Monday, Dec 23rd

PCF1On Wednesday, September 14, 2022 or “9/14,” the Mario Cuomo Bridge was lit in gold in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Representatives from the Pediatric Cancer Foundation attended to recognize children in Westchester and beyond who are battling cancer, and to acknowledge the work that is being done to eradicate this dreadful disease.

EmilyThis year’s bridge lighting event featured Pediatric Cancer Foundation's Child Ambassador, Emily Levy, who participated virtually.

Representing Pediatric Cancer Foundation at the lighting left to right were Terry Z. Feldman (PCF Board member); Stefanie Mittman (PCF Medical Liaison) and husband, Brian Mittman, Nancy Joselson (PCF Director), Jayne Maslansky (PCF Board member) with husband, Harris; Jennifer Love (PCF Volunteer), Cheryl Reiss (Grandmother), Olivia Smith (bonus or stepsister), Mark Smith (bonus or stepdad), Zach Smith (bonus or stepbrother) who gathered together in front of the bridge ahead of the gold lighting.

siblingsEmily’s siblings Zach and Olivia flipped a ceremonial switch on behalf of their sister at 8:30 pm.

In honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness month PCF hosted several fundraising events in September. A Back to School bake sale was held at the Westchester Mall on Saturday, September 10th. In addition to the bridge lighting on 9/14, PCF also hosted a Shop ‘N Shuffle which combined a day of canasta and mah jongg with a boutique at the Metropolis Country Club.

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mixinsIt’s fall and back to school, which likely means more schedules, carpools and running around than the last few months. And, everyone still needs to eat dinner. So, how do you get a nutritious dinner on the table with all of the chaos?

1. Make build your own meals where everyone assembles their own meal. This is one of my favorite ways to feed everyone, at different times, with different likes. Allowing kids (of all ages) to build their own meals builds confidence around food and makes your life easier.
2. Feed kids at a center island where you can multitask while kids are eating. Even if everyone can’t eat together, being together at mealtime is your next best option. When real estate clients ask about renovating a kitchen, I always recommend a large island.

Below are a couple of my favorite quick, healthy meals.

Build your Own Teriyaki Chicken Buddha Bowl
(peanut, tree nut, dairy & egg free)

Serves about 4

1 - 1 1/4 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 tbsp olive or avocado oil
1/4 c low sodium soy sauce (or coconut aminos for gluten free)
1/4 c + 2 tbsp water
1 1/2 tbsp honey
1 tbsp light brown sugar
1 tbsp rice vinegar
1/4 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp peeled and grated ginger
1 large clove garlic, grated
2 tsp potato starch

Serve with:
brown or white rice
shelled edamame
red cabbage, shredded
shredded carrots
black and white sesame seeds

Dice chicken into 1” cubes. In small bowl, whisk soy sauce, water, honey, brown sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger and potato starch.

Heat olive oil over medium heat in large non stick pan. Add chicken and cook about 4 minutes per side until tan and cooked through (chicken should reach 165 degrees). Stir in sauce and mix with chicken until coated. Allow to thicken about 1 minute.

Allow kids to assemble their own bowls with desired toppings. For vegetarian, swap chicken for tofu or make without chicken altogether.

Quick tip: Don’t have time to make your own teriyaki sauce? Use your favorite bottled one instead.

Create your Own Chicken Gyros
(egg free, peanut-free, tree-nut free, sesame free and gluten free pita bread)

Makes 3 - 4 servings
3 tbsp greek yogurt
2 tbsp lemon juice, from one 1 lemon
1 1/2 tbsp olive or avocado oil + more for cooking
2 tsp red wine or white wine vinegar
1 tbsp dried oregano
pinch kosher salt
pepper
1 1/4 - 1 1/2 pounds chicken breast tenderloins, cut into 1” cubes

Serve with:
pita breadBowl
tzatziki
tomato halves
chopped cucumber
Greek salad

In large ziploc bag or medium bowl, place yogurt, lemon juice, oil, vinegar, oregano, salt and pepper. Seal bag and shake or whisk together. Add chicken and massage/mix together. Marinate at least 30 minutes and up to 1 day ahead of time.

