Hello May

MAY Birth Flower: Lily of the Valley

As well as honoring Memorial Day and Mother’s Day, May is…
National BBQ and National Hamburger Month National Egg, Strawberry, and Asparagus Month!

The first week of May includes the 23rd Anniversary of National Physical Education and Sports Week and National Egg Salad week (Yummy!).

So how can we do all of these wonderful things in May?

The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (http://www.fitness.gov/) issues the President's Challenge: A program that encourages all Americans to make 'being active' part of their everyday lives.

Each year the National Association for Sport Physical Education (NASPE) develops special integrated activities for teachers and their students to do during National Physical Education and Sport Week, May 1-7. This week is encouraged by parents and educators to help ensure kids are getting daily exercise. In addition to being alert about children's safety, their health can become at risk with extra pounds. All the more reason they need to get regular exercise and play. Since this week is encouraged by parents and educators to help ensure kids are getting daily exercise, why don’t we use this awareness to motivate ourselves to exercise daily as well?

Just as we always want to be mindful of our own personal safety, physical exercise and a healthy diet are solutions to keeping our bodies and minds healthy and strong. It is important for women to do weight-bearing exercises to prevent bone loss and help tone muscles. There is a wide array of fitness activities available including: walking, running, biking, hiking, lifting weights, dancing, yoga, swimming, and many more. Out of all of these activities, biking presents a unique safety challenge.

Biking Safety Tip
Something to bear in mind for biking safety is to use bicycle lights. A headlight and a tail light will make you more visible to motorists.

On a nice day, after your bike ride or exercise walk, pack up a lunch with egg salad sandwiches, strawberries and asparagus and go enjoy a little picnic.

Here is a basic, tasty egg salad recipe:

4-6 Hard-boiled Eggs, peeled and chopped
1-2 TBSP Mayonnaise
1 Celery stalk washed and chopped
2 teaspoons Red, Sweet White, or Green onion finely chopped
1 tiny squeeze of Lemon Juice
Salt (or garlic salt) and Pepper, to taste

Gently mix the eggs, mayonnaise, salt and pepper in a medium-size bowl. Stir in the celery and onion. Taste, and adjust if needed.

Spoon some egg salad on your choice of bread. Add a couple pieces of lettuce, sliced tomato, or avocado if you like.

Better yet, include your mother in all of this if you can and before you know it you are celebrating May to its fullest!!