Fun, Healthy Lunchbox Ideas
September 4, 2013
The daily routine of packing foods for lunchtime may seem boring, but the food inside those lunchboxes doesn’t have to be. Consider your students’ personality when planning school lunches.
Whether the cafeteria-bound container features Hello Kitty or Justin Bieber, the foods inside should be customized to fit age, activity level and personal style. So how do you get beyond the usual carrots and celery sticks? Noted nutrition expert, award winning food journalist and television personality, Carolyn O’Neil, MS RD LD, advises parents to think about the personality of each child when assembling lunch.
Fix finger foods for young eaters
Overwhelmed little students may do best with tiny bites of finger foods. So, if you have a shy first grader, send them with string cheese sticks, whole grain crackers, baby carrots and cut-up fruit.
Cucumber wheels, red or orange bell pepper strips, and sugar snap peas are also colorful and nutritious finger foods. Add low-fat ranch dressing or individual packs of fiber- and protein-rich hummus for dipping. The oil in these dips actually helps kids absorb more of the veggie’s fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin A.
Up the nutrition for those not focused on lunch
What about the teens and tweens focused on anything but the lunch at lunchtime? Older kids focused on friends might prefer a sandwich and a bunch of grapes.
“That table of girls checking out the new guy don’t want to be seen wolfing down large portions,” O’Neil said. “A dainty sandwich cut into quarters or half of a whole-wheat pita sandwich might be a better fit. Choose lean proteins such as sliced turkey, roast beef or deli ham to maximize nutrition and minimize calories. For something sweet, they may prefer to dip grapes, strawberries or pineapple chunks in protein-packed Greek yogurt.”
Pack plenty of food for hungry athletes
Hungry athletes need larger servings of healthy foods for lunch, such as an extra slice of turkey on a sandwich and whole grain tortilla chips with an individual pack of salsa. These energy-burning kids may also need two cartons of cold milk for hydration and nutrition.
For after school, pack a snack to keep your sports star energized. They can refuel before sports practice with fresh fruit or the extra protein in a granola bar with peanuts or other nuts.
No matter what’s on the menu for your students, follow the USDA MyPlate nutrition icon. This visual for good nutrition indicates half of a healthy plate be filled with fruit and vegetables, with the two other quarters occupied by a lean protein and a whole grain starch. To complete the meal, add a cup of fat free or low fat milk.
Photo courtesy Getty Images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Iconic Silver Screen Theatre Closes After 30 Years
September 3, 2013
An iconic Escambia County business announced its closure on Monday.
“After the end of the day, The Sliver Screen Theatre will be closing the doors for good. This will be the last day to watch a movie at The Silver Screen. We thank all of you for everything over the last 30 years,” the movie theater posted on its Facebook page about noon. “We hope to see you one last time.”
Over the years, The Silver Screen in Pensacola operated as a normal movie theater, a 99-cent theater and often advertised dinner and a movie combos. And it was known at one time for regular showings of the 1975 cult classic “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”.
“So sad to hear,” Jimmy Henry said on Facebook. “So many memories from my childhood as well as memories with my children.”
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Summer Of 2013 Was 4th Wettest Ever
September 3, 2013
According to the National Weather Service in Mobile, Pensacola recorded 34.41 inches of rain this summer (June 1 – August 31). This was 13.64 inches above the normal summer rainfall of 20.77 inches. This made the summer of 2013 the fourth wettest on record. The wettest summer ever recorded in Pensacola was just last year when 39.19 inches was recorded.
A volunteer observer for the National Weather Service in Gonzalez recorded 47.01 inches of rainfall June through August.
Mobile recorded 23.25 inches of rain this summer. This was 2.93 inches above the normal summer rainfall of 20.32. The wettest summer in Mobile was way back in 1900 when 35.70 was recorded.
Pictured: Flooding on July 11 at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Photos: NHS Mini-Dance Team, Band, Cheerleaders
September 1, 2013
For a photo gallery with the Northview mini-dance Team, dance team, Tribal Beat Band, NJROTC and cheerleaders from Friday night’s game against Bozeman, click here.
