“Healthy Kids Day 2010 was a fantastic success this year. We had over 2200 people come through the gates at Carrier Park on Saturday and take part in the wonderful Wellness community event! The amount of information and feedback that went out to our community was amazing! All venders and booths ran out of things to give out and by the end of the day were writing out information on sheets of paper for the attendees. The children as well as the parents thoroughly enjoyed this fun filled festive event and many folks wanted to know if we would be back next year!

It was great watching our community members get active and play together. Every family walked away with a smile and a sense of satisfactions of a family day well spent.”

Healthy Kids Day in McDowell County is back!  Kids and Families came to the Corpening Memorial YMCA for our famous Iron Baby Triathlon, early kindergarten registration, health education booths, screenings, performances, healthy snacks, and more!  They came, they learned, they played!

Blooming bushes and flowering bulbs are signs that spring is on its way but one of our favorite things about spring is the increase of the variety of local produce at the farmers’ markets and markets. Some of our top picks for spring vegetables are the young, tender, and sweet flavors of broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, spinach, Swiss chard, carrots, peas and beets. This season savor these delicate and tender gems and take advantage of their availability while they are fresh from the fields! Here are just a few of the nutritional benefits that asparagus, broccoli, spinach and beets provide.

Asparagus:

This is one of the true joys of spring! Rich is Vitamin C, A, B6, folic acid, potassium, thiamin and fiber, these spears are as beautiful as they are flavorful.

Broccoli

Remember as a child having these “little trees” topped with butter and lemon? Broccoli is rich in folic acid, Vitamin C, K, and A.

Spinach

Instead of wondering what does spinach has that benefits health, you might say to yourself what doesn’t it contain? It is rich in folate, Vitamin K, A, B12, maganese, magnesium calcium, iron and potassium.

Beets

Rich is color and folate, maganese, potassium and plant chemicals, you can enjoy both the greens and the bulbs to make a wonderful spring risotto.

Healthy Eating!

Carol and Denise

Come celebrate YMCA Healthy Kids Day on April 17^th at Carrier Park from 11 AM till 3 PM. This free family festival is open to the public and will include health screenings, obstacle courses, inflatables, arts& crafts, healthy snacks and LIVE music from local kids band, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo. This is a fun, free day of play you won’t want to miss!

For information about Buncombe County’s event, call the YMCA at 828-210-9622 or visit www.ymcawnc.org.

For information about McDowell’s County’s event, call the Corpening YMCA at 828-659-9622.

Have a healthy weekend!

Kristen Weaver and Ashley Bond