All Roads Lead to the Kitchen: Breast Cancer Awareness

Did you know that this month marks the 26th anniversary of National Breast Cancer Awareness month? Other than skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States and the second leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer.* One of the best defenses against breast cancer is leading a healthy lifestyle. We can't change our genes, but we can look good in the ones we have. Research suggests that exercising 35 minutes per day may help reduce the risk of certain cancers, breast cancer included.

For the second year , in an effort to help promote Breast Cancer Awareness, Eggland's Best will be pledging a donation of $50,000 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. You may notice that starting in mid-September and stretching through mid-November, Eggland's Best switches out their famous "red EB in a circle" stamp for a pink Komen for the Cure® stamp (look for the cartons with the pink print!). Susan G. Komen for the Cure® is the largest breast cancer organization in the United States. It has invested nearly $2 billion towards breast cancer research, education, advocacy, health services and social support programs in the US since its inception in 1982. With the help of companies like Eggland's Best, they have also been able to invest another $75 million in research over the past year, as well as providing more than 600,000 women with free screenings and over 100,000 with treatment assistance.* So, when Eggland's Best asked me if I'd like to hold a PINK PARTY to help promote awareness...I eagerly responded in the affirmative.

After two foiled attempts at a PINK HOUSE-WARMING BRUNCH (grrrrr), I wound up throwing a PINK PARTY for the kids of a group of people (+ my little ones) at a local community center. While the meal was already planned, I snuck off with the kids after everybody was nourished and let them ~~go crazy~~ studiously decorate desserts in pink icing, strawberry cream cheese frosting, and pink (amongst other colors) sprinkles! Almost all of the kids knew that October was Breast Cancer Awareness month since they were learning about it at school, so while we decorated, we talked about eating healthy (yes, I see the irony) and getting enough exercise and what we could do to help raise awareness about breast cancer. We had a blast, and when we were finished, the kids proudly carried the plates of PINK DESSERTS in to the room where the adults were "in session". They shared a little bit about what they learned and why everything was pink...and talked about breast cancer awareness and research with the adults before handing them each a coupon for a dozen free eggs from Eggland's Best.

We ate a ham dinner previous to decorating desserts. PINK! The things we made pretty in pink were bite-sized pop tarts, fresh strawberry cake and cupcakes, and sugar cookies.

With more than 2½ million breast cancer survivors living in the United States right now, I realize the importance of research, awareness, testing, and support. Won't you join the fight? Here's some fun Eggland's Best goodies to help you spread the word...

GIVEAWAY

2 free EB dozen coupons (any variety)
1 free EB Hard Cooked & Peeled variety
4 EB ramekins
1 EB apron
1 EB whisk
1 EB spatula
1 EB timer
1 EB eco bag
1 EB plush toy

How to win: ~~Simply leave an inspiring comment on this post or let me know how you contribute to raising awareness or funding for breast cancer.~~

~~I will pick one comment at random to win this prize pack which is provided and sent to the winner by Eggland's Best. Submissions due by 11:59 pm (Eastern) on Friday, October 14, 2011. Good Luck!~~

*Update 10/15/11: congrats to Amy at UTryIt! And thanks to everybody who entered and supports breast cancer research and awareness.

*As a participant and host in the Eggland's Best Double Dozen, I received a "Pink Box" that contained coupons for free EB eggs, plus my own set of the giveaway items to try: ramekins, apron, whisk, spatula, egg timer, eco bag, and a plush toy. They also made a donation in my name to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® foundation and gave me a gift card to help cover the costs of the party. Eggland's Best is providing the winner of this giveaway with their prize. All opinions stated in this post reflect my own personal opinions and experiences: they are 100% my own.
*source: American Cancer Society
*source: Eggland's Best

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of BeeWell for Life. All opinions are 100% mine.

