A Military Holiday

Our service people deal with everything , from mortars to snipers. Imagine spending a Thanksgiving with the threat of attack looming over every bite. Yet that's what our almost every branch of our military has gone through for centuries. The upcoming holiday is no different.

Thanksgiving on duty was the main article in yesterday's New York Times Food section. C.J. Chivers, a Times investigative reporter and Pulitzer prize winner , wrote about how our armed services celebrate. There are also stories from former and current military members, some funny , most poignant and unsettling. As per Mr. Chivers, who writes regularly on the Afghan Conflict, the US has spent nineteen years fighting the war on terrorism with a few million American service members celebrating away from home and family. Earlier in the year, The Times contacted veterans about their experiences and asked for pictures too. Thanksgivings were varied, depending on the base. Troops at midsized bases found that the military or their peers put out traditional spreads.Full turkey dinners were saved at one base thanks with the help of the U.S.N.S.  GySgt. Fred W. Stockham's merchant mariners. Ethan Frisch , an aid worker for Aga Khan Foundation who worked on rural infrastructure in Afghanistan bought two scrawny turkeys and butchered them himself. He flavored them with local wild cumin and coriander seeds.

The problem with a holiday  - any holiday in a war zone - is that the wars don't stop. (although there was the famed Christmas Truce of 1914 where British  and French troops had a temporary truce with the German army). Turkey and phone calls can only go so far. They're basically band aids plastered over an always bleeding wound.Many enlisted know this. One, Sgt Michelle Estabrook Kuranishi did her best to cobble together a holiday meal with a fellow Marine. They managed to put together a traditional dinner, thanks to scrounging through  enough care packages to acquire pumpkin filling for pies and enough stuffing to feed their group. Finally she could briefly forget the recently tragic past where the two peers she had trained were killed in Ramadi in central Iraq.  This holiday meal included her partner, Master Sgt. Brett Angus who was tall ,lanky and enjoyed a good prank, esp
ecially when it came to Sgt. Estabrook Kuranishi. The happiness, if it could be called that was short lived. The next day Master. Sgt, Angus was killed when he investigated their bomb detecting robot that had been blown up. Now Thanksgiving has a resonance  for her, one shared with those who have survived their tours of duty. The fact that she is still alive fourteen years later has made her grateful for the life that was spared.

War is hell.  A holiday spent in a war zone even more so. We can't make it better for our military where they're stationed. We sure as hell can make it better for them when they return.

Healthy Care Packages

This is the  time of year when kids start going back to college.  That means  eating at all different hours and non stop snacking. It also means gaining weight and unhealthy diets. What to do? Plan for sending good and healthy care packages.

It's hard to monitor your student when he or she are miles away. You can always tell them to eat healthy and instill good eating habits when they're at home. However that all changes when they get their first nip of  freedom. What you can do is either bring or send healthy and tasty dishes that make up for all that junk. Iif you're a two or three hour drive away from the campus you can always visit with a cooler of premade frozen dinners. Most dorms have some kind of kitchen or microwave where they can cook or live in a regular apartment or house with a kitchen. You can easily premake whole wheat pastas with healthy , fresh made sauce. These are always tasty and appreciated. Also think about making dinners  that feature salmon or chicken. Bring brown rice dishes as well or bring boxes of it for the kids to cook fresh.

If your collegiate is farther than three hours then send a care package. The most traditional care packages contain homemade cookies along with cakes and breads. If you want these to be healthy then consider baking with whole wheat or gluten free flour.A good recipe is oatmeal raisin cookies made with whole wheat flour and brown sugar. You can also add good for you cranberries and walnuts. Of course  the more appreciated are chocolate chip cookies. These can easily be made with all natural ingredients. Think about sending whole wheat breads and cakes too for  alternative treats. A slice of  zucchini or banana bread  is a great snack for the morning or during an evening study session. Care packages also can contain dry  or jarred ingredients. You can pack whole wheat pastas, all natural jams and sauces along with homemade granola mixes too

Even though you;re not there you can still make sure your kids eat healthy. Send them care packages not only packed with love but with nutritious snacks and treats. Your dorm student will have fun food and a good diet.
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