Holiday Leftovers: Food Safety Tips and Recipes
A holiday meal is a special occasion, usually full of foods we do not eat every day. With a little planning, leftovers or “planned-overs” from the holiday meal can last several meals.
Protein is a key part of a healthy diet, especially as we age. Protein helps maintain muscle mass, which can help keep your body strong. When it comes to protein, beef, chicken, and pork might come to mind. Protein can also come from plant foods, like beans and nuts. Protein is important for growth and repair in the body. While both animal and plant foods are good sources of protein, they have some key differences. Animal protein sources are complete proteins. Most plant protein sources are not. So, what does this mean?
Protein is made of amino acids. Our bodies are unable to make 9 of the amino acids, so we must get them from the foods we eat. These 9 amino acids are called essential amino acids.
These 9 amino acids are called essential amino acids. Complete proteins, like eggs, cheese, fish, chicken, and beef contain all 9 essential amino acids.
Eating a variety of both animal and plant protein foods is good for your diet and your budget. Try mixing up your protein routine with plant proteins. Just remember to pair them with other plant foods, like grains, legumes, and nuts.
A holiday meal is a special occasion, usually full of foods we do not eat every day. With a little planning, leftovers or “planned-overs” from the holiday meal can last several meals.
As the days grow shorter, our need for fresh, nutritious produce continues through the winter. Many late-season vegetables are still available at local grocery stores and through some Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) outlets. You may also have grown and stored your own vegetables for winter consumption.