If you are interested in increasing awareness or educating yourself or your loved ones about breast cancer and how BeeWell for Life is there to help, please head on over to sign up and start to Walk and Bee the Difference! Here you can take the "Togetherness Counts" pledge and track your progress with family meal times and family physical activity times. It doesn't have to be walking, you can run, bike, swim, dance, rollerblade (my personal favorite), play frisbee or soccer or baseball....just get active! Once you log your activity, BeeWell for Life will donate $0.10/mile to the Y-ME National Breast Cancer organization. Get physical. Encourage your family to get physical. Tell your friends and co-workers and neighbors what you're doing and encourage them to help raise money for breast cancer awareness and help themselves at the same time.

All too often I find myself drifting a little too easily into the land of blubber. Things come up. Homework happens. Books capture my attention. Food needs cooking...and eating. Products need reviewing. Suddenly I look down and realize that my thighs and waist need shrinking. And it's not just the obvious "appearance" aspect. I feel tired and rundown and just plain "ick". I (try to) give myself a kick in the butt (literally) and throw on my too-tight pants and get my uncomfortable butt outside and moving. Walks and bikes and rollerblading are the things that make me feel human again. And I know seeing me take time to enjoy physical activity encourages the kiddos to get out and move, as well. Throw some healthy foods into the mix, and my pants are fitting better in no time...my head is clearer...my eyes are brighter and my tail is bushier. This is an excellent meal to add to your healthy repertoire...

Avocado, Salmon & Cucumber Salad

from the kitchen of girlichef
serves 2-4

1 medium tomato, small dice

1 small red onion, small dice

2 small jalapeños, small dice

½ English Cucumber, peel, de-"seed" & small dice

½ bunch cilantro

2 ripe avocados

juice from 2-3 limes

5 oz. cooked Salmon, flaked (or use a 5 oz. pouch of Bumble Bee Premium Wild Pink Salmon)

sea salt or kosher salt

freshly ground pepper

Combine tomato, red onion, jalapeños, and cucumber in a medium bowl. Run your sharp knife through the cilantro a few times and add that to the bowl, too. Cut the avocados in half and remove the pits. If you want to serve your salad in the avocado halves, then scoop out the flesh, leaving a ¼" rim of avocado attached. (Alternately, if you don't want to use the avocados for serving, simply scoop all of the flesh from the skin and dice.) Dice the avocado you removed and add to the bowl. Add the lime juice and toss everything together gently. Taste and season with salt and pepper...add more lime juice, if you like. Fold in the salmon. If you are using the avocado halves to serve, sprinkle first with a little bit of lime juice (to help keep it from discoloring) and then scoop the salad into the shells. Otherwise, scoop onto plates lined with your choice of lettuce or tender greens.

Please visit Tag4Cancer.com to join in and help make a difference in the lives of those touched by breast cancer. Here you will be able to join in a game of Twitter Tag with BeeWell for Life. You will also find links to both their Twitter and Facebook pages...check them out...they are a great source for extra health tips.

And now on to that contest I mentioned. How would you like to win an iPad2? I know I would...but unfortunately, I'm not eligible. You, however...probably are. This contest is being run in conjunction with a few other bloggers doing similar posts, and from all of the eligible comments left on all of our posts combined, one lucky winner will be chosen to receive the iPad2 (by the sponsor). You get ONE entry by blog comment and ONE entry by tweeting. Contest ends May 31 and the winner will notified via email within 3 days by IZEA (so be sure to include an email address in your comment...remember, this is being given away by the sponsor, not by me...they need to be able to get in touch with you if you are the winner).

Giveaway Prize (1 winner out of all the participating blogs):

iPad2, value $500

Giveaway Requirements:

Comment on this post – Mention a friend and share how your friend inspires you to be fit or make a difference for others.
Must be US resident and at least 18 yrs of age.
Contest ends 11:59 p.m. EST on May 31, 2011
For names of winner, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to: 150 N. Orange Avenue, Suite 412, Orlando, Florida 32801.
For more information about the giveaway and contest winner, see: contest rules

(example: @DebinHawaii embarked on an inspiring 28-day challenge to eat healthier or So and So at (blog link) constantly inspires me to look at my eating habits and remember that I'm not 18 anymore or My BFF from middle school (link to FB page) fought cancer and won...she is the strongest woman I know and I am inspired by her daily)