Health and Household Tips

What Are Chitterlings?

Cultural diversity is most apparent during the holiday season at the family gatherings. A traditional part of the holiday table in many African American homes is chitlins. Chitterlings or chitlins are the intestinal track of hogs. How did they become a tradition?

On southern plantations during the fall hog slaughtering season, slaves were given unwanted cuts of pork to eat. These lesser parts were taken and carefully cleaned, seasoned and cooked. With loving care and attention, intestines were transformed into a delicacy which many African Americans still enjoy today - chitlins.

Holiday Food Drives

Gifts and food are enjoyed during the holidays at every level of society, except where there is no hope of gifts and not enough food. When we forget the ill housed, ill clad and ill nourished, then we forget the true intent of the holidays in every culture - sharing.

As the holiday season draws near, community groups and churches will begin to collect items for needy families. School children are often asked to bring a can or box of food to help stock emergency food pantries where baskets are put together.

This year when you go to the grocery store, buy some items for needy families. The most needed food items are:

• Canned meats such as fish, ham, chicken (non-perishables) - foods that do not need refrigeration
• Bags or boxes of rice and pasta
• Dried beans or canned beans
• Dried soup mixes
• Canned 100% juice
• Canned tomatoes, tomato sauce or juice
• Boxes of oatmeal, grits or cream of wheat
• Flour, sugar, cornmeal, or dried milk

Personal grooming items are also needed:

• Toothpaste and tooth brushes
• Soap and shampoo
• Deodorant
• Disposable razors

Eat More Fish for Omega 3s

The American Heart Association says everyone should eat at least two 3 ounce servings of fish every week. A 3 ounce portion is a piece about the size of your palm. This type of fish fat seems to offer many benefits to the cardiovascular system. Omega 3s seem to lower blood levels of triglycerides (bad fat), reduce blood clotting when it should not be clotting and decreases erratic heartbeats which means a reduction in the risk of sudden death. Fish high in Omega 3 fatty acids include:

Fish, 3-ounce serving	Omega-3s (grams)
Pickled herring	1.2
Farmed coho salmon(cooked, dry heat)	1.1
Mackerel (cooked, dry heat)	1.0
Canned sockeye salmon	1.0
Bluefish (cooked, dry heat)	0.8
Swordfish (cooked, dry heat)	0.7
Canned tuna (white, canned in water)	0.7
Halibut (cooked, dry heat)	0.4
Canned tuna (light, canned in water)	0.2
Yellow fin tuna (cooked, dry heat)	0.2

Source: Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter, November 2000, Volume 18, Number 9

Winter 2000
Christmas Tree Selection Time Again | Gifts for Gardeners | Holiday Season Pet Hazards | Prepare Your Garden For Winter | All America Vegetable Selections 2001 | Lawn Care Calendar | Bug Bites: Unwanted Visitors That Are Lurking In Your Firewood | Cybergarden Sites | Hort Tips | Hort Shorts | Garlic's Benefits Attract Researchers | Cranberries | Let the Buyer Beware | Roasting Chestnuts | Health and Household Tips | Did You Know?

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