have family meals
most days of the week.
* Focus on the meal and each
other. Turn off the television. Take
phone calls or texts later.
* Talk about fun and happy things.
* Encourage your child to try foods.
* Involve your child in conversation.
Ask questions like:
- What made you feel really happy
today?
- What did you have to eat at lunch
today?
- What's your favorite veggie? Why?
- Tell me one thing you learned
today.
- What made you laugh today?
* Have your child help you get ready
to eat. Depending on age, your child
may be able to:
- Help set the table
- Turn off the TV
- Pour milk (with help)
- Put down place mats
- Hand out napkins and silverware
- Pick flowers for the table
- Clear & wash the table
November 20 is the Great American Smokeout
Did you know: 20 min. after quitting your heart rate and blood pressure drop, after 12
hours the Carbon Monoxide level in your blood returns to normal, after 1-9 months
coughing and shortness of breath decrease, 1 year after quitting excess coronary heart
disease risk is cut in half, after 5 years the risk of some cancers and stroke is reduced,
and after 10 years lung cancer risk is cut in half . The benefits continue … please see
www.cancer.org for more information or call Sharon Hospital at 860-364-4000 for help.
December is Nat’l Impaired Driving Prevention Month
Both drunk driving and the growing problem of drugged driving is spotlighted. Drugged driving has been overlooked for a number of years, but research shows it may be responsible for more than 20 percent of car
crashes. Visit www.whitehouse.gov or www.sadd.org for more information.
A simple week night Family Time recipe
using store-bought rotisserie chicken
SPICED COUSCOUS AND
ROTISSERIE CHICKEN
Ingredients:
3/4 t ground cinnamon
1 t ground ginger
Salt and pepper
4 medium carrots, thinly sliced
1 c couscous
2 c coarsely shredded rotisserie
Chicken
3 T unsalted butter
1/2 c sliced almonds
1/4 c golden raisins
4 scallions, white and light green parts only,
roughly chopped
1/2 c roughly chopped fresh cilantro, plus
more for topping
Greek yogurt and/or harissa or other hot
sauce, for topping
Directions:
1. Bring 2 1/2 cups water to a boil in medium
saucepan over medium-high heat. Add 1/2
teaspoon cinnamon, the ginger, 1 teaspoon
salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Add the carrots
and cook until crisp-tender, 3 to 4 minutes.
Drain the carrots, reserving the cooking liquid.
2. Put the couscous and chicken in a medium
bowl; pour 1 cup of the hot cooking liquid on
top. Stir, then cover tightly with plastic wrap
and let sit 5 minutes. Fluff the couscous with a
fork.
3. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium
skillet over medium-high heat. Add the almonds, raisins, scallions and the remaining
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon. Cook, stirring, until
the nuts are toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the
cilantro.
4. Divide the couscous and chicken among
bowls. Top with the carrots and more of the
cooking liquid. Sprinkle with the almond mixture and more cilantro. Top with yogurt and/or
harissa.
Per serving: Calories:441 ;Total Fat:20 grams;
Saturated Fat:7 grams; Protein: 28 grams;
Total carbohydrates: 42 grams; Sugar: 0
grams; Fiber: 8 grams; Cholesterol: 91 milli-