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Oahu Village Children and Teens Gather Around Aprilanne as She Teaches Nutrition Through the Use of Colorful Foods.

San Francisco Bay Area Author Aprilanne Hurley set out on a mission to teach nutrition to the mothers and children in a transitional village on the Island of Oahu…and came home with a lesson in the power of the human spirit.

It was all smiles and giggles as some 30 Oahu village children gathered around Aprilanne to learn about healthy food choices as part of Hurley’s “Eat a Rainbow” nutrition program.  Hurley designed this 4 module course to teach at-risk parents and children about making healthy foods choices through the use of color.

“We had an amazing day of learning, food, and fun,”  Hurley offers, adding, “and while all of the children were excited and thrilled to see the many colorful foods presented, the younger children got extremely excited when they saw they were going to have orange juice.  It broke my heart.  These children, most of them previously homeless, shared a glimpse of the amazing resilience they have no matter what adversities life brings.   Their beautiful innocence, and sheer exuberance for the little things in life like orange juice and fruit – will stay with me forever.”

With Weinberg Village Waimanalo’s Director Holly Holowach’s catering expertise in the kitchen – we served over 60 village members a tasty recipe from Hurley’s Party Girl Diet book for the main course:  Cavatelli & Broccoli.  This super healthy dish was made with fresh steamed broccoli, braised dark meat chicken, chopped garlic, and curly shaped pasta to attract the Keiki’s interest.   

Holowach offers, “the families at the Village really enjoyed Aprilanne’s visit.  The mothers were so attentive during her class and appreciated learning her tips on how to create healthy bodies through eating fruits and vegetables and adding more colorful foods to their diets.  The children loved the food, especially the fruit and yogurt. “

Holowach adds, “the parents are still talking about how much they liked the Chicken Broccoli pasta dish!  Several of them have read Aprilanne’s book and were so thrilled to meet her!  Mahalo to Aprilanne for coming to the village and sharing her love of healthy eating and good nutrition with our families.”

We covered The Party Girl Diet’s Top 10 Foods for Health & Longevity, and the importance of eating breakfast, healthy fats, fruit, vegetables, and fiber.”  The health benefits of daily exercise was also emphasized.”

Hurley’s “Eat a Rainbow” Party for the Keiki (meaning children in Hawaii) started off with a colorful “pupu platter” consisting of fresh veggies and tomato salsa. The fun kicked into high gear with dessert – as Aprilanne launched a “hands-on” food project with the Keiki – who all thoroughly enjoyed learning how to make their own fresh fruit kabobs with a wide assortment of colorful fruits.  Honey and cinnamon was mixed into plain – non-fat greek style yogurt to create a healthy fruit dip for the kabobs.

“It was spectacular,” Hurley beams, and so rewarding to know that by the end of our “Eat a Rainbow” Keiki Party – the children tasted as many as 9 different colors through the assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables in the dishes we served.  It is interesting to note that it was the first time many of the children tasted some of the vegetables and fruits we presented – which are very common foods to us on the mainland.”

“I look at my nutrition work in Oahu as planting seeds for a future free of obesity,” Hurley notes.  “Even if just one mother or child takes what they have learned about healthy eating through my nutrition program to heart ~ I am one step closer to ending the fight against obesity.” A Special Thank You goes out to Holly Holowach Director of Weinberg Village Waimanalo – who has been an integral part of this project.  It is because of Holly’s passion and commitment to see an end to homelessness in Hawaii that brought Aprilanne to Oahu, and the many hours of time, talents, and resources Holly has invested to see this project come to fruition for her village are appreciated beyond words…Mahalo!

A warm thank you also goes out to Holly’s dedicated staff who graciously supported and assisted us throughout the day – Mahalo!

100% of the net-proceeds for all Party Girl Diet books sold in Hawaii during National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week support the Weinberg Village Waimanalo’s L.E.A.P Fund – an Enrichment Program for the Children.

Aprilanne Hurley is a Certified Specialist in Fitness Nutrition, Author of The Party Girl Diet, and Registered Natural Foods Chef with The First Lady’s Chefs Move to Schools Initiative. The First Lady’s Chefs Move to Schools Initiative.

The time is now to book your Blue Angels Air Show Cruise with Angel Island Tiburon Ferry taking place on San Francisco Bay:

Sunday, October 7, 2012

2:30 – 4 pm

NEW!  Book your Angel Island Tiburon Ferry Blue Angels Air Show Cruise Online. Advance ticket purchase required, please call 415.435.2131 for more info.

Boarding takes place at 1:30 PM for Angel Island Ferry’s 2 PM – 4:30 PM Blue Angels Viewing Cruises.

Plan an exciting bay cruise with a group of friends and take in the sights during this event with “front row” seats on San Francisco Bay.

Tickets:

$60.00 – Adults

$40.00 Children ages 5 – 12

FREE for children 0 – 4 years

Enjoy the best sights the Bay Area has to offer of the Navy’s Blue Angels Air-show aboard Angel Island Ferry’s spacious vessel – sit back, relax, and enjoy the spectacular air show.  Don’t forget to bring your camera to capture memories that will last a lifetime.

