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When the subject of October comes up, everyone thinks of candy corn and haunted houses, but there’s a lot more going on in October besides Halloween. As we make our way into the heart of autumn, we also observe the following. National Chili Month October is a busy month for the International Chili Society (ICS). With temperatures dropping, it’s the perfect month to celebrate a favorite food that warms the soul and delights the taste buds. If you have a favorite chili recipe, now is the time to put on your chef’s apron, and look for local cook-off events where you can show off your skills. National Popcorn Poppin’ Month Breast Cancer Awareness Month The average American eats about 54 quarts of popcorn a year. It’s Regardless of your age or background, a healthy, affordable and fun food that almost everyone loves. breast cancer has probably touched your Popcorn is harvested in the fall. Sales and consumption of the life in some way. It is the second exploding kernels increase as people spend more time indoors, so leading cause of death in women, October is the perfect time to sing popcorn’s praises. You can but early detection can save many celebrate Popcorn Poppin’ Month with fun popcorn recipes and crafts, lives. The National Breast Cancer or just settle down with a giant tub to watch your favorite movie. Foundation holds fundraising National Arts and Humanities Month events in October to help provide By October, summer’s sun and fun has faded away, but the mammograms for women in need. presence of art and culture is all around you, just waiting to be Contact your local chapter to discovered. To celebrate National Arts and Humanities Month, buy participate. tickets to a play, see a concert, visit an art museum or have dinner Domestic Violence Awareness Month at an ethnic restaurant you’ve never visited before. You can even Domestic violence is a serious issue that should receive attention try your own hand at art by taking classes or just using the fall all year long. It results in untold suffering, physical disability, colors and falling leaves as inspiration. mental illness and often death. October became Domestic National Sarcasm Awareness Month Violence Awareness Month in 1995 when the Family Violence In recent years, sarcasm has been elevated to an art form. It’s been Prevention Fund, the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence celebrated in television shows like House, M.D. and made famous and other organizations joined forces to combat the problem and by the likes of cute and surly Internet sensation Grumpy Cat. You raise awareness. To make a difference in the lives of domestic don’t have to work very hard to celebrate National Sarcasm abuse victims, contact your local advocacy groups for volunteer Awareness Month. Just say whatever you’re really thinking. If opportunities. you’re lucky, your picture might end up on a can of cat food. The beginning of fall evokes nostalgic images of warm, glowing colors, softly falling leaves and cool, refreshing breezes. It’s a time when nature almost seems to celebrate itself, and as the landscape paints its selfportrait in golden and red hues, communities come together to celebrate the changing of the seasons and the annual fall harvest. Traditional Fall Harvest Festivals Before agriculture became highly commercialized, farmers and their families would gather together in the early days of fall to dance, play games, enjoy music and feast on the fruits of their labors. Crops associated with a bountiful fall harvest include apples, grapes, pumpkins, cranberries, pecans and corn. Early festivals often featured extravagant potluck buffets that included favorite dishes made from fall’s best offerings such as pumpkin pie, roasted corn and Despite the fact that we jump on every new diet bandwagon that makes the headlines, Americans still have the biggest obesity problem in the world. Our constant efforts to lose weight by counting calories just aren’t working. It’s time to stop kidding ourselves. Regimented diets aren’t the answer. It’s time to change the way we eat. Foods that Sabotage Weight Loss Research is uncovering clues as to why our calorie-counting isn’t resulting in sustained weight loss. The types of calories we’re eating are the problem. • When it comes to losing weight, wheat products like bread and refined or processed carbohydrates are lethal enemies. These foods actually encourage overeating, cause carbohydrate cravings and lead to insulin resistance. • Calories from refined sugars including high fructose corn syrup cause completely different metabolic and hormonal effects than those gained by eating healthy foods. In short, sugar turns to fat more easily. • Many Americans consume sodas daily. Most contain high fructose corn syrup and questionable additives, but diet sodas with artificial sweeteners are not healthy alternatives. One recent study revealed that artificially sweetened sodas may actually hinder the body’s ability to regulate appetite and calorie intake. apple cider. Children would build scarecrows and bob for apples. A Must-Have Treat in Your Family’s Fall Schedule Although fewer people harvest their own food in today’s world, fall festivals are still going strong. They provide a perfect opportunity to enjoy the crisp