May is National Salad Month

Due to all the benefits of having a salad, United States celebrates National Salad Month in the month of May

May 18, 2016

Salad_bar-02 — Salad Bar, Wikimedia Commons

By Shipra John

National Salad Month is celebrated in the month of May in the United States. When we think of the word ‘salad’ the first thing that comes to our mind are, green veggies such as lettuce or a side salad that can be eaten as a way to maintain your diet. With the climate being warmer in the month of May, people prefer to have something light and thirst quenching, rather than having dry and hot food items such as burgers, roasted meat or grilled items. One can enjoy this meal, as it is light and healthy too. You can experiment by adding flavors such as dressings, fruits and nuts to make it a delicious meal. The bliss of having a salad is that it can be eaten anytime during the day and it boosts up your nutrition.

There are a variety of salads that can be experimented with, using kale, iceberg lettuce and also using dark green veggies such as spinach or red leafy lettuce. You can also have fish or cheese or whole grains as an addition to your appetizer. Knowing that it is good for you, this combination of fresh fruits and vegetables can be accompanied with a glass of fresh juice or a glass of wine.

Some of the benefits of having a salad are listed below:

They are visually attractive since they have varieties of shapes, colors and sizes that are very much eye appealing and also stops your tummy from cravings.
Salads contain low calories that make your meal ideal and perfect for your physique and your digestive system. Having fried food items only increases your body fat. You can gain good fat from salads, as spinach gives you iron, tomatoes give you lycopene and other nutrients are absorbed by the body.
Salads can be made easily and quickly, and can stop you from craving. You don’t need to cook and you can have it at anytime of the day, as it will be refreshing for you and it also re-energizes your body.
Salads help you to digest your meal easily. You may feel heavy and full after having a fatty meal, but a salad helps you to fill your stomach and does not make you feel lazy and sleepy after having your meal.
It prevents diseases. A salad helps you to prevent various diseases especially cancer and heart diseases, since it is rich in fiber that boosts up your digestive system.
The diverse varieties of salads prevent you from getting bored with your food. With an assortment of salads and dressings to choose from and adding a combination of fruits and vegetables you can enjoy eating a tasty healthy meal.

Due to all the benefits of having a salad, United States celebrates National Salad Month in the month of May, as it makes you Health conscious and also re- energizes your immune system.

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Therefore, everyone can also start celebrating National Salad Month by eating from a variety of salads. Salads will make you healthier, cooler and appeal to your taste buds as well.

Shipra John is a Journalism student at Delhi University, currently working as an intern at Newsgram. Twitter @mjsj_96

13 Million in Congo Suffer from ‘Hunger’ and ‘Malnutrition’: UN

U.N. is appealing for $1.65 billion in humanitarian aid for the country this year - more than double the $700 million plus that it raised last year to help 8.5 million people

NewsGram Desk

March 26, 2019

congo, UN — FILE - A Congolese boy has his arm measured for malnutrition in a clinic run by medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres in the remote town of Dubie in Congo's southeastern Katanga province, March 18, 2006. VOA

The number of people needing humanitarian aid in Congo has increased dramatically in the past year to 13 million and “hunger and malnutrition have reached the highest level on record,” the head of the U.N. children’s agency said Monday.

UNICEF’s Executive Director Henrietta Fore told a news conference that 7.5 million of those needing aid are children, including 4 million suffering from acute malnutrition and over 1.4 million from severe acute malnutrition “which means that they are in imminent risk of death.”

U.N. humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock, who just returned from a visit to Congo with Fore, said the U.N. is appealing for $1.65 billion in humanitarian aid for the country this year – more than double the $700 million plus that it raised last year to help 8.5 million people.

UN, congo — U.N. is appealing for $1.65 billion in humanitarian aid for the country this year. Pixabay

He said the worsening humanitarian situation is the result of economic stresses including volatility in commodity prices and the turbulent political situation surrounding December’s elections, compounded by violence, increased displacement and the world’s second-largest Ebola outbreak. Fore added that farmers fleeing with their families and drought in some areas also contributed.

She said the difficulty is that last year’s U.N. appeal was only half funded, and if that same amount is contributed this year it will only be a quarter of this year’s appeal, “and the needs are immense.”

Fore cited more grim statistics: 2 million people were newly displaced last year; 7.3 million children are out of school; 300,000 children die each year before their fifth birthday; 3 in 10 women are reported to be victims of sexual violence; and in January alone there were 7,000 cases of measles and 3,500 cases of cholera.

Congo’s Health Ministry said Monday that the Ebola epidemic has now exceeded 1,000 cases, with a death toll of 629.

Fore said about 30 percent of the cases are children, and UNICEF has identified about 1,000 children who have been orphaned or left unaccompanied while their parents are isolated in Ebola treatment wards.

UNICEF and its partners are providing psycho-social support, food and material assistance to the children, she said.

In the major city of Bunia close to the epidemic’s center, Fore said U.N. and Red Cross officials visited a kindergarten where Ebola survivors who cannot get the virus were caring for orphaned and unaccompanied children.

The U.N. officials also visited Goma, Beni and Butembo and the capital Kinshasa where Lowcock said they had “extremely constructive talks” with Congo’s new president, Felix Tshisekedi.

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“We were encouraged by the new president” who said he would like to work closely with the U.N. on humanitarian issues and problems related to the millions of displaced people, the undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs said.

“Congo is a country where progress is possible,” Lowcock said, pointing to lower infant mortality, more children in school and Kinshasa becoming a modern African capital. (VOA)

Akanksha Sharma

Salads are low on calories, high in fiber and rich in nutrien. And it is tasty.
Shubhi Mangla

It should be celebrated in India also…salad is indeed an important part of our diet. In summers, it should be eaten daily to avoid dehydration
Pritam Go Green

Exactly !!! India should definitely look forward to celebrate National Salad Day. After all our present generation needs to understand the importance of having Salad in their diet list.Many people are still unaware of the fact that ‘Salad’ is highly nutritious for our health.
Vrushali Mahajan

Salads are the main source of fiber in one’s body. It should not be avoided at any cost. To make salads interesting, you can add your favorite toppings and dressings and you’re good to go.