HIV Tied to Increased Stroke Risk

This past month, the scientific journal Neurology published results suggesting a connection between increased stroke rates and being HIV-positive. The LA Times ran a story, as did many online news sites.

The researchers looked at a national database of stroke patients from 1997 and 2006, differentiating between HIV-positive and HIV-negative.

Overall, the number of HIV-positive patients hospitalized for stroke increased from 43%, while the number for HIV-negative patients actually decreased by 7%.

This marked an increase of a whopping 67% in stroke risk for HIV-positive patients.

This study did have one redeeming fact. It was completed because more and more HIV-positive patients are surviving into old age, which is a testament to the treatments we have today. Older patients are simply more prone to stroke and other cardiovascular accidents.

Yet the researchers also concluded that the increased stroke risk could very well be linked to the treatments itself. HIV treatment therapies could potentially boost risk factors for stroke. And in an ironic twist, these treatments prolong life but also exposure to the virus, leading to "inflammatory effects resulting from long-term infection."

We at Moveable Feast believe it's good to stay informed about the latest HIV news and research. We're also glad to be here for our clients, who often face multiple medical issues.

Reader Recipe: Poached Fish with Swiss Chard

This recipe was sent to us by Kevin Bonds as an entry in our "Let's Dish! & Dine Out" Giftcard Giveaway, currently ongoing. Feel free to send your own favorite recipes or food photos to enter in the Giveaway for the $25 giftcard to Let's Dish! (Giveaway ends Feb. 13th). 

Thanks for your entry, Kevin! 

Original recipe called for salmon, but I had sea bass and it worked great.  I used two fillets (those individually wrapped frozen fillets).  I was able to defrost them quickly in the microwave without cooking them at the same time.  I think I used more wine vinegar than the recipe called for - basically I just mixed the ingredients to taste.

2-4 fish fillets
3 Tablespoons dijon mustard
2 Tablespoons honey
1 Tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 Tablespoon of dried dill
1 small onion, chopped
1/4 cup chicken broth
Swiss chard, chopped into 1 inch chunks.  Use the stems too.  I used 5-6 big stems for my two fillets.

Coat slow cooker with cooking spray.  Arrange fish in it, tucking the thin ends underneath if needed.  Sprinkle with garlic or season salt.

Stir together mustard, honey, vinegar.  Put two Tablespoons in another bowl, and to that add the onion, broth, and dill.  Pour the mixture over the fish.  Save the remainder for later.

Cover; cook on HIGH for 1.5 hours (or low for 3).

During the last 15-20 minutes, add the chard on top of the fish.  It will fill the crock pot, but cooks down.  Cover and continue to cook for 15-20 minutes on high.

Remove the chard and put in a serving bowl.  Toss with the remaining sauce.  Carefully remove the fish and serve, then put the chard beside it.  It would be great with rice, but was a super meal without too. 

iPhone & Breast Cancer

Pretty cool news out of Annapolis - Severna Park. 

Teacher Richard Zmuda at the Severn School has created an iPhone app that compiles and distributes the latest information about breast cancer treatment, research, and initiatives.

Drawing off of his personal experiences with his wife's breast cancer, Zmuda knew that a big obstacle to patients today is easy and clear access to accurate information. So in the 1990s, he began writing an email newsletter that was distributed to a few area hospitals, doctors, and nonprofits. Local doctors praised his newsletter for its accuracy and helpfulness to patients. But he wanted to reach farther.

Now, with an iPhone app whose download costs a one-time fee of just 99 cents, anyone can access Zmuda's newsletters and their wealth of information.

Pretty cool. And now, with the iPhone being offered on the Verizon network, we're hopeful that Zmuda's app will become even more popular. The more you know, the better prepared you are to fight your disease.

Weekly Health Tip: Almonds

Part three of our warming and immune-enhancing foods series; last week, we looked at lentils. 

