Rising Sons at Andrew Jackson Elementary

Check out this video with  Cameron Taylor, a PUFFA Youth working with Rising Sons at Andrew Jackson Elementary!  Way to go!!

 

For more information on Rising Sons check out their website http://www.risingsons.org/

Easy Ways Of Exercising In The Comfort Of Your Home!

Some people think that the only way that you can get a good exercise is by just going to the gym and even buying expensive equipment. But there 10 ways that you can exercise in the comfort of your home without spending any money. 

1)      Walking - If the weather is nice, it’s good to get outside and enjoy the scenery around you while you exercise.

2)      Jumping Jacks - These are always fun they are also great cardio exercises, and good for warming up, too.

3)      Pushups – These are good for building up your body muscles.

4)      Leg Lifts - These are great for building up strength and muscles in your legs.

5)      Crunches-The best exercise for building up and strengthening abdominal muscles

6)      Jogging-Jogging is a great exercise for your heart. You can jog in place at home while watching TV or listening to music. The only equipment you will require is a good pair of shoes.

7)      Squats – They are wonderful exercises for your legs. You can even just try these by sitting and standing up again from a regular chair.

8)      Light Weight Lifting – No, you don’t need to go out and buy expensive weights for this! Just use whatever you can find in your house. Start out with something lighter, such as a can of peas, and work yourself up to heavier items. You can use milk jugs, laundry detergent bottles or even water jugs.

9)      Dancing – Dancing is a wonderful exercise, which is great for your heart.

10)  Step Exercises – Using the steps in your home, you can do repetitions which will tone your leg muscles.

These are 10 easy priceless ways to exercise in the comfort of your home without worrying about going to the gym.  

Give some of these a try this week, inside or outside in the sunshine, let us know how you did in the comments!

Beautiful Day? Great Time to Grill Up a Healthy Dinner!

This beautiful weather that we've been having gives you a great opportunity to not only be active outside but to also take advantage of using grilling as a healthy way to cook a great meal!  Try this PUFFA Youth recipe for a sweet and spicy alternative to your average burger.

PUFFA Youth Sweet and Spicy Tofu Alternative

This recipe for Sweet and Spicy Barbecue Tofu has a bit of sugar and orange juice for sweetness, but gets a spicy kick from chili powder and red pepper. Tofu is very healthy, low fat and easy to grill. It works wonders for a vegetarian barbecue and next to vegan options.

Ingredients:

1 pound extra firm tofu, well pressed and sliced into ¾ inch rectangles

¾ cup barbecue sauce

¾ cup brown sugar

1 tsp chili powdered

½  tsp red pepper flakes

¾ cup orange juice

Dash of salt and pepper for taste

Directions:

1. Whisk together the barbecue sauce, sugar, chili powder, pepper and orange juice over medium low heat until well combined, about 3 minutes.

2.  Place the barbecue sauce mixture in a wide flat dish, and place the tofu in the sauce, coating both sides well. Allow to marinate for at least 2 hours.

3.  Grill for 4 or 5 minutes on each side, brushing with additional sauce.

4.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper just before serving.

If you try this, leave us some comments and let us know how it went, or take some pictures and post them on our Facebook Page!

We want to know about your healthy choices :)

Rooted in Community 2012 Winter Leadership Institute

On the behalf of the Philadelphia Urban Food and Fitness Alliance (PUFFA) and The Enterprise Center CDC, last month Tiffany Spraggins attended the 1st Annual Rooted in Community Winter Leadership Institute in Tucson, Arizona. Tiffany led two workshops on “What do youth want?” and “Social Media and Arts,” focusing on perspectives and priorities of youth in the larger food justice movement.

For more information, please contact Tiffany Spraggins at  tspraggins@theenterprisecentercdc.org /215-895-4095.

PUFFA Youth Cooking up Change

In late February, the PUFFA Youth hosted their monthly SALT & PUFFA gathering in South Philly. Youth engaged in a Wii Fitness Challenge—an activity designed for youth to pair up in teams and count their dance steps using a pedometer, while actively participating in the Michael Jackson Experience virtual dance game. West Philly youth won the challenge and took home the grand prize (Nuts to You gift cards).  In addition, the PUFFA youth launched their very own School Food Recipe Contest, as their contribution to Global Youth Service Day in April.

For more information on PUFFA, please contact Tiffany Spraggins at  tspraggins@theenterprisecentercdc.org or by phone 215-895-4095.

Healthy Alternatives

 

Good food is one of life's great pleasures. And for most, meals are at the heart of family life and celebrations. Would you like to make satisfying and healthy meals that help protect your family from heart disease and other health problems? Well here are some healthy recipes for foods that you can celebrate with. 

Instead of salted mixed nuts or candied pecans, serve spiced toasted almonds.

By replacing salt, oil and butter with cayenne pepper and thyme, you trim added fat. This recipe for spiced toasted almonds also delivers cancer-fighting vitamin E, as well as magnesium and fiber.

Instead of fruitcake, serve angel food cake topped with fresh berries.

Fruitcake is loaded with calories from fat. But angel food cake is generally fat-free. Topping it with fresh berries provides fruitcake’s one nutritional perk--he fruit--without the butter. Plus, the fiber, vitamin C and elegiac acid in the compote’s berries may help prevent cancer.

Instead of melted cheese dip, serve chunky cranberry dip.

Melted cheese dip packs on the fat and calories. Get more seasonal flavor and less fat in this lower-calorie Chunky cranberry dip. Added bonus: The fiber in the cranberries helps fight cancer.

Red Velvlet Cupcakes

Some people might think that desserts are unhealthy, but there are recipes for your favorite desserts that can take the unhealthy ingredients out and replace them with healthy ingredients. For Example, many people like to eat cupcakes and you think that they make you fat or that they are unhealthy but I’m going to show you the recipes for the unhealthy and healthy.

UNHEALTHY RED VEVLET CUPCAKE RECIPIE:

• 2 1/2  cups all purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup baking cocoa (powdered)
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 sticks butter at room temperature
• 5 large eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon red food coloring

HEALTHY RED VEVLET CUPCAKE RECIPIE:

·         1 1/2 cup all purpose flour

·         1/2 tsp salt

·         2 tbsp dark cocoa powder

·         1 cup light brown sugar

·         1/4 cup butter

·         1 egg

·         2 tbsp water

·         1 tsp vanilla extract

·         1 tsp red food coloring

·         1/2 cup fat free milk

·         1 tsp white distilled vinegar

·         1 tsp baking soda

As you can see the ingredients are basically the same but instead of all the unhealthy fat things there are other ways to have a good dessert without worrying about gaining weight. Also it is more about portions; don’t over eat anything no matter what it is healthy or unhealthy, because having portion control is the main thing you need to have while eating.

Healthy and Happy Habits

  

If you want to drink juice always look at how much real fruit is in there. Eat a carrot so you can have 20/20 vision. If you like playing video games play one that moves you around like dance central.

Try to exercise after meal, because when you sit down and do nothing you gain weight. Always eat food moderation. The chicken leg shouldn’t be bigger than your fist. You should walk at least 15 minutes a day.  Do you like fruit snacks? get the ones made with real fruit. A kiwi a day keeps the hospital away.