Hokies for Supper!

Written by Kyle Flack

Part of the National Nutrition Month initiative

Hokies for Supper!  Well… sort of.  Since Virginia Tech Hokie bird meat can’t be found in your local grocery store, the next best thing you can do to show your school spirit at your next meal is to eat Hokie orange! In keeping with EatRight.org’s Eat Right with Color month, in addition to March Madness, I say we show our Hokie sprit with the color orange on our plate!  There are also many health benefits to making orange foods part of your daily diet, benefits that can leave you lean and healthy for the upcoming summer months.  The orange color in foods such as sweet potatoes, carrots, and various varieties of squash comes from beta carotene. Beta carotene has been shown to be a cancer-protecting nutrient through its anti-oxidant effects.  So as the sun gets brighter and summer creeps up on us, you can be assured that your Hokie-colored dish is protecting you from all those the UV rays (at least maybe a little).  In addition, these orange foods are also low in fat, calories, and high in fiber, making them ideal weight-loss foods to shed those winter pounds!  Below is my own pumpkin creation to try, full of nutrients to keep you feeling good and fiber to keep you feeling full!

Kyle’s Hokie Orange Smoothie:

Blend together in a blender the following:

·         ½ 15oz. can of Libby’s pumpkin

·         6-8 skim milk ice cubes (just like ice cubes but made of milk instead of water)

·         1.5 tablespoons of natural peanut butter

·         2 teaspoons of cinnamon

·         .5 teaspoon of cloves

·         Dash of nutmeg

·         Skim milk to thicken as desired 

References

Students in Orange paint. [Photograph] (2005). Retrieved February 17, 2011, from
http://search.creativecommons.org/

Waxman, S., Gross L., Schriber C., Herbert V. (1995). Nutrition and Cancer. In V. Herbert, G.J. Subak-Sharpe (Ed.), Total Nutrition (pp. 486-487). New York: St. Martin’s Griffin

Like this post?  Read more Eat Right With Color posts!