Nuts have many health benefits, and almonds are a standout even among these star performers. Almonds are high in protein and fiber, low in saturated fat, and rich in Vitamin E, Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), magnesium and manganese. A 4-ounce serving (about 100 nuts) contains only 4 grams of saturated fat. Compare this to a similar portion of cheddar or American cheese, which contains 24 grams of saturated fat. Almonds are a wonderful snack food and go well with apple slices and can also be added chopped to salads to provide crunchiness and protein. Roasting appears to have little impact on nutrient content--but eating almonds with the skin may enhance their antioxidant value and reduce oxidized LDL cholesterol, which is associated with heart disease. For immune compromised individuals, roasted almonds may be a bit safer, as there have been rare reports of salmonella in raw almonds.

Special note: Our team of registered dietitians works hard to provide each client with life-saving nutritional counseling, and then uses that information to tailor meals to the client's dietary and medical needs. Each week, they also provide the Weekly Health Tip that you enjoy. Support our dietitians and Team Diet Tribe in their Botanical Interests Seed Fundraiser.

Diet Tribe Seed Fundraiser

(click here to read the original blog post on the Ride For The Feast blog)

Team Diet Tribe, one of our Ride for the Feast teams, will be holding a seed fundraiser to raise money for Moveable Feast and the Ride!

How can you help Diet Tribe & Moveable Feast? We will be selling packets of "Botanical Interests Seed Collections." Moveable Feast will receive 40% of all sales, on behalf of Diet Tribe and Ride for the Feast. The seeds come in a pretty gift box and are great for upcoming birthdays or holidays! 

To see the seed selection flier and order form, please click here.

When should orders be placed by? All orders must be placed by Valentine's Day, February 14th. To place a seed order, please contact dietitian Sara McClean.

When will my seeds arrive? Seeds will arrive on or around April 1st.

I don't need seeds. How can I still support Ride for the Feast? That's easy! You can get still support Moveable Feast in a very personal and direct way. The following seed retailers have long been strong supporters of Moveable Feast and our mission. You can purchase seeds from any of the following retailers and have the seeds shipped to Moveable Feast (attn: Sara McClean). We'll use your seeds to grow vegetables and fruits to feed our clients!

www.BotanicalInterests.com
www.SeedsOfChange.com
www.SeedSavers.org

Team Diet Tribe and Ride for the Feast thank you for your support!

Weekly Health Tip: Lentils for Protein

This month, we're featuring warming and immune-enhancing foods for these cold winter days. Last week, we featured winter squash and sweet potato. This week, we're taking a closer look at the delicious lentil. 

If you are vegetarian -- or merely prefer to limit your consumption of animal proteins -- lentils are a very good source of protein. They are also an excellent source of both soluble and insoluble fiber, easier to cook than other legumes, high in molybdenum and folate--and last but not least--very tasty and adaptable to different recipes!  They are also rich in iron, manganese, phosphorous, copper, potassium, and Vitamin B1 (thiamine).

The fiber in lentils is filling without being fattening, and contributes to cardiovascular and digestive health and helps reduce diabetes risk. For those already dealing with diabetes, a legume-rich diet is a plus.  In addition to fiber, lentils' high folate content reduces blood levels of homocysteine, an amino acid linked to artery damage.

You can whip up an easy and yummy lentil soup in just a few minutes at home! Try this recipe:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup finely chopped onion
• 0.5 cup finely chopped carrot
• 0.5 cup finely chopped celery
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 pound lentils, picked and rinsed
• 1 can crushed tomatoes
• 2 quarts low-fat, low-sodium chicken broth
• 0.5 teaspoon coriander
• 0.5 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon finely chopped cilantro

Pour olive oil in pot and set the stove on medium heat. Once oil is hot, add onion, carrot, celery, and salt and cook until onions are translucent. Next, add all the remaining ingredients, stir, and cover. Set on high heat and bring to a boil for 1 minute. Then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until lentils are tender (approximately 35-40 minutes). Puree soup if so desired and enjoy! 

