October is National Family Health Month

Know Your Family Health History to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
By the National Diabetes Education Program

Many serious diseases run in families, including diabetes. Talking about health history with your family may make all the difference when it comes to preventing type 2 diabetes. If you have a mother, father, brother or sister with type 2 diabetes, you are at risk.

Although you can’t change your health history, knowing about it can help you work with your health care team to take action on the things you can change. People at risk for type 2 diabetes should take steps to prevent or delay the onset of the disease.

Small steps to prevent type 2 diabetes:

Powerful Red Pepper Spices

Antioxidants are a combination of nutrients and enzymes that are believed to play a role in lowering the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, and more. While taking supplements should be discussed with your doctor, there are a variety of foods and spices you can add to your daily diet that will not only add more flavor but some give you an antioxidant boost.

Ground red peppers are spices said to contain

Ginger has great health benefits

Ginger is a spice with great health benefits. One of the active ingredients in ginger is called gingerol – said to have anti-inflammatory properties. It is said to contain a high amount of antioxidants and is used to help relieve nausea.

Ginger is an extremely versatile root that has a pungent spicy taste. Ground ginger,

Dream Dinners’ Recipe Contest is Back!

Enter to win August 1st through August 31st Some of our best recipe ideas come from our Dream Dinners guests. Citrus Marinated Fish Tacos, Bacon & Bleu London Broil, Simmered Chinese Chicken, Crispy French Onion Chicken and Sonoma Grilled Steaks are just a few of the entrees that have made the cut in our annual recipe contest over the years. Do you have a winning recipe to share? Enter our recipe contest and you could win $500 worth of Dream Dinners! Winners will be chosen from three categories, with a prize for each winner in each category. Plus, we will publish your winning recipe in future Dream Dinners’ menus.

Real Men Cook Contest Winner

And the winner is….. Grill Daddy!

Congratulations Michelle and Zac! Our Facebook fans loved your entry. We hope that you find some additional great grilling items on our menu with your winnings, so Zac can rock the grill with something more than hot dogs. Sorry we can’t help with the juice situation.

Thanks to all who entered and to all who voted! Have a fun and delicious summer out on the grill.

Here was Michelle’s entry for those who missed it:

Real Men Cook Contest

Enter now thru June 25th for a chance to win a month of free dream dinners!

Visit http://facebook.com/dreamdinners

“…but Doc, I don’t add salt to my food!”

It is countless the number of times that I hear this or a similar response from patients when the topics of “low salt” or “heart healthy” diets arise during an office visit. The most common medical disease we associate with high dietary sodium intake is definitely hypertension and its been proven in studies that appropriate sodium restriction can reduce systolic blood pressure readings by an average of almost 11 points over time. So it comes as no surprise that the FDA announced this week that they are considering changing the guidelines and recommendations regarding sodium content in food products.

Every little bit helps – lower the risk of type 2 diabetes

Frequent breaks to stretch and stand may lower the risk of type 2 diabetes for desk workers, couch potatoes and other people who sit for long amounts of time.

Workers who took regular short breaks to do some light activity for an average of only five minutes benefited with lower blood sugar and triglyceride levels, as well as lower body weight and smaller waist size.

The short breaks don’t replace the recommended 30 minutes total of brisk activity every day, but the study suggests that avoiding sitting for long periods of time may help protect against diabetes.

Source: Diabetes Care, April 2008

Get motivated with a little help from your friends

If you want to lose weight or change your eating habits, let your family and friends know what you are doing, and be specific about how they can help you. Let them know how important, as well as how challenging, this is for you, and that you need their help.

People may also be able to support you in other ways.
Here are some ideas:

• Ask them if they would like to join you in changing their eating habits.
• Request that they give you encouragement and praise for sticking to your plan. Not every day, but once in a while.
• Encourage them to send you supportive voice mail, e-mail or text messages.
• Ask your family members to avoid eating dessert in front of you and not to offer you junk food.

Source: Living SMART: Five Essential Skills to Change Your Health Habits Forever, by Joshua C. Klapow, PhD, and Sheri D. Pruitt, PhD, DiaMedica Publications

Dream Dinners & Hersheys partner to provide a delicious dish!

Hotel Hershey Cocoa Chili-Rubbed Chicken with Ranch Sauce

Have we got a treat for you! The warm flavors of cocoa and the mild flavors of chili powder are the base of many Mexican sauces. The chefs at Hershey have created a chocolate lover’s treat for Dream Dinners & Dinners for Life, pairing cocoa and a seasoned rub along with a zesty ranch sauce for our all natural chicken breasts . This dinner is just for you!

Available only on our May Menu. Order yours today!