November 2023                         Volume 19 Issue 8

Why do we have Thanksgiving?

The holiday commemorates a harvest festival celebrated by the Pilgrims in 1621, their joy for the harvest and survival after so many deaths during their journey to America. 

Thanksgiving is only one day in November, the 23rd, so save your feasting and festivities for that ONE special day to enjoy the time with family and friends. Thanksgiving is all about giving thanks, to gather in unity, to teach the young about family and traditions and to prepare the heart in gratitude for family, friends and good health.

As we begin to plan our Thanksgiving Day meal, let's not forgot those in our area who are less fortunate. Did you know that the Houston Food Bank is the largest food bank in the United States in size and distribution. They serve a network of more than 1,600 community partners in 18 southeast Texas counties, including food pantries, soup kitchens, meal sites and shelters. They were able to provide access to more than 150 million meals in FY 2022.visit their website: http://www.houstonfoodbank.org

During the holidays, remember to allow time for your regular physical activity, even if you need to cut back on the time; just stay active.



November

American Diabetes Month

National PTA Healthy Lifestyles Month

Oliver Foundation Healthy Choices Grant

Next Deadline April 15, 2024

Apply Now

Teen Advisory Board Guest Speaker



Torrence White, Supervisory Special Agent Crimes Against Children & Human Trafficking Federal Bureau of Investigation – Houston, was the guest speaker at the Oliver Foundation Teen Advisory Board meeting on November 5, 2023.

Special Agent White shared his career path from lettering in football at Clemson University, working with the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, SC 2002 - 2008 and entering the FBI in 2008. Special Agent White has served on the Memphis Cargo Theft Task Force, Attorney General's Protection Detail, FBI Protective Operations and Supervisor of Violent Crime Task Force. In 2017, Torrence White was selected as the Unit Chief of the Critical Incident and Operations Unit which oversaw FBIHQ’s response to terrorist threat attacks, critical incidents and special events. Torrence White arrived in FBI Houston in 2019 where he served as the Supervisory Special Agent over the Violent Crime Task Force and Human Intelligence Collection Squad. Torrence White took over as the Supervisory Special Agent duties of the Child Exploitation & Human Trafficking Task Force in November 2022. 

Dylan Davis, Teen Board Member

St. John's School - Houston, Texas 

Teen Board Member 2022 - Present

Dylan is a junior at St. John's School. She runs the 100 and 200 meter in Track and Field and plays soccer as a forward. Dylan is a member of the Women of Science Club and Science Olympiad. She is an avid reader and loves spending time with her family playing board games.

Thanksgivings SOS: Overeating Risks and Preventions  

We all are looking forward to Thanksgiving. While the Thanksgiving holiday means different things to different people, communally we look toward celebrating family and friends gathering for a meal. Whether it’s cooking together as a family or ordering from your favorite Thanksgiving restaurant, food brings us together this Thanksgiving holiday.

Personally, I’m looking forward to my dad’s homemade stuffing and my grandmother’s homemade bread rolls. As we approach this holiday, I encourage you to enjoy this meal with your family. Surrounded by food most people only eat once a year, it is a common practice to eat all you can at thanksgiving. Most of us pile food on our plates and eat until we are stuffed. There can be a non-communicated responsibility to eat all the food on your plate and be almost uncomfortably full at the end of the day. 

Most people know about the stomachache that greets you after the Thanksgiving meal if you eat too much. People with health concerns are more likely to ignore necessary precautions around the Thanksgiving season. How do you take necessary precautions while still enjoying your Thanksgiving meal? Plan your Thanksgiving plate beforehand. Know healthy proportions of each food you can eat while only putting a few foods on your plate at a time. Be aware of the high amounts of starches and sugars (contained in popular Thanksgiving food) that can increase cholesterol, blood pressure, and water retention. Remember you can always go back for seconds! If you are worried about food running out before you get a chance to go back for seconds (sometimes that happens) store some of your favorite dishes in the refrigerator to eat for later. Before getting a second course, check in with your body. Ask yourself: “Am I still hungry?”. If you aren’t still hungry but still craving that banana pudding or your grandmother’s pecan pie, maybe store some in the fridge for later.

Make sure you take necessary supplements for health concerns before your Thanksgiving meal. When setting out foods make sure you label and communicate any potential allergies and religious restrictions. 

I encourage you to be aware during this Thanksgiving holiday while enjoying a shared meal with your family and friends. Happy Thanksgiving!

Dylan Davis November 2023

References:

https://centerforfamilymedicine.com/general-health/3-dangers-of-overeating-at-thanksgiving/

https://www.drmalladi.com/how-thanksgiving-can-affect-your-body-health/

Teen Board Recipe

Reagan Miller

Co-Event Coordinator

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Bars

Ingredients:

- 3 cups quick oats, divided

- 1 teaspoon baking powder

- 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon

- ½ teaspoon sea salt

- ¾ cup applesauce

- ⅓ cup maple syrup

- 2 Tablespoons ground flaxseed

- 2 Tablespoons coconut oil

- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

- 1 medium apple, chopped (about 1 cup), divided

Instructions:

- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper or spray

with cooking spray and set aside.

- Put 2 cups of the quick oats in a blender or food processor and blend until you’ve created

oat flour.

- Transfer to a large mixing bowl. Add the remaining oats, baking powder, cinnamon and salt

and stir to combine.

- Add applesauce, maple syrup, flaxseed, coconut oil and vanilla and mix well until combined.

- Gently fold in about ¾ cup of the chopped apples.

- Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish. Scatter remaining apple chunks on top,

gently pressing them down.

- Bake for about 25-30 minutes, until the bars are cooked through and a toothpick insured

comes out clean.

- Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before cutting into 8 bars and serving.