Healthy Tips for Rosh Hashanah

Specialists at Schneider Children’s have issued nutritional tips in anticipation of Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year). Dafna Ziv Busani, Director of the Nutrition and Dietary Unit at Schneider Children’s, says the following:

• We wish you a Happy and Sweet New Year
  It is possible to have a happy holiday even without consuming large amounts of sugar. Even though sugar is considered a natural food like sugar cane or brown sugar, it is still sugar which has no nutritional value or health benefit. A good way to reduce the amount of sugar that we consume is to use less than a third or half the amount required when making a cake that contains fruit such as apples or bananas. There is no difference in taste.
  
  
• Honey
  Honey is a natural sweetener and accredited with special curative powers. It should be noted from our standpoint that despite its natural origins and unique qualities, honey is no different than regular sugar, brown or white. It is therefore not recommended for diabetics any more than white sugar, and its use should not be exaggerated. Children under the age of one should not be given honey due to fear of poisoning that could lead to damage in the body systems (the toxin is in the botulism bacterial spores sometimes found in honey). The immune system of children less than a year is unable to cope with this poison which could affect the infant’s health due to exposure to the spores at such a young age.
  
  
• Fish
  Over and above being a quality protein, fish also contains Omega 3 fatty acid found in sole, salmon, mackerel and halibut. In recent years, pond-bred fish in Israel have also been enriched with Omega 3, making them healthier than manufactured Omega 3. Fish has many healthy properties whose importance is undeniable including reducing the risk of heart and vascular disease. At least two portions of baked or grilled fish should be eaten each week (one portion=150 grams). Fish has many additional nutritional benefits: they are rich in unsaturated fatty acids and low in saturated fatty acids and cholesterol, which is good for the heart and for improving memory. Consuming fish regularly at least once a week, prevents memory loss and reduces the risk of cardiac events in healthy people, such as heart attacks or strokes.
  
  
• Pomegranates
  Pomegranates are one of the fruits containing large quantities of anti-oxidants which help to reduce the effects of oxidization caused by the body’s activities. Pomegranates are healthy, but like everything else, should be eaten in limited quantities due to the high level of sugar as within all fruit.
  
  
• The Festive Meal
  The meal on Rosh Hashanah is usually festive and richer that other meals. Two small meals and two snacks should be eaten during the day, one of which should be an hour before the festive meal, so that you are not hungry by the time dinner begins. Remember that a glass of wine has between 90-160 calories, and thus it is recommended to drink less wine and more water. It is also better to share a slice of honey cake with someone else. During the meal itself, you may eat and enjoy the holiday fare but ensure that half the plate is filled with vegetables, a quarter filled with carbohydrates and the remainder with a protein such as fish or meat. If you are hosting the meal, try to prepare a variety of salads containing vegetables and cooked vegetables. The rule of thumb is to curb bingeing and “damage repair” diets after the holiday. This can be avoided by eating properly while still enjoying the holiday fare.

Rosh Hashanah, the start of a new year, is a great opportunity to take advantage of this moment in time to decide to try and live a healthier lifestyle by introducing new habits such as family dinners or any other healthy activity to promote a better life for the entire family.