October Kitchen B2C February 2018

This is our way of saying that you are important to us and we truly value your business. Please feel free to pass this newsletter on to your friends and neighbors. ENJOY!

THE NOURISH LETTER

Meet the Men Behind Your Meals FEBRUARY 2018

www.OctoberKitchen.com | 860-533-0588 | 309 Green Rd, Manchester, CT 06042

I Married the Woman Who Made Fun of My Hair WHEN SPARKS FLY

J ob interviews can be stressful. It’s a nerve- wracking experience, even when you know you’re perfect for the position. The best you hope for is to go in, make a good impression and get out without anyone laughing at you. Years ago, when I applied to work as a chef at a fine-dining restaurant, I didn’t quite manage that last part. Back in those days, my hair was long enough to braid, if you can believe it. I was waiting to interview for the chef position, and one of the waitresses came up to me and said, “You must be married or have a girlfriend, because no guy braids his own hair like that.” I didn’t know it at the time, but that’s how I met my future wife. Despite the bruise to my ego, Alison was my favorite waitress from day one. She was consistently professional and the best server in the joint — she was a real queen bee. Plus, she looked really good in tuxedo pants. We got along great, and over the years we developed what you would have called an intimate workplace environment. The occasional shoulder rub after a long day turned into a more occasional back rub. For the record, I did in fact have a girlfriend at the time, but I came to realize I didn’t like spending time with my rude girlfriend nearly as much as I liked being with the cool waitress from work. Shortly after calling it quits with my ex, I found myself alone in the backroom with Ali. I took the leap and kissed her. Luckily for me, she kissed

right back and we were off to the races. We became an item and worked at the restaurant for another year, keeping our romance a secret (workplace romances were against company policy). On June 23, a year to the day of when I kissed her for the first time, I asked Ali to marry me. I was quite lucky again when she said yes. Four months later, we tied the knot on Oct. 23. Have I mentioned October is a really banner month for me? What started with harsh criticism turned into a 20-year relationship. We work together every day. Ali is my life partner in every way, shape and form. She supported me when I wanted to quit my job to start my personal chef business, and she has saved my butt many times by running to the store to grab ingredients. When I moved into that old church kitchen and set up my delivery service, Ali was there, preparing boxes and filling our orders. October Kitchen began as a real mom and pop shop. We likely would have gone up in flames were it not for Ali. Today, she’s the front-end face of the business, handling books and taking care of our customers. She’s quite indispensable. This month, I want to celebrate my valentine. Ali, you’re truly the love of my life. Thank you for all that you have done and for putting up with me for all this time. I can’t wait to see what the next 20 years will bring.

“On June 23, a year to the day of when I kissed her for the first time, I asked Ali to marry me. I was quite lucky again when she said yes.”

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Be Social Media Savvy and Stay Connected

kidney stone, feel free to cut ties. That might entail unfollowing (you remain friends but no longer see their posts in your feed), unfriending, or blocking a person entirely. There’s no reason to keep in touch with someone whose very profile picture makes you angry. Check a Source Before Sharing Just because something is online, that doesn’t make it true. It’s just as easy for someone to post a lie about a celebrity or politician as it is for Judy to post about her dog. If you read a news story that gets a rise out of you, double check the facts before you hit share. Googling the article’s claims and main points will bring up similar articles — if those claims are true. This will help you determine if it’s breaking news or a big hoax. Just 10 years ago, snail mail and expensive long-distance calls were the only way to keep in touch with the people we couldn’t see every day. Thanks to social media, we can stay connected to our loved ones around the world. Now that’s something that deserves a like.

It’s time to break the bad news to your grandkids: Social media isn’t just for them. A study from the Pew Research Center found that 47 percent of baby boomers are using social media. Facebook in particular proves to be an excellent resource for adults moving through the later stages of life. This social media platform helps keep you in touch with friends, family members who live far away and workplace acquaintances who you don’t see during retirement. Social media can help you gather the people you want to keep in contact with in one centralized location. Here are a few things to remember for keeping your digital friendships enjoyable. Social Media Isn’t a Diary No one wants to see a feed clogged with posts from the same person. Your friends might like reading about exciting vacations or days with the grandkids, but they don’t need updates about your wait in line at the grocery store. Sharing TMI (too much information) will put you on the fast track to losing friends. It’s Okay to Hit Unfriend Likewise, if you find yourself sick of Judy’s moment-by-moment updates of her dog’s

LOVE STORIES TO BRIGHTEN YOUR DAY What Makes the World Go Around?