For a game summary and action photos, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Youth Show Their Spirit
September 1, 2013
Youth from Ray’s Chapel and the Walnut Hill Baptist churches came together Saturday night to show their school and team spirit during Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church’s third annual “Spirit Night”. The youth enjoyed worship, a message from youth leader Seth Leonard, food, prizes and games. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Aldersgate UMC Donations A ‘Blessing’ To Molino Park Elementary
August 30, 2013
Aldersgate United Methodist Church is among the many organizations stepping up to help Molino Park Elementary School following the theft and destruction of tens of thousands of dollars worth of technology from the school.
The church is donating proceeds from their next two community dinner collections, accepting donations at a Back to School Splash Party this Saturday and taking up collections from their congregation — all in addition their annual paper drive — for the school.
Molino Park Principal Alice Woodward called the church’s contributions “a blessing”, and said, “I appreciate the whole Molino community in their support of Molino Park Elementary.”
The Aldersgate Back to School Splash party will be held from 3 until 6 p.m. Saturday, September 7 at the church on Highway 29, just north of Highway 97. There will be water slides, water balloon games, fun on a new playground and a cookout. Everyone is invited to the free event, but attendees are invited to make a monetary donation to technology replacement at Molino Park Elementary School.
Aldersgate has also joined other Molino organizations as a Molino Park Elementary technology recovery donation drop off point. Read more…
Pictured top: Rev. Alan Gantzhorn wheels paper donations from Aldersgate United Methodist Church into Molino Park Elementary School Thursday. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century United Methodist Receives Statewide Community Involvement Award
August 28, 2013
The Century United Methodist Church was recently honored with the Florida Health Care Activity Coordinators Association’s Community Involvement Award. The statewide award is presented to a group or organization that provides ongoing, outstanding support to the activity department of a long term care facility in Florida. The members of Century UMC provide countless volunteer hours at the Century Care Center. Accepting the award on behalf of the church was Rev. Janet Lee. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Home Run: She Said Yes!
August 26, 2013
Jake Clayton of Molino proposed to his girlfriend Jenna Peoples of Milton during a weekend Pensacola Blue Wahoos game…and she said “yes”. Photo by Michael Spooneybarger/Pensacola Blue Wahoos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: NHS Mini-Cheerleaders, Band, Dance Team And More
August 25, 2013
For a photo gallery with the Northview NJROTC, cheerleaders, band and dance team from Friday night, click here.
For a special gallery featuring the Northview mini-cheerleaders, click here.
For a game summary and action photos, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Farm Family Of The Year Has Long History In Agricultural
August 25, 2013
The Keith Campbell family of Chumuckla was recognized as Santa Rosa County’s “Outstanding Farm Family of the Year” during the 47th Annual Santa Rosa County Farm Tour.
Keith and his wife Robynn, along with daughters Brittney, Ashleigh and son-in-law Adam Bondurant, accepted the award from County Commissioners Don Salter and Jim Melvin. Sheilah Bowman, Florida District Director for Congressman Jeff Miller, also presented the family with a Congressional Record proclamation honoring them for their accomplishments.
The Campbell’s have a rich agricultural heritage. Keith Campbell is a sixth generation farmer on his father’s side and a fourth generation farmer on his mother’s side of the family. The Campbell family of farmers emigrated from Scotland to South Carolina and finally settled in the Chumuckla area in the early 1800’s.
After two years of college, Keith began farming with his grandfather, W.T. Stewart, on five hundred acres in 1983. He eventually took over complete operation of the farm which has grown to more than 1,300 acres today. The family’s major crops are cotton, peanuts, and wheat. They also raise beef cattle with a herd of around 60 cows and calves. In addition, the past few years they have maintained an apiary for honey production and crop pollination.
Family members and neighbors help sustain the farm. Robynn is a homemaker supporting the family with her full-time efforts. Ashleigh’s husband Adam, a senior at UWF, works part-time on the farm and nephew Dale Campbell helps out after school. A key component of Keith’s approach to farming involves sharing work with neighboring farmers with whom he performs custom planting and harvesting to pool equipment and labor.
Keith is a progressive farmer who always looks for better ways to improve the efficiency of his operation. He says one of the biggest changes he has seen in farming was the introduction of herbicide resistant crops in the late 90’s. This allowed him to implement conservation tillage with benefits of reduced tillage, soil erosion, fuel, machinery, labor costs, and the overall amount of herbicides used.
Keith has also been an early adopter of precision agriculture technologies such as variable-rate lime and fertilizer application, field mapping, and GPS equipment guidance for field operations.