Food for Thought : October is National Pork Month

October is National Pork Month . In the past , pork has created  a little controversy in the nutrition world with some listing it as a power food  and others  putting  it on  lists of food to avoid .
To clear up the debate  , one must consider  the particular  cut of meat  and the way it's prepared . For example , it is no secret  that bacon  and sausage  are much higher in faat and sodium . However , pork loin  and pork chops  are great options  for leaner cuts  of meat .
Pork is high in protein  , low in fat  and a great source  of B-vitamins  , putting  it on the list  for one  of the  energizing  foods .
Here are a few tips  to help  you enjoy  pork in a healthy way :

1 . Keep meat separate  in your grocery cart  and make sure  you bag it separately  for transporting home . Meat should always be kept  on a plate or tray , below other foods  to prevent  juices  from dripping on other foods  and prevent cross contamination.
2 .  Make sure  you cook pork steaks  and chops  to an internal temperature of at least 145 F and ground pork  to at least 160 F.
3 .  Pair pork  with fruits . Pork goes well with  many fruits such as  pineapple  , apples , pears  and oranges .
4 .  When possible , buy meats  raised by local farmers .

Words of Wisdom :

Getting old is when  your toupee looks good , your false teeth work fine , your peg leg is O.K. , but you sure do miss your mind .

My senior moments  sometimes turn into a week long vacation !

My memory is so bad  I finally have a clear conscience.

We do not stop laughing  because we grow old ; we grow old because we stop laughing .

A proud Grandpa -------G.