Happy Thanksgiving Fellow Food-Lovers!

You gonna eats me?

Thanksgiving Day is tomorrow! I’m sure everyone is just as excited as I am, writhing in anticipation over filling your belly with the traditional turkey-day spread---cornbread stuffing, green bean casserole, candied yams, apple and pumpkin pie, perhaps a juicy baked ham… I’m drooling a bit. Just make sure you wear your stretchy pants so there aren’t any embarrassing rips, tears, or flying buttons.

This holiday is about giving thanks for all of the blessings we have in our lives. Let us remember to be thankful that we have a roof over our heads and plenty of food to feed the family. There are, of course, folks out there who struggle to put food on the table and will need help from generous hearts. If you happen to be doing some last minute Thanksgiving grocery shopping, pick up a few items to donate to your local food pantry.

Through a daily newsletter that I receive from the American Dietetic Association (soon to be renamed the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics) I found an article about making healthier donations to the food bank, and I felt compelled to share this information with you. In a previous blog titled “I’m Back, BAYBEE!” I discussed the difficulties of eating healthy on a budget. Processed foods are cheap, but can be high in sodium, fat, and calories. The author of the article made a great point: make sure you donate food items that you would serve to your own family.

Usually when we think of food bank donations, we think of large cardboard boxes filled with random grocery store items, but did you know you can also donate cash? Last year, the Student Dietetic Association at Texas Woman’s University through their annual 5k walk/fun run Pioneer Pace donated nearly $2,000 to the TWU Food Pantry. Monetary donations allow the food pantry to purchase the items that they know are in high demand, or that they need to restock. Every dollar counts and a $10-15 donation can go a long way.

So this Thursday, give thanks for food, family, and football! Oh, and don’t forget to THANK those who prepared the meal because it takes an entire day to cook a dinner that you can devour in less than five minutes. :-)

Here is a link to the article about healthier donation options: USA Today