Good Fellas at Moveable Feast

Good Fellas of Baltimore is a FOX45-Baltimore new reality TV show, airing in Spring 2011. The show features seven Baltimore entrepreneurs and philanthropists who are working to help the less fortunate, engage the community, and transform our city. They are...the Good Fellas. 

Each week, the Good Fellas will visit a different Baltimore nonprofit to work closely on their initiatives, bringing a spotlight on the great projects that improve Baltimore each and every day.

We're happy to announce that the Good Fellas will feature Moveable Feast in their Spring 2011 season. Yesterday, on Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Volunteerism, the Good Fellas came to Moveable Feast to help work in the kitchen. 

photo courtesy of A. J. Ali

We're looking forward to working with the Good Fellas in the upcoming weeks to prepare for the show! To learn more about the Good Fellas of Baltimore, visit www.GoodFellasOfBaltimore.com.


And, check out the official trailer for the show below! 

5% Day at Whole Foods - Success!

On Wednesday, January 5th, we were the lucky recipients of a Whole Foods Market Harbor East 5% Day. All day, 5% of all sales were donated to Moveable Feast! 

Moveable Feast was there all day - beginning early in the morning and not leaving until late in the evening - with a table of information and some delicious cookies provided by Whole Foods. Staff and volunteers welcomed shoppers as they entered the store, passed out fliers, and enthusiastically explained how their purchases would benefit Moveable Feast. 

Shoppers were also able to make a food donation at our table, following guidelines provided by our dietitians.

Staff and volunteers got along famously, and everyone had a fun day. 

Best of all, the day collected a grand total of $3,356 for Moveable Feast! 

(We even beat the previous 5% Day record.) 

That's enough to feed almost forty clients for an entire month - achieved in a single day, thanks to Whole Foods!






Whole Foods Market Harbor East is a Ride for the Feast 2011 sponsor, located at 1001 Fleet Street. 

The Numbers Are In...

2010 was a remarkable year for Moveable Feast. We formed new partnerships and broke new records for our meal deliveries, transportation programs, and culinary job training program. All of it could not have been achieved without the help of staff, volunteers, board, and supporters.

Out in the community, we held very successful Ride for the Feast and Dining Out For Life campaigns. The year also saw the birth of the Partnership for Life with Chase Brexton Health Services and AIRS, leading to the creation of the B'more Aware of HIV: The Living Red Ribbon campaign. On October 9th, we broke a new Baltimore record for the largest living ribbon ever created in the city. And in 2010, we also began providing services to people living with blood cancers, in partnership with the There Goes My Hero foundation.

We surpassed our expectations for meal deliveries. For our meal home delivery program, which includes Daily Home Delivered Meals and Meals for a Week, we delivered 534,527 meals to 948 clients.

For our community partnership programs, where we work with shelters, drop-in centers, and other organizations, we delivered 204,596 meals to 1,065 clients.


All in all, that brings us to a grand total of 739,123 meals delivered to 2,013 unduplicated clients living with HIV/AIDS, breast cancer, and blood cancer. To do so, our vans travelled the world more than 3 times over, covering a distance of 75,829 miles.


Moveable Feast also broke new records for our various transportation programs, which help our Ryan White clients and the Baltimore City homeless get to important medical appointments or social services buildings.


We transported 196 Ryan White clients over 32,000 miles to medical appointments. And we drove 28,194 miles in 2010 in the People On the Move program.

And finally, our Culinary and Life Skills Training Program was a huge success in 2010. This past year, 32 students participated in the program, 27 graduated (84%), and 21 secured jobs (77%). In addition, 12 students (44%) received the ServSafe Certification. 

In 2010, our mission to feed people, fight disease, and foster hope was achieved for more than 2,000 individuals. We look forward to 2011 to not only replicate these incredible successes, but also expand them even futher.

