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Your Compass MONTHLY
NOVEMBER 2019
WHERE DIDYOUR TURKEY COME FROM?
FROM THE DESK OF Ty Wilson Once again, we are finishing up another year: 2019. This year has gone by fast. As I get older, I believe every year is going by faster and faster. As always, we are rolling into the holiday season. At this time, we are told to be grateful and thankful for everything we have. I know there are many people who find this time of year difficult, whether it is due to the loss of a loved one, a dispute with family members, or just feeling alone. Hang in there! Consider finding a way to volunteer and give to others. It can help take your mind off of your life challenges, and who knows? You may find you like it. That said, November is about giving thanks and being thankful for what we have. As long as we are alive and healthy, we have everything. There is always good news. Sometimes you have to look long and hard, but there is always good news. Be thankful for your health, your family, your friends, the roof over your head, the shoes on your feet, and the clothing on your body. We must control what we can control and not worry about the rest. Think positive and be grateful for what you have, no matter what it is.
DO THANKSGIVING DAY LOCAVORE STYLE
On Thanksgiving Day, tables across America creak under the weight of platters of cranberry sauce, green beans, rolls, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, and pumpkin pie. Above it all towers the day’s crown jewel: a steamy turkey, fresh from the oven. As much of an institution as that turkey is, many of the people divvying up the meat on Thanksgiving have no clue where it came from. Home cooks can usually offer a grocery store and brand name, but that’s about it. This blind spot says a lot about the American food system, which often prioritizes convenience and annual earnings over flavor and environmental impact. Over the last few decades, a grassroots movement of chefs, foodies, scientists, animal advocates, and environmentalists has sprung up to convince Americans it’s time to pay attention to where their food comes from—Thanksgiving turkey included. Members call themselves “locavores” and do their best to eat foods grown in their own regions by farmers with transparent practices whom they know by name. Because of this trend, the U.S. has seen a boom in farmers markets over the last 20-plus years, from less than 2,000 in 1994 to nearly 9,000 today. Locavores have myriad reasons for choosing food grown close to home. First, they say local food has better flavor. While conventionally grown tomatoes, for example, are often picked states away and gassed to turn them from green to red, farmers market tomatoes are usually plucked at peak ripeness less than 24 hours before they’re sold. Local food also
-Ty Wilson
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... continued from Cover has more vitamins and minerals. Montclair State University researchers showed that local broccoli, for example, had twice the vitamin C of broccoli shipped in from out of the country. The same holds true for other vegetables, fruits, and proteins. Transporting food a shorter distance also lowers carbon emissions, and local food is more likely to be organic because it doesn’t need to hold up for shipping. That means it’s sprayed with fewer harmful pesticides, and, in the case of meat, includes fewer antibiotics. When you buy something at a farmers market, you know exactly where it’s coming from, and, if you have any questions, just ask the farmer. Finally, buying local supports your town’s economy, keeping your neighbors’ jobs safe. Eating locally means eating seasonally, and that makes Thanksgiving the perfect time to experiment with the locavore lifestyle. Because the usual Thanksgiving menu dates back to Colonial times, the menu is already packed with foods available in the fall, like sweet and russet potatoes, pumpkins, and cranberries.
For a compromise friendlier to your pocketbook, opt for a local, organic bird, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be heritage. It comes with a higher price tag than a conventional gobbler, but included in that price are transparency, peace of mind, and a better planet. Just make sure to contact your farmer early — those tasty local birds go fast!
Green beans are a summer vegetable, but local varieties keep well canned or frozen and can be pulled out for an all-local Thanksgiving. For rolls and pie, source local flour or head to your town’s bakery. You can round out your menu with seasonal produce by searching LocalHarvest.com, a database of local farms and their offerings. That just leaves the day’s centerpiece: the turkey. If you’ve never put much thought into choosing a turkey, then it’s time to talk gobblers. On one end of the spectrum is the conventional turkey, which comes from giant factory farms, and on the other is the local, heritage turkey, which can probably be found pecking at the grass near you. Locavores would advocate for heritage birds (ancient breeds with peak rearing, diet, and flavor) as the gold standard, but any small farm is likely to raise its birds better than the ones that supply the grocery store, which often pack thousands of turkeys into sheds, limit their access to sunlight and soil, overfeed them for quicker slaughter, and regularly inject them with antibiotics. Animals have acted as companions to humankind for thousands of years. They’re a near-constant source of companionship, comfort, and aid. Unfortunately, military animals don’t often get the recognition they deserve. One horse, in particular, was essential to the success of her regiment during the Korean War. Meet Sergeant Reckless. Bought for $250 in 1952 by a U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant at a Seoul racetrack, Sergeant Reckless was trained to carry ammunition for the 5th Marine Regiment. Her name was a play on the “recoilless” rifle ammunition she carried and a nod to the daredevil attitude of the soldiers who used them. Reckless was pivotal for her regiment in more ways than one. As Robin Hutton notes in her book “Sgt. Reckless: America’s War Horse,”“Because horses are ‘herd’ animals, the Marines became her herd. She bonded so deeply with them that Reckless would go anywhere and do anything to help her adopted family.”
