Commit to Be Fit Newsletter
April 18th, 2022
15 March 2024/ Issue No. 279
RCES Taste Testing
March's Harvest of the Month is kale! On March 14th, Ms. Mallory Grady and Commit to Be Fit led a taste-testing opportunity during the RCES lunches. Students learned fun facts about kale and sampled a yummy white bean and orzo kale salad! Ms. Grady will return next week to visit the high school.
Want to make this at home? Check out our featured recipe section below.
Featured BrainSTAR Station
Thursday After School Dance
The Headwaters After School Dance class continues to be a hit. The students have been learning line dancing choreography while also enjoying freestyle dance time. Each of the nine girls (not all pictured above) share a mutual love for dance and bring phenomenal energy and personality to every session. It's so wonderful to see them grow through artistic expression. This class is co-taught by Karen from Boom Fitness (Tuesdays) and Holly from C2BF (Thursdays).
Walking Group
Lace up your shoes and join us for Walking Group on Mondays! This group meets at 3:45 pm at the RCES flag pole. Whether you are competing in one of our physical activity challenges or you would like to get a few extra steps in, we would love for you to come out and walk with us! This group is open to the entire community. Tell your friends or bring them with you!
Now that we are in winter, there may be times that school is closed due to weather. Walking Group will not meet when school is not in session. We will email our newsletter subscribers if there is a cancellation. School closures will be announced on the RCPS website as well.
Be Mindful of Your Meat at the Next Cookout
However, the next time you fire up your grill or are at a cookout, do your best to avoid heavily charred or burnt meat. The charring leads to a formation of a compound called Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), which research suggests may increase your risk of certain cancers. PAHs are largely caused by the smoke that is created by the meat's fat dripping onto the flames. Studies show that selecting meat that has a lower fat content can decrease the amount of PAHs. Additionally, scrapping off or removing the charred portion can help to limit your exposure as well. Finally, you are better off opting for a gas grill rather than charcoal one.
I'm certainly not suggesting you give up this oh-so- yummy, warm weather tradition. Like anything else, just be mindful to enjoy in moderation. Although, as someone that loves super burnt hotdogs, I'm going to think twice about selecting the crispiest one.
Sources
Duedahl-Olesen L, Ionas AC. Formation and mitigation of PAHs in barbecued meat - a review. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2022;62(13):3553-3568. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2020.1867056. Epub 2021 Jan 7. PMID: 33412921.
Ghorbani M, Najafi Saleh H, Barjasteh-Askari F, Nasseri S, Davoudi M. The effect of gas versus charcoal open flames on the induction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in cooked meat: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Environ Health Sci Eng. 2020 Apr 10;18(1):345-354. doi: 10.1007/s40201-020-00457-0. PMID: 32399245; PMCID: PMC7203328.
Benefits of Kale
-The RCPS cafeterias feature kale in March as the Virginia Harvest of the Month. The VDOE School Nutrition Program sponsors the Virginia HOM to encourage the consumption of seasonal Virginia-grown vegetables among our youth and families. Kale is versatile and easy to include in meals, whether you like a kale salad, sauteed kale, kale chips, or kale in your favorite smoothie recipe.
Kale is a nutrient-dense leafy green vegetable with numerous health benefits, including:
-Kale is rich in nutrients and packed with essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin B6, manganese, calcium, potassium, and copper.
-Kale is an excellent source of dietary fiber that promotes digestive health while regulating blood sugar levels and contributing to a feeling of fullness.
-The antioxidants in kale combat oxidative stress and reduce inflammation in the body to lower the risk of chronic diseases.
-Kale is good for your heart! The fiber, potassium, and antioxidants in kale contribute to heart health by helping to lower cholesterol levels, regulate blood pressure, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
-Kale provides essential nutrients without contributing a significant amount of calories.
-Kale contains lutein and zeaxanthin, which are beneficial for eye health. These antioxidants may help protect the eyes from age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.
It's important to note that while kale offers numerous health benefits, a well-balanced diet that includes a variety of fruits and vegetables is key to overall health. Can I get a Kale yeah?!
White Bean and Orzo Kale Salad
Want to replicate the yummy taste testing kale salad? Check out a similar recipe from Something Nutritious Blog. To view, CLICK HERE.
Ours was a bit more simplistic and only incorporated kale, orzo, great northern beans, parmesan cheese, olive oil, lemon juice, and salt & pepper.
The winners of this week's FREE salad bar coupon goes to Kelly Estes (RCES) and Lauren Williams (RCHS).
Teacher Resources
RCPS Teachers-- As a friendly reminder, we have a massive database of brain breaks (PreK-12) and movement games/activities with SOL and content integration ideas (PK-5). CLICK HERE to view the Teacher Resource page. If you prefer, the C2BF team would be happy to come to your classroom and lead a brain break, activity, or even a mindful minute. Email c2bf@rappahannockschools.us to schedule a push-in.
Commit to Be Fit is a school sponsored, grant funded program in Rappahannock County, Virginia. Through the generosity of the PATH Foundation, Commit to Be Fit was created to promote a culture of wellness in Rappahannock County Public Schools and the Rappahannock community.