Heat large skillet over medium high heat and add about 1 tbsp oil. Cook chicken about 4 - 5 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through.
Serve chicken in warm pita bread.

Let kids top with optional toppings.

These recipes were produced by Jodi Greebel, Licensed Real Estate Salesperson at Compass, Registered Dietitian and mom of 3. Follow her on instagram@jodigrd for decor tips, healthy meal ideas, lifestyle tips and more.

immunityAs we make our way through summer and approach fall, it’s a good idea to find ways to boost your immunity. There are several easy ways of achieving this, beginning with making sure you’re current with vaccinations.

A recent survey by the National Poll on Healthy Aging found that about 30% of people aged 50 and older with a scheduled procedure, primary care or dental visit in 2021 postponed that procedure due to COVID, and that many have yet to reschedule or return to their practitioner’s office – especially unvaccinated people. The poll found that while 81% of vaccinated and boosted older adults had rescheduled their COVID-delayed test, procedure or operation, just 44% of unvaccinated older adults had done so.

Staying up to date with vaccinations is crucial – not just for COVID, but also for the flu and shingles, as well as a Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) booster. You probably had the Tdap as a child, but the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults get a booster every 10 years.
Anyone with a persistent cough, pain or other abnormal symptom should see their provider as soon as possible. I recently had a patient come in for an exam who said he had recurring indigestion, but only while walking; he was surprised to learn that that is a possible symptom of heart disease.

Other Recommendations

For those who have visited their provider recently – and even for those who haven’t (yet) – there are plenty of other proactive measures you can take to boost your immunity. Some are obvious, some not so much:

• Washing your hands
• Eating a well-balanced, nutritious diet
• Not smoking
• Getting plenty of sleepIn the Know scarsdale 400x200
• Getting regular exercise
• Enjoying the outdoors; sunshine is a good source of vitamin D
• Vitamin C: Helps heal wounds and repair and maintain healthy bones, teeth, skin and cartilage; since it is not naturally produced by the body, you can boost your intake of vitamin C by eating most fruits and vegetables
• Zinc: Can help control infections by slowing down the immune response, thus preventing runaway inflammation
• Garlic: Has antibiotic properties that are effective in fighting a varied range of bacteria, fungi and viruses
• Calcium: In some cases can drive the body’s reaction to invading organisms, and decrease that reaction down as the infection wanes.
• Red rice yeast: Long a popular medicinal product in China, certain strains of red rice yeast can significantly lower levels of total cholesterol and specifically LDL, or "bad" cholesterol. However, research indicates that red rice yeast may actually be harmful, depending on how it is prepared.

Obviously, consulting your healthcare provider before starting any of the supplements is highly advised; they may come up with additional ideas depending on your individual condition.

Dr. Michael Finkelstein, board-certified in Internal Medicine and Wound Care, sees patients at the Scarsdale Medical Group office in Harrison. For an appointment, call 914-723-8100.

HealthySnacksIf you dread packing school lunches – here are a few snack ideas to keep your students energized throughout the school day.

Typical school morning. You know the routine. You remind your child to pack her sneakers for gym, even a clean shirt for her school pictures. Then just as she heads out the door, she yells, “Mom, you forgot my snack!

Well, before you throw her a bag of Doritos, take a minute to think about what snack time in school is really about – giving your child the fuel she or he needs to focus, stay alert, and get through an action-packed day – not filling her with empty calories.

Children need a pick-me-up full of protein and nutrients to keep their bodies (and minds) growing and going. “Healthy snacks will provide children with energy, vitamins, and minerals to support their growth and mental alertness to help them focus,” says Samantha Lowe, MD, a pediatrician at White Plains Hospital Medical & Wellness in Armonk.