THE GREATEST AMERICAN WAR HORSE The Legend of Sergeant Reckless
Sergeant Reckless’ greatest achievement occurred during the final stages of the Battle for Outpost Vegas. During the bloody five-day campaign, Reckless made 51 trips to resupply guns over the course of a single day. By the end of the battle, she had carried 386 rounds of ammunition by walking 35 miles through rice paddies and mountain trails. After dropping off the ammunition, Reckless would then bring wounded soldiers back to safety. Reckless was trained to lie down when under fire and avoid barbed wire, and her ability to do so without needing human command saved many lives during the battle. Reckless would close out her war career with two Purple Hearts and the rank of staff sergeant. She spent the rest of her years at Camp Pendleton in California. To learn more about this legendary mare, be sure to check out “Sgt. Reckless: America’s War Horse” by Robin Hutton.
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Your Mood Tea leaves contain the amino acid L-theanine, which stimulates several feel- good neurotransmitters, like serotonin and gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA). These neurotransmitters help boost your mood and alertness. According to a study by the Huazhong University of Science and Technology in China, tea even has the ability to ward off depression. The study took 22,817 participants with 4,743 cases of depression over 11 studies, and 13 reports found that individuals who drank three cups of tea a day decreased their depression risk by 37%. So, the next time you want a warm beverage that will do your mind and body good, reach for some tea and bask in all the health benefits as you sip. Tea Time WHAT’S SWIRLING AROUND INYOUR CUP?
cholesterol. Studies also link tea consumption with improved vascular reactivity — how well your blood vessels respond to stress.
Tea has been consumed for thousands of years and is the second-most popular drink in the world, with water being the first. It is the national drink of several nations, including China and India, and is an integral component of religious ceremonies the world over. Drinking tea has been known to reduce stress, promote relaxation, and improve sleep. In addition to these instant benefits, tea can also help improve a person’s long-term health through regular consumption. According to Harvard Health Institute, several studies show that those who regularly drink black and green tea are at a lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease. These types of tea contain antioxidants and flavonoids, which are plant chemicals that help dilate arteries and reduce bad Your Heart
Your Brain
Flavonoids don’t only fight heart disease; these chemicals can also reduce any vascular damage to the brain. The National University of Singapore has conducted studies that link reduced risks of dementia in the elderly with regular tea consumption. The results speak for themselves: “The longitudinal study involving 957 Chinese seniors aged 55 years or older has found that regular consumption of tea lowers the risk of cognitive decline in the elderly by 50%, while APOE e4 gene carriers who are genetically at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease may experience a reduction in cognitive impairment risk by as much as 86%.”
Take a Break!
Paleo Stuffing
INGREDIENTS •
2 tbsp ghee or avocado oil
•
1/4 cup flat-leaf parsley, chopped 3 tsp poultry seasoning
• • • • •
3 cups onion, diced 2 cups celery, diced
• • • • •
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup mushroom, diced
1/2 tsp black pepper 2 cups almond flour
1 cup apple, cored and diced 1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped
3 eggs, beaten
DIRECTIONS: 1. Heat an oven to 350 F. 2. In a large cast-iron skillet, heat ghee or avocado oil over medium heat. 3. Add onion, celery, mushrooms, apple, cranberries, parsley, seasoning, salt, and pepper to pan. Sauté for 7 minutes.
4. Remove from heat. Stir in almond flour. Once mixed well, stir in eggs. Transfer to oven and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour. 5. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.
THANKFUL THANKSGIVING TRADITION TURKEY
HARVEST PIE POTATOES STUFFING
AUTUMN BLACK FRIDAY FAMILY GRATEFUL
Inspired by 40Aprons.com
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Inside This Issue From the Desk of Ty PAGE 1 Let’s Talk Turkey PAGE 1 The Legend of Sergeant Reckless PAGE 2 Spilling the Tea on Tea PAGE 3 Paleo Stuffing PAGE 3 Take a Break! PAGE 3 Gratitude-Themed Games for Kids PAGE 4
ENGAGE YOUR KIDS ON THANKSGIVING With These Gratitude-Themed Games Thanksgiving is an excellent time to teach children about gratefulness. By planning some fun, gratitude-themed games, you can impart a valuable lesson and spend some quality family time together. Get your kids in the holiday spirit by adding a Thanksgiving twist to these classic games. Pictionary Want to bring out your kids’ creative sides? Pictionary is the perfect way to encourage artistic expression and grateful thinking. Try adding a rule where players have to draw something they’re grateful for. This will get your kids thinking beyond turkey and stuffing and give them an imaginative way to express their gratitude. Plus, who doesn’t love a good art contest? Guess Who? To play gratitude-themed Guess Who?, have each participant write down their name and something they’re thankful for on a slip of paper and put it in a bowl. Then, at the dinner table, have each person draw a random slip and read what it says without saying the name while everyone else tries to guess who wrote it. While
Pictionary may get your kids talking about what they are thankful for, Guess Who? will tune them into what others around them are thankful for too. Pick-Up Sticks Like regular pick-up sticks, the goal is to remove a stick from a haphazard pile without disturbing the others. However, by using colored sticks that represent different kinds of thankfulness — such as places, people, or food — you can make players think outside the box. This will ensure you get a wide range of creative, thoughtful answers whenever the kids pick up a stick. These modified games are great for helping your kids realize how much they have to be thankful for. Use these to spend some fun, educational, quality time with your family this Thanksgiving.
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