#Adirondack #Hiking with Harry @CanoeRentals @VisitAdks @adklifemag @saranaclake #GardenCuizine

Adirondack Hiking with Harry
and Artist adventures 

Posting reflections on yet another fabulous summer vacation in the Adirondack Mountains with Harry. Between canoeing and hiking, we packed in lots of physical activity. And, this year we especially enjoyed meeting artists in Saranac Lake.

First things first: We drove to Racquette River Outfitters in Tupper Lake and traded in our very heavy, red, 1993 Old Town canoe for a much lighter, mustard yellow, 16-foot kevlar, Adirondack We-no-nah canoe. After a trial paddle, Harry gracefully fell into the lake (he was okay) - that didn't stop us from buying the new canoe!

The Wenonah was not as stable in the water as our Old Town, but the trade-off for a lighter weight was important to us. We ended up canoeing more this vacation because the canoe was easier to get on and off our car. Thanks Anne and Casi!

almost at Cascade's summit

We got in a few hikes this vacation too. Our first warm-up, fun climb was Baxter Mountain (first photo). The second hike rewarded us with a 360 degree view at the top of Cascade Mountain - said to be one of the easiest Adirondack high peaks to climb (check out my video posted on Instagram). 

Cascade Mountain summit : 4.8 mile round trip : 4,098' elevation : Ascent 1,940'

There were a lot of people on Cascade's trail. Luckily we timed it later in the day and avoided groups and early bird hikers.

Jones Pond, Saranac Lake, NY

Besides hiking and canoeing, we always stop by an Adirondack Farmers Market - this time in Saranac Lakes. This year we also ventured away from the more touristy Lake Placid area and got to know and appreciate artists throughout Saranac Lake. 

Great Blue Heron - Jones Pond, Saranac Lake, NY

Along the scenic roadsides we drove past artists sitting or standing with their easels and painting. We later discovered their works displayed at The Adirondack Plein-Air festival, which we visited in Saranac Lake on our way home. Cynthia Rosen was among the many artists whose work we admired. We liked the texture and colorful art she created using oil paints and a palette knife. The festival attracted artists from around the country.

In Saranac we strolled in and out of galleries. We especially enjoyed meeting and touring Mark Kurtz's photography studio. He has taken many impressive photos for Adirondack Life Magazine. 

La Tartine Mediterranean (hummus, zucchini, peppers) at Left Bank Cafe, Saranac Lake, NY

Another highlight for us was lunch at the Left Bank Cafe. After lunch, we took a stroll around the block to check out a local garden center (...yes, I seem to have a built in honing device to find garden centers in any-town USA!!). And, just before the garden center we spotted an art studio tucked behind lots of pink echinacea and tall, cheery yellow sunflowers.  

We stopped in to browse and met Cris Winters, artist and owner of Art at the Pink House. Cris showed us her studio and the recent fiber creations she was making using botanical leaves and natural dyes on fabric. Click here to visit her blog and learn more about her art.

I'm sure some of you want to hear more about the Adirondack FOOD. We are foodies at home and when we go on vacation, I try not to take too many food photos; but we did take a few and we do have our favorite restaurants. How about you? If you visit the Adirondacks, where do you like to stay and what restaurants do you recommend? We know there is much more to discover.
Photos and blog post Copyright (C)Wind. All rights reserved. 

@InspiraHN SNJ Today Hotline - Are egg whites healthier than yolks? @SNJToday @eatright @EatRight_NJ

SNJ Today Hotline - Diana Wind

Recap of my interview 
with Jim on SNJ Today!

Our nutrition conversation covered everything from adult obesity and Bariatric surgery and obesity-related diseases such as high cholesterol and diabetes. We talked about pediatric obesity, excess sugar and portion distortion. I didn't know in advance what we would be discussing. To view our interview click here or on the link posted above. See below for a recap of my interview with Jim at SNJ Today's studio in South Jersey.

Jim opened our discussion with his personal interest in Inspira's Bariatric Weight Loss Program with the cliche: “You are What You Eat". I added, “You are Where You Eat” since so many of us do eat out. And, food choices are greatly influenced by our environment.

Portion control and selections are key: Some selections are high in calories and sugar and can lead to obesity.

Calories posted in restaurants: Jim asked “Do we have a mandate for that in NJ?” My response was "No". Chain restaurants with over 20 locations have to post their nutrition facts. Many restaurants do have the info available. Just Google the restaurant and look up nutrition facts of their menu items.

Distorted portions today: Larger portions = excess calories and energy.

US Obesity Rates: Jim asked if 2/3’s of people are overweight? Yes, as of 6 years ago more than 2/3's (67%) of people in the US were overweight according to the NIH. That statistic is still nudging higher. As of 2012, 68.5% of Americans are either obese (34.9%) or overweight (33.6%). And, even more concerning is the number of severely obese people, which has quadrupled in the past 30 years according to the Robert Wood Johnson State of Obesity 2014 Report.

Despite a slight improvement, I pointed out that NJ still has one of the highest obesity rates in the nation for low income children ages 2-5. And, I should have mentioned that health outcomes are the worst in the state of NJ in Salem and Cumberland counties.

We touched on the fact that increased diabetes in our nation is a serious concern. And that obesity may lead to diabetes and other diseases, including cancer, according to science. I mentioned my belief in “health at every size”, but acknowledge that statistics show increased diseases linked to obesity. 