There will be a no-host bar on board, and additional snacks/non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase. (Please note: You are welcome to bring a picnic however No BYO alcoholic beverages are allowed on AITF specialty cruises – thank you for your cooperation.)

SPACE IS LIMITED so please act quickly to be a part of the this rich, exciting, and visually amazing California tradition.

For directions to to our Tiburon Dock and more information on ferry schedules and other special events please visit our website:  AngleIslandFerry.com – and “take a ride with us!”  Captain Maggie

For more information on Blue Angels Fleet Week 2012 visit:  Fleet Week Official Site

PLUS – You can witness the Blue Angels Annual Air Show by land – by hiking to the top of Mt. Livermore – located on Angel Island State Park which is the absolute BEST place to take in the sights during the Blue Angel’s Fleet Week 2012.

Views from the top of Angel Island State Park's Mt. Livermore are out of this world!

Getting there:  For the most scenic route and your overall convenience, head to Tiburon, CA and take a ride with the -  Angel Island Tiburon Ferry  to Angel Island State Park, where you can hike up to Mt. Livermore (approximately a 2 hour round trip – moderate intensity adventure) or arrange to take a tram ride to experience the incredible sights this “top of the world” destination delivers!  Please call Angel Island Company for tram tour information at:  415.897.0715, or the Cove Cafe @ 415.435.3392.

California Living host and Author Aprilanne Hurley takes in a specialty cruise on SF Bay with Captain Maggie McDonogh and the Angel Island Tiburon Ferry..."now this is the life!"

Make a great day of it – and reserve your tickets for one of  Angel Island Tiburon Ferry’s Fleet Week Specialty Cruises scheduled on Sunday October 7th, 20 12 for the best seats on SF Bay for viewing the Annual “Parade of Navy Ships” and Blue Angels Air-show taking place in Northern California.

This annual cruise offers a stocked bar with beverages and snacks for purchase.

HURRY – space is limited and will sell out quickly.  For more info. and to reserve your tickets please call 415.435.2131 ext. – and/or visit:  CaptainMaggie.com

A ferry ride with Angel Island Tiburon Ferry also offers some unique health benefits thanks to the fabulous negative ions present in the ocean and bay air!

For more information read my post on “The Positives of Negatives – Ions that is” on this site and… enjoy ~ Aprilanne

This Meatball Recipe will always steal the show

Originally featured on California Living™ with Aprilanne primetime, Grandma Rose’s Authentic Italian Meatballs Recipe is one of 2-weeks of delicious, easy recipes in The Party Girl Diet Book.  

A little background on this recipe:  Grandma Rose’s generation did not use measurements in recipes, but rather cooked with their senses, how the food looked, tasted, and even felt, adding more cheese, or spices etc., to perfect the texture, consistency, and flavor of a dish.

With this “cooking culture” in mind, the following recipe is the official recipe known as  “Grandma Rose’s Authentic Italian Meatballs,” compliments of Joe Mack, Grandma Roses’ eldest son, who recommends tasting one as soon as it’s cool enough, “because that’s when they taste the best.”

Get in touch with your “Inner Italian” and give it a try…Buona Fortuna!

2 pounds of chopped beef, veal and pork
2-3 eggs depending on size, slightly beaten
1/2 cup plus of finely chopped onion
3 slices of white bread or 2-3 hotdog rolls, chopped finely – About 1/2 cup of skim milk or more – Very big bunch of Italian Parsley chopped fine/leaves only
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
Heaping tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

1. Soak chopped bread in milk till it is nice and mushy

2. Add eggs, parsley, onions, cheese, salt and pepper and mix well

3. Add chopped meat and mix well using your *hands; there is no alternative

*Fun Fact # 1 -Grandma Rose would never wear nail polish when cooking for fear that it may chip into the food she was preparing..

4. When thoroughly mixed, form into meatballs by rolling in your palms. You should make 18 to 24 meatballs.

5. Place meatballs in lightly oiled, olive of course, cookie tin and bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Do not overcook. The meatballs may be browned in a frying pan; however, the baking is easier and probably healthier.

6. When cool remove meatballs from pan and scrape off any fat that has formed. Did you make more than you need or want to freeze some to enjoy at another time? Try Joe Mack’s Freezing Trick – by laying them out on a cookie sheet and covering to freeze for later use.

Want tasty, healthy recipes your whole family will enjoy?  Discover how delicious healthy living can be @ PartyGirlDiet.com.

Watch  “Making Meatballs with Aprilanne” now On-Demand on Aprilanne.com

"Dishing the best in health & fitness - straight up ~ with a twist."

Aprilanne Hurley SFN is a Certified Specialist in Fitness Nutrition, California Living’s Health Expert, and author of  The Party Girl Diet - the revolutionary new diet and lifestyle that lets you “Keep the Party Going…While You Lose the Weight.”