There’s nothing like a love story to warm your heart. This Valentine’s Day, share the warmth with these true stories of love and hope. Love in the First Degree In December 2017, Irish journalist Sarah-Jane Murphy tweeted about the most heartwarming reason to be excused from jury duty ever: true love. According to Murphy, during the jury selection process, a gentleman told the judge he could not serve because he would be away for the weekend. When the judge told the man jury didn’t sit on weekends, the man said, “I’m away until Monday. I’m 54, a bachelor and it’s my first time in love.” Murphy and the man were both surprised when the judge replied, “Then you go, and you go with my blessing!” A Four-Letter Word Not all love stories are about romantic love. Spencer Sleyon, a 22-year-old aspiring rapper from Harlem and 81-year-old Rosalind “Roz” Guttman, a senior resident at a retirement community in Florida, met when the crossword app Words With Friends randomly paired the two as opponents.

Over the course of more than 320 games, they exchanged compliments, challenges and general conversation, forming a close friendship. At the encouragement of his pastor, Sleyon bought a plane ticket to visit Guttman down in Florida. Despite their skill with words, when the two friends met for the first time, both Sleyon and Guttman were speechless. Hope After War Boris and Anna Kozlov were married in 1946. Three days later, Boris was called away to serve in Russia’s Red Army. In his absence, Anna and her Sixty years passed and they never knew if the other was dead or alive. Eventually, Anna decided to visit the house she’d lived in with Boris. On that same day, Boris returned to the village to place flowers on his parents’ graves. When the couple spotted one another across the street, they recognize each other right away. But then, you never forget the true love of your life. We can all be a little cynical at times, but when you hear stories like these, it’s hard not to believe in crazy ideas like true love, soul mates and happily ever after. family would be declared enemies of Stalin’s cruel regime and exiled to Siberia. When Boris returned, his home was empty.

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Can Chocolate Boost Mental Health?

is particularly affected by aging and therefore the potential source of age-related memory decline in humans.”

Between Halloween, Valentine’s Day, Easter and your general sugary cravings, chocolate sales continue to rise each year. In 2017, chocolate sales in the United States soared past $22.4 billion. While Americans tend to overindulge when it comes to chocolate, research suggests that, when enjoyed in moderation, your favorite treat may hold the key to preventing mental decline. A study from the University of L’Aquila in Italy looked into how flavonols, a chemical compound found in cacao beans, affect cognition. Head researchers Valentina Socci and Michele Ferrara noted that consuming flavonoid-rich cocoa — particularly dark chocolate — enhanced memory performance, attention, processing speed and verbal fluency in older participants. “This result suggests the potential of cocoa flavanols to protect cognition in vulnerable populations over time by improving cognitive performance,” researchers explained. “If you look at the underlying mechanism, the cocoa flavonols have beneficial effects for cardiovascular health and can increase cerebral blood volume in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. This structure

TESTIMONIALS At October Kitchen, our mission is to provide delicious, nourishing meals. In doing so, we hope to help our clients lead healthy and independent lives. Nothing fills our hearts more than to know we’ve succeeded in our goal when we hear such kind words from our clients. The research is promising, but it’s not a green light to eat an entire box of discount chocolate the day after Valentine’s Day. The high levels of calories, caffeine and sugar found in chocolate aren’t good for you. However, if you’re craving something sweet after dinner or need a midday pick-me-up, feel free to treat yourself to a small square of dark chocolate. It might make you a little healthier. “My mom and dad have faced some serious health issues in the past few years, which has limited their ability to prepare healthy meals for themselves. The meals are fresh, well-balanced and easy to heat. There is always a great variety available and the fact that they deliver makes it such a great option for my parents. I feel better knowing that they have a hot meal every night and a few tucked away in the freezer! The staff is always ready to answer questions when my mom calls. I recommend this service to anyone who worries that their folks might not be eating as healthy as they could be. Thanks, October Kitchen!” “We have been with October Kitchen for over four years. That in itself should tell you something. We order essentially every week we are home. The meals are excellent, tasty and wholesome. The menu changes, but there are specials that we look forward to, like Candy Cane blondies, mango muffins, stuffed peppers, tortilla lasagna, eggplant anything and pulled pork. I love everything. We also stash meals in the freezer and take them to work for lunch. The food is not over salted, so you can salt to your taