Is your August newsletter ready yet?Every month, we offer our subscribers a newsletter that is full of amazing ideas and resources for the next month. There's even a free white label newsletter that people can alter and distribute as their own. Tons of amazing dietitians and researchers contribute to these newsletters, which are full of recipes, presentation ideas, handouts, and more!Today, I'd like to share some of our top ideas for an August newsletter. Feel free to try them out and let me know what you think! Full articles and handouts for these ideas are available in the Communicating Food for Health member library too.Top August Newsletter Ideas:

• Recipes for the foods of August. August is...
  • Catfish Month
  • Maine Lobster Month
  • Peach Month
  • Sandwich Month
• Discussions of August's monthly themes. August is...
  • Back to School Month
  • Family Meals Month
  • Kids Eat Right Month
• A handout about the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids
• An exploration of the health effects of energy drinks
• An introduction to the Mediterranean diet
• A guide to the pros and cons of various nuts
• A look at the basics of snacking with diabetes
• A handout with recipes for 12 quick meals
• A discussion of mushrooms -- their health benefits, ways to prepare them, etc

In fact, to celebrate the awesomeness of that library, I would like to "crack the vault" and share an article from the Communicating Food for Health August 2014 newsletter. That article is copied in full below.There's also a free handout that you can download -- it's featured at the end of this post.Omega-3s for You and Me

We know that eating seafood high in omega-3 fatty acids is good for our health. Omega-3s can reduce the risk of heart disease by decreasing the risk of abnormal heart beats, decreasing triglyceride levels, slowing down the accumulation of plaque inside blood vessels, and slightly lowering blood pressure (1).

There are three main omega-3 fatty acids: alpha-linolenic (ALA), eicosapentaenoic (EPA), and docosahexaenoic (DHA).

• EPA and DHA are found in fish and seafood and provide the most health benefits.
• Some plants contain ALA, which our body partially converts into EPA.
• DHA is also added to some common foods such as milk, orange juice and eggs (2).

Use these quick, simple and delicious tips to meet the American Heart Association’s recommendation to consume 3.4 ounces of fish high in omega-3s two times per week (1).

• Keep it simple. Squeeze fresh lemon juice on a fish fillet and sprinkle it with a dash of salt and pepper. Then grill, bake, or sauté it!
  • On the grill: Wrap seasoned fish in a foil packet and grill it using indirect heat for about 10 minutes.
  • In the oven: Place seasoned fish on a greased baking pan and bake in a 425-degree oven for about 15 minutes.
  • Quick sauté: Heat 1-2 teaspoons of olive oil, canola oil, or butter in a nonstick skillet. Add the seasoned fish and cook for 1-4 minutes per side, until each side is golden and the fish flakes easily.
• Spice it up. Use your favorite seasoning mix (like lemon pepper or a seafood seasoning blend) to give fish a flavorful kick.
• Make friends with your freezer. Purchase plain frozen fish fillets instead of fresh ones, and stock your freezer with healthful protein that’s ready in minutes. Avoid breaded or fried versions — plain is best.
• Cook carefully. Fish is cooked through and ready to eat when it flakes easily with a fork and the flesh is opaque.

By Lynn Grieger RDN, CDE, CPT, CWC

References

1. Fish and Omega-3 Fatty Acids. American Heart Association. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/NutritionCenter/HealthyDietGoals/Fish-and-Omega-3-Fatty-Acids_UCM_303248_Article.jsp. Reviewed 8-8-13; accessed 11-4-13.
2. Omega-3 Fatty Acids. L. Bellows, M. Bunning and M. MacDonald. Colorado State University Extension. http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09382.html Updated 4-19-13; accessed 11-4-13.

Like what you see? Here's a PDF of the handout!So, what do you think? Is the Communicating Food for Health newsletter a resource that you need?Sign up today for all the best in nutrition education. There's even a 20% discount available to health educators!Of course, if you're looking for more inspiration, there's always Fresh Start Monday, which features a creative health education idea, handout, display, or resource, delivered to your inbox every Monday.