Among your favorite Thanksgiving treats are a few foods that taste good and can be healthy for your teeth. If you’ve volunteered to bring a side dish to a family Thanksgiving meal or are planning on cooking the whole meal yourself, make sure to include these foods. THE MAIN COURSE: TURKEY There are a lot of nutrients in the foods we eat that help make our teeth stronger, including protein. Luckily, the main course of a traditional Thanksgiving meal is full of it! Protein — when combined with vitamin D and calcium — helps keep our teeth strong, which reduces tooth loss and allows us to chew and talk properly. So enjoy your turkey and know that in addition to being delicious, it’s also improving your smile. THE SIDE DISH: CRANBERRIES Cranberry sauce is a key side dish for Thanksgiving, and it’s also exactly what your smile needs. Cranberries are full of nutrients your body needs to be healthy, including potassium, beta carotene, vitamin A, and vitamin C, just to name a few. However, that’s not all cranberries can do for your teeth. The tart berry’s juice actually has a tendency to reduce plaque in the mouth thanks to proanthocyanidins (a class of nutrients), which prevent bacteria from sticking together. By simply enjoying cranberries with your Thanksgiving meal, you’re fighting harmful bacteria that could damage your teeth. FOODS FOR HAPPY TEETH HEALTHY HOLIDAY CHOICES
THE DESSERT: PUMPKIN PIE Unlike other Thanksgiving favorites like apple pie or pecan pie, pumpkin pie tends to have less sugar and far more nutrients, including vitamin A and calcium. Vitamin A is especially important, as it’s an essential part of strengthening the enamel on our teeth. When eaten in moderation, pumpkin pie can be both a sweet treat and an oral health booster. These are only three of the foods that can help your teeth this Thanksgiving. Before you roll up your sleeves and get started on your feast, check out a few more good-for-teeth foods online and see how many you can incorporate. Cheese tray, anyone?
SIMPLE & SWEET BUTTERNUT SQUASH
DID YOU KNOW THAT NOV. 28 — THE SATURDAY BETWEEN BLACK FRIDAY AND CYBER MONDAY — IS SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY (SBS)? Embrace the festivities by stopping by a local mom-and-pop store! Surprisingly, this holiday was initiated by American Express and cosponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration 5 years later. According to a 2018 SBS Consumer Insights Survey, shoppers bought from independent retailers and restaurants on the day at a record high of $17.8 billion. Let’s continue the tradition, especially in these times! DID YOU KNOW THAT U.S. NAVY SUBMARINES USE XBOX 360 CONTROLLERS TO OPERATE THEIR PERISCOPES? The controls for the equipment were so complicated that it’d take hours to learn the controls — until the Navy switched out the complex helicopter-style control stick for an Xbox controller. Now, it only takes minutes to understand how to use their periscopes. And if the controls break, it certainly won’t cost over $38,000 for a replacement. YOUR MONTHLY NEED-TO-KNOW!
This butternut squash, oven-roasted and caramelized to perfection, could almost pass for dessert. You’d never guess it’s a dish loaded with vitamins and antioxidants!
DIRECTIONS
INGREDIENTS •
1 large butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch cubes
1. Preheat oven to 400 F, placing the two oven racks at the top and bottom of the oven. Then grease two baking sheets. 2. In a large bowl, combine squash cubes, olive oil, maple syrup, salt, and spices. Toss to coat, then spread mixture in a single layer over the baking sheets. 3. Place both pans in the oven and bake 15 minutes. Turn the cubes with a spatula and return them to the oven, swapping them to different racks. Continue baking 10–15 minutes until tender.
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1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 tbsp maple syrup 1 3/4 tsp kosher salt 3/4 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp black pepper 1 tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped
4. Sprinkle with rosemary and serve!
Inspired by WellPlated.com
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