Today, we celebrate National Chia Day. Chia is a plant that packs a powerful and healthy punch. On this March 23 holiday, we are encouraged to learn all about the health benefits of consuming chia seeds and leaves. And, we are also encouraged to add chia to our daily diet. Consuming up to three tablespoons of seeds a day is enough to boost your energy level while making you healthier. The seeds have very little taste. So, you can add them to practically all of your favorite foods without altering their flavor.

The word “Chia “comes from the Mayan word for “Strength. Classified as Salvia hispanica, it is a member of the mint family. Native to Mexico and Guatemala, these plants are an annual herb that grows three to five feet tall. Mature plants produce an abundance of small blue flowers that yield a large number of small seeds. It is considered a superfood and is among the healthiest food you can eat. Ancient Aztec, Mayan and Mesoamerican tribes first harvested the seed for consumption over 3,500 years ago.  

Did You Know? Chia seeds were once used by Aztecs as a form of currency.

Do you want to eat and live healthier? Have you been thinking about moving to a more plant-based diet? Then, Plant Power Day is the perfect time to begin your journey to a healthier and more vibrant you. The objective of this March 7 holiday is to raise awareness of the many benefits of following a sustainable, eco-friendly vegetarian diet. The benefits affect you, your family and the eco-system. Today, in many parts of the world, our diets include a heavy proportion of meat, fish, and dairy products. As the world’s population continues to grow, the population will outpace the ability of farms to produce animal-based foods. However, plant-based products require less resources, and are better able to meet the growing needs of a hungry world.

Plant Power Day is not intended to advocate a strict vegetarian diet. It does not seek to make us all vegetarians or vegans. Rather, the objectives of this holiday focus on educating us to the benefits of a largely plant based diet. And, it encourages us to move in this direction. Fortunately, we do not have to go “cold turkey”. Rather, we can take baby steps by slowly reducing meat consumption with more and more fruits and vegetables. For example, we can add a salad to a meal and cut back on the size of the meat we serve. Another great way to begin the journey to a plant-based diet, is to declare a “no meat” day once a week. Later, we can increase it to two days each week, then to three. Any step we take is a step in the right direction.

One thing is for certain, Americans love their snacks. Eating foods between meals is what we do. Snacks make us feel good. So, it is only fitting that National Snack Day exists to celebrate and enjoy snacks of all kinds. On this March 4 holiday, we are encouraged to eat junk food all day long. Let’s even have them for our meals. For one day forget about whether or not a snack is healthy for you. Rather, just guiltlessly eat what you want, Then, tomorrow we all can go back to our diets and watch what we eat.

Humans have eaten snacks since the beginning of time. We have been doing so since Adam and Eve snacked on the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. By the way, Adam and Eve probably thought the apple they ate was something healthy and good for them. Surprise, surprise. Over the thousands of years since then, our choice of snacks has evolved from simple and healthy snacks to junk food loaded with fats, salts, sugars, and other less healthy ingredients. Food manufacturers developed a side array of treats to cater to our insatiable desire for tasty snacks. Over time, new snack foods coming on the market have not gotten healthier for us.

We eat snacks all of the time. A little treat helps us get from one meal to the next. They give us an energy boost before, during and after strenuous exercise. A bedtime snack is all but a requirement for a young child. The biggest snack time of all is during the Superbowl when we make everything from wings to salsa and dips, and a wide array of cookies and sweets.

Are your fingers turning a delicious, finger-licking orange? They certainly should be! Today is National Cheese Doodle Day. On this March 5 holiday we celebrate and savor one of America’s favorite snack foods. Without a doubt, Cheese Doodles are our favorite orange snack. While one company holds the trademark and patent, all food manufacturers market their own version of cheese doodles. On this day, we celebrate their existence, and munch down on this finger licking good snack. So, grab a handful of them and chow down. Once you start eating them it’s hard to stop. Now, when you’re done, make sure to lick your fingers clean.

On this fun holiday, you don’t have to limit yourself to just cheese doodles. You can also enjoy cheese balls, cheese curls and cheese puffs. And, aside from the traditional cheese flavor, there are other flavors to enjoy. One thing is certain, every variety you can find is guaranteed to leave you licking your orange fingers. Try them all as you celebrate this holiday.