Jim asked, "What would be a good 3 meals?" My response was that it depends on the individual. Dietitian recommendations are often centered on MyPlate food groups. Visit ChooseMyPlate.gov for more information about meal planning in both English and Spanish.

Most popular vegetables in the US: #1 Potatoes, #2 Tomatoes, #3 Onions, #4 Head Lettuce, #5 Sweet Corn, #6 Romaine and Leaf Lettuce, #7 Chili Peppers.
 
South Jersey locations for Inspira's outpatient Nutrition Counseling: Bridgeton, Vineland, Elmer and Woodbury.

Foods to lose weight: Eat more vegetables! Salads help. Downfall is that creamy types (Ranch, Thousand Island, etc.) salad dressings can be high in fat and calories. Creamy salad dressings can be used sparingly or thinned with water. Oil and vinaigrette salad dressings are generally healthy.

Jim enjoys Wendy’s berry salad…"~360 calories". He feels it is a good selection. After our interview I looked it up. And, it looks like it's a Wendy's summer special. I didn't see it on their regular menu selections. If I selected the right nutrition facts - it looks like their Summer Berry Chicken Salad has 380 calories (not including any salad dressing) so Jim was pretty accurate. Saturated fat: 3.5g (they don't include percent daily values %DV so it is not so easy for the average person to tell if 3.5g is high or low. It happens to be 18%DV; 20% is considered high). Sodium: 980 mg (without any dressing). The average persons daily sodium recommendations is no more than 2,300 mg/day. 980 mg is very high sodium.

I encouraged Jim and listeners to Read nutrition facts labels for food choices eaten out. Then, you can determine if it is a good selection depending on your needs. Some healthy sounding items can be deceiving.

People in southern NJ get bombarded with fast foods and advertising. Fast food restaurants are more prevalent from Burlington County down into South Jersey. 

We also talked about High Cholesterol: avoiding saturated fatty foods – and that dietary cholesterol is no longer a nutrient of concern according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, but we should still be mindful of not eating excess from saturated fats.
 
Many people still believe egg whites are healthier than yolks… I explained that you “...don’t have to leave out the yolks out anymore”. Yolks provide vitamin D, choline and other important nutrients. There is not enough scientific evidence suggesting that dietary cholesterol increases serum cholesterol according to the panel of experts involved with the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Jim brought up bariatric surgery again and shared that he has tried every diet in the world. Surgery should indeed be a last resort or be medically necessary.

I pointed out that surgery can be a tool for weight loss; dietitians encourage the importance of diet and lifestyle changes in order to keep the weight off. There can be weight regain after any type of bariatric surgery, especially if food preferences are not improved. Post-op support groups can be helpful.

We concluded with a brief discussion of other Inspira Health Network Connections that included The Family Success Center Vineland, which is where my main office is located. 

I encouraged listeners to look on Inspira’s website to learn more about Inspira's programs and any upcoming community events like our Superfood Nutrition Bingo and Healthy Cooking Classes.

1-800-INSPIRA
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Diana Wind's SNJ Today Interview 
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FDA Calorie Labeling on Restaurant Menus
Blog post Copyright (C)Wind. All rights reserved.

Today in Our Summer Garden @birdsblooms #GardenCuizine #butterflies #gardenchat

Today in Our Jersey Summer Garden
August harvest

USDA Zone 7a (formerly zone 6b)

South Jersey caners have been busy canning tomatoes and sauce already. We're about ready to join the fun. Our San Marzano's are beginning to ripen even though they are shaded somewhat beneath passion flower vines.  

Even without the San Marzano's, we finally have enough tomatoes to make our first pot of pasta sauce this weekend! We plan to use some of our heirlooms too: Cherokee Purple and Goldman's. 

Other veggies, herbs, harvests and updates in our garden include:

• Italian Parsley (huge and blooming now too!)
• heirloom Chocolate Cherry tomatoes
• very small, current type, French tomatoes: Leslie's Petit Moineau
• Rutgers Select
• Pattypan Squash - picked one HUGE one so far (shown) - we plan on cooking it tonight
• Oregano (let air dry and store in spice jars)
• no onions this summer!! they were a bust
• didn't see many grapes either this year... have to go look again 
• Cow peas and Franchi Fagiolo Rampicante Anellino giallo climbing yellow French beans are coming along...

Backyard birds and blooms have been spectacular. Hummingbirds are out in force, buzzing about. We have several water sources and native plants that attract lots of wildlife. 

We could use some rain. This morning, chattering catbirds enjoyed cooling off under the garden sprinkler while perching on willow branches.

In our garden, Bronze fennel gets it's own raised bed - just because we like it and so do cool looking caterpillars. They munch on the leaves to provide energy to turn into a chrysalis and then into beautiful butterflies like Black Swallowtails.

Every garden needs a few unusual plants. This summer my favorites have been Fragrant Gladiolas (Peacock Orchid), Passion flower blooms/fruit and blooms on our Peanut Butter shrub in our beloved dog Aspen's memorial garden. The PB shrub has been growing for about 3 years and finally decided to bloom for us this summer!

The PB shrub is really more like a small tree and doesn't look at all like a shrub. I was told the blooms would be a favorite for hummingbirds. And, friends from Dave's Garden were right! I've been watching hummingbirds (and butterflies) loving it. The blooms remind me of an azalea blossom.

Happy Gardening!
Photos and Blog post Copright (C)Wind. All rights reserved.