air and beautiful autumn landscape while sharing a great time with family and friends. If you’ve never been to a fall festival, it’s not too late! Harvest festivals offer something for everyone. Adults can savor gourmet foods, local brews and live entertainment. Kids can enjoy corn mazes, hay rides, petting zoos, face-painting, arts and crafts and fun contests. Every region has its own way to make its fall festival unique, especially when it comes to food. Coastal cities may incorporate local seafood. Southern towns often show off their barbecue prowess. Some treats, like caramel apples, are universal fall favorites. How to Find Your Festival Fall harvest festivals usually begin in September or October. If you haven’t heard where or when your local events are taking place, check your newspaper or local online news sites. Schools, churches and charitable organizations may also sponsor fall festivals. While many privately held festivals are organized specifically for children, you may find yourself having more fun at one than you expect. Fall is over before you know it. Be sure to get out and enjoy the natural beauty, fantastic food and fun festivities before winter’s icy grip returns. • A woman is like a tea bag. You never know how strong she is until you put her in hot water. • The biggest lie I tell myself is “I don’t need to write that down, I’ll remember it.” • Being someone’s first love may be great, but to be their last is beyond perfect. • If plan A fails, remember that you have 25 letters left. • I never run with scissors. Those last two words were unnecessary. • Optimist; someone who figures that taking a step backward after taking a step forward is not a disaster, it’s a cha-cha. ~ Robert Brault • Who says nothing is impossible. I’ve been doing nothing for years. • Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad. • Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience. ~ Mark Twain • My room is not messy; it is an obstacle course designed to keep me fit. The views expressed herein are not necessarily those of Lighthouse Publishing, LLC. Lighthouse Publishing, LLC assumes no responsibility for any articles or materials published herein or for any loss or personal injury arising out of the publication of such articles or materials. Questions? Comments? E-mail us at [email protected]. • Margarine was once thought to be a healthy alternative to butter. In reality, it contains high levels of unhealthy trans fat, which can increase blood insulin levels. • Fast foods have become a staple of the American diet. They typically consist of refined, processed wheat products and poor quality meats with few vegetable and fruits and little or no fiber. Add a soda, and they are a virtual recipe for altered metabolism, food addiction and weight gain. Healthy Choices Bring Big Results Thankfully, nature has provided us with foods that actually help us lose weight and normalize our metabolism. • Fresh fruits and vegetables provide fiber and nutrients our bodies need but don’t get from a typical Western diet. They’re also more filling, and they don’t lead to harmful blood sugar and insulin spikes. If we choose organic produce, we can avoid the effects of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. • Healthy protein choices, such as organic meats and eggs, decrease hunger naturally without altering metabolism. • Healthy fats such as butter, coconut oil and olive oil satiate our appetites, and help us absorb nutrients from our foods. Jump Off the Diet Wagon, and Take Control Human metabolism is a complex subject, and researchers will likely continue to debate it for the foreseeable future. One thing is certain; if the crash diets and quick fixes haven’t worked by now, they never will. Instead, let’s try eating foods that don’t destroy our metabolism. Most pumpkin soup recipes are loaded with cream, but this soup recipe is bold and rich with an unexpected southwest flavor. It’s gluten free, vegan, and a comfort to the soul. • 1 tablespoon avocado oil • 1 large onion, peeled and chopped • 5 cloves of garlic, peeled and chopped • 1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped • 11⁄2 tablespoons ground cumin • 11⁄2 tablespoons dried oregano • 11⁄2 teaspoons salt • 8 cups vegetable stock • 29 ounce can pure pumpkin puree • 15 ounce can of white beans, drained • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar • 2 tablespoons honey For the Toasted Pepita Topping: • 1⁄2 cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds) • Ground cayenne pepper • Salt Place a large sauce pot over medium-high heat. Add the oil, onion, garlic and jalapenos. Saute for 3-5 minutes until soft. Stir in the cumin, oregano and salt. Saute another 2 minutes. Add the stock, pumpkin puree and beans to the pot. Simmer for 20 minutes, uncovered. Then add the vinegar and honey and simmer another 3-5 minutes. Use an immersion blender to puree the soup until smooth. *You can also use a regular blender, but be careful! Open the vent in the lid and place a towel over it to protect from hot splashing liquid. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Spread the pepitas out on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with a dash or two of cayenne pepper and a little salt. Toast for 3-4 minutes. Serve the soup warm, sprinkled with toasted pepitas.