Weekly Health Tip: Winter Squash & Sweet Potatoes

Did yesterday's snowfall get you down? January's health tips, all written by our team of dietitians Jinee, Sara, and Betty along with their students, will feature warming and immune-enhancing foods for cold winter days.

WINTER SQUASH & SWEET POTATOES

All varieties of winter squash contain a variety of nutrients essential for good health.  Many nutritionists consider the foods particularly warming and nourishing during cold winter weather.  Their characteristic yellow/orange color indicates an abundance of health-supporting carotenoids, including the beta-carotenes (critical to Vitamin A synthesis). These compounds act as antioxidants that counter free radicals that potentially undermine cellular function. Some winter squash are also rich in lutein, which supports healthy heart and prostate function, and winter squash in general are a good source of Vitamin C, folate, Vitamin K, Potassium, Copper, Manganese and some B vitamins (www.NutritionData.com).  All squash are low in saturated fat and high in fiber.

Sweet potatoes come in red and white varieties, the latter with a lighter, creamier taste than the traditional dark orange variety but lower in beta-carotene (the nutrient that confers the yellow/orange color of orange sweet potatoes). Sweet potatoes are fiber-rich, low in saturated fat and cholesterol, and high in Vitamins A and C, and manganese.

"Let's Dish! & Dine Out" Contest

This month, we'll be having one of our biggest contests yet!

In honor of Baltimore Restaurant Week (Jan. 21-30th) and Baltimore County Restaurant Week (Jan. 14-28th), Moveable Feast is proud to announce the "Let's Dish! & Dine Out" contest. 

The prize will be a fantastic gift card to Let's Dish!, a fun and engaging meal cooking and delivery service, headquartered on Old Court Road. 

How does Let's Dish! work? "There are lots of ways to dish. You can assemble the meals yourself (the original!) at an In-Store Session, or have us do the customized assembly for you (we call it “Dish-n-Dash”). You can place an order online for DishDelivery (our newest and most convenient service), pop in last-minute to select a Ready Made meal or two (or more!), or get the gang together for a Private Party."

How can you enter the contest? 

There are two ways to enter the contest: 

1. Dine out at a 2010 Dining Out For Life restaurant (see list below) and take a photo of your food. E-mail the photo and your name to Emily at esze@mfeast.org.
   
2. OR, if you don't feel like dining out this month, e-mail your name and your favorite recipe to Emily at esze@mfeast.org.

All entries must be submitted by Sunday, February 13th. 

___________________________________________________

Valid restaurants include: 

13.5% Wine Bar 
A Bolton Hill Bistro - 'b'

B & O American Brasserie

The Brewer's Art

Alexander's Tavern

Alonso's/Loco Hombre

Ambassador Dining Room

Blue Agave

Bonjour Bakery/Cafe

Cafe Gia

Cafe Hon

Chameleon Cafe

City Cafe

Clementine

The Dizz

The Dizz Grandview

Gertrude's at the BMA

The Greene Turtle (Fells Point)

Iggie's

Indigma

Jack's Bistro

Joe Squared

Koco's Pub

Laurrapin Grille

Linwoods

Luna Blu

Marie Louise Bistro

Mia Carolina

Miguel's Cocina and Cantina

Minato Sushi Bar

Mt. Vernon Stable & Saloon

Mt. Washington Tavern

One World Cafe

Pazza Luna

Petit Louis

Regi's American Bistro

The Rumor Mill Fusion Bar and Restaurant

Rustico Restaurant and Wine Bar

Sascha's 527 Cafe

Singer's

Sotto Sopra

Teavolve Cafe and Lounge

Todd Conner's

Village Square Cafe

Waterstone Bar and Grille

Woodberry Kitchen

Yellow Dog Tavern

Team DragonFLY Bike Giveaway

(Click here to read the original blog post on the Ride For The Feast blog.)  

Team DragonFLY, a Ride For The Feast team, will be giving away a brand new 2011 Fuji ABSOLUTE 3.0 Hybrid bicycle.

