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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

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Greek Orzo and Chickpea Salad

GREEK ORZO AND CHICKPEA SALAD

Photo by Carolyn Marin

This recipe by Vincci Tsui, a dietician and intuitive eating counselor, in Calgary, Canada, can inspire mindfulness because it requires chopping, dicing and cubing ingredients, which can be methodical and meditative activities. In terms of eating the salad, the numerous flavors and textures provide ample opportunity to engage the senses and be present with the food.


Yield: 4 to 6 servings (6 cups)


8 oz orzo

1 19-oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed (about 2 cups cooked)

1 pint grape tomatoes, halved

1 large English cucumber, chopped

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 bunch green onions, chopped

1 cup chopped basil

7 oz feta, cut into ½-inch cubes


For the dressing:


¼ cup red wine vinegar

2 Tbsp lemon juice

1 tsp honey

1 tsp dried oregano

½ cup olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste


Cook the orzo according to the package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water. Set aside.


Meanwhile, make the dressing by whisking together the red wine vinegar, lemon juice, honey and oregano until honey is dissolved. Slowly whisk in olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.


In a large bowl, mix together cooked orzo and remaining salad ingredients. Add in dressing and toss to coat.


Recipe and photo courtesy of Dietician and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor Vincci Tsui.


Other Recipes:

pPhoto by Vincci Tsuibrp

Ann Wigmore’s Energy Soup


This soup has several properties that facilitate mindful eating and is served at room temperature. Read More » 

 

pPhoto by Himalayan Institutebrp

Hearty Quinoa Salad

A hearty and mindful dish packed with fresh chopped vegetables. Read More » 

 

Tick Talk

Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

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