But packing a nutritious snack is just the beginning. You also have to consider your child’s specific needs. Is your child underweight? Overweight? Gluten-free? Nut-free? No worries.In the Know scarsdale 400x200

Here are some ideas to help you step up your snack game with nutritional treats that cater to every kid’s diet and taste.

• For the underweight kid with no allergies, try unsalted nuts, trail mix, fruits, and vegetables with cheese, guacamole, bean dip, hummus, or peanut butter.

• For the overweight child, how about low-fat cheese on low-fat whole-grain crackers, baked chips and salsa, and fresh fruit with the fiber-filled skin on?

• For the gluten-free kid, try cheese and rice crackers, yogurt, apples, cheddar and cottage cheese, celery and peanut butter, fresh fruits and vegetables.

• And for the nut-free kid, how about apples, oranges and bananas or other fresh fruits and vegetables? Although yogurt, dried fruit and most dips are fine, anything that comes in a package means you’ll have to read the food label.

Should make the “Mom, you forgot my snack” moment a little less stressful.

acupunctureIf you’re feeling anxious about staying healthy this summer, you’re not alone. As the stressors pile up, it may be time to lie down, close your eyes, and go under the needle — the acupuncture needle, that is.

Acupuncture is a treatment that has existed for thousands of years. The fact that this treatment now often qualifies for insurance coverage shows that it’s finally recognized as an important complementary medicine; that is, when used alongside medication and other traditional treatment regimens, acupuncture can support healing and expedite recovery.

In fact, acupuncture is a preventative measure to keep such mood disorders as stress, anxiety and depression at bay, with minimal side effects. Receiving a series of treatments, combined with medication, yields optimal results. I always recommend that my patients use both. As they progress in their treatment, they often need less medication down the road.

The mind-body connection has received more attention than ever, thanks in part to the pandemic; last November, the CDC highlighted the intersection of anxiety, depression, and COVID-19. (Not only does the virus heighten the risk of depression and anxiety, but those with mood disorders appear to be at increased risk for COVID-19.) In keeping with that connection, acupuncture triggers physical changes in the body and brain that regulate mood and mindset.In the Know scarsdale 400x200

Inserting the needle stimulates the body’s calming parasympathetic nervous system, increases mood-enhancing brain chemicals, relaxes blood vessels, fights inflammation, and calms regions of the brain associated with stress. Acupuncture is a holistic medicine, in that it can be used to the entire body.

I tailor my approach to the individual patient, using sterile, single-use needles approved by the FDA. With each 45-minute treatment, I work my way down the body from head to foot, inserting needles into specific points. Most patients start to see results after four visits, with optimal effects after 14 treatments. Patients range from teenagers to senior citizens, all of whom benefit from treatment.

My own acupuncture journey dates back to when I practiced as an orthopedic surgeon in my native Cuba, In the 1990s, one of my family members had a herniated disc and went to an acupuncturist for treatment. I was skeptical: “You mean to tell me they’ll feel better with needles?” After several treatments, he did. Then I began to study it more seriously, and began studying acupuncture and complementary medicine on my way to completing advanced coursework in acupuncture for physicians at Harvard Medical School.

For the past two decades, I have focused on acupuncture as a treatment for diseases from cancer to the coronavirus.

This is science, not magic. Acupuncture cannot cure diabetes or hypertension, but it can help decrease blood pressure and increase blood flow. It cannot cure migraines, anxiety, or depression, but it can boost circulation, increase your appetite, and help you start to feel better.

For those preparing for or recovering from surgery, please note that acupuncture stimulates our natural ability for self-healing. And it can help bring the peace of mind that’s key to well-being. Anxiety and stress are underlying factors that can make diseases worse. Acupuncture helps relieve that.

Dr. Eugenio Jimenez de Castro is an acupuncturist at White Plains Hospital and owner of Acupuncture of Northern Westchester PLLC in Mount Kisco and White Plains. For an appointment, call 914-849-7653.