Anyone is eligible to enter the raffle. Raffle tickets cost $10 apiece - to enter, simply donate $10 to their general donation page, found here.  

To compile the list of entrants, Moveable Feast and Team DragonFLY will tabulate donations from now until the end of the raffle.

Don't forget to support Team DragonFLY and Ride for the Feast by adding yourself to the official Facebook event here! 

The winner will be chosen on March 28th! 

Just Go Nuts!

Why eat nuts? 

• Protein, fiber and healthy fats — mostly monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.
• Strong scientific evidence that eating nuts protects against heart disease.
• Walnuts in particular are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. And they contain L-arginine, which is a substance that protects flexibility and elasticity of arteries.
• Remember, NUTS ARE BEST NAKED! Avoid the extra fat, salt, and sugar in nuts placed on cookies, in pies, and salted.

Type of Nut	# of Pieces	Calories	Total Fat (grams)	Saturated Fat (grams)	Mono-unsaturated Fat (grams)	Poly-unsaturated Fat (grams)
Almonds	24	170	14.5	1.5	10	3
Cashews	18	160	13	2.5	8	2.5
Macadamia	12	200	20	2.5	16.5	1
Peanuts	35	160	13.5	2	7	4
Pecans	15	190	19	2	12	5
Pistachios	47	160	14	2	8	4
Walnuts	14	180	18	2	5	11

Nut Safety Tips

• Always ask your guests about food allergies, especially if there are children around.  A nut allergy is very common.  Even just touching something that touched a nut product can cause some individuals to have a life-threatening reaction.
• If you set out a bowl of nuts, put out a spoon as well to help reduce the spread of germs.
• Purchased in the shell and in bags, nuts are less likely to be contaminated than loose nuts in bins.
• Fresh is best. If stored too long, fat can become rancid or they might develop mold.

(Source: Duke Diet & Fitness Center)

Jumpin' January!

The New Year brings a whole set of new ways to support Moveable Feast in 2011. This month, there are four great fundraisers you can attend. It is through your donations that we can continue to feed over a thousand Marylanders living with HIV/AIDS or breast cancer, as well as successfully expand our services year after year.

• Tonight, January 4th, is Centerstage's Night Out. This popular Baltimore theater will be showing "The Second City Does Baltimore." All tips from the cocktail hour will be donated to Moveable Feast. (more details)
   
• Wednesday, January 5th, is 5% Day at Whole Foods Market Harbor East, located at 1001 Fleet Street. All day, 5% of all net sales will be donated to us! (more details) We are still in need of volunteers for this fun event. If interested, please contact Amanda at afisher@mfeast.org.
   
• Attention CitiFinancial employees! On Wednesday, January 5th, and Thursday, January 6th, donate to Moveable Feast at Jeans Day. Every $5 donated enables you to wear jeans to work on a Friday of your choice.
   
• Saturday, January 15th, is a Spanish Tapas and Sangria Tasting fundraiser for Team Atomic. Gather at the Callahan's for a delicious evening of fundraising. (more details)

Team Atomic Spanish Tapas & Sangria Fundraiser

Team Atomic, one of our teams for Ride For The Feast, will be holding a fundraiser on Saturday, January 15th, from 5-9PM.

Join them for a delectable evening of nibbling on tasty Spanish tapas and sipping on a wide variety of sangria - a menu hand-picked by the members of Team Atomic themselves! The goal for the night is to raise $1000 for Team Atomic and Ride for the Feast!

The fundraiser will be held at the Callahan's, located at 2009 W. Rogers Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21209. 

Suggested donation of $20....but a donation of $30 or more grants you a raffle ticket to win a 2011 Team Atomic pin-up calendar. The calendar features exclusive, unique photography by retro-glam photographer Mike Lee.

Donations will be accepted on-site or online. For more information and to donate, please click here. 

For the official Facebook event, please click here.

Hosted by Team Atomic cyclists Marion Penn, Diana Giglio, & Shaun, Sheila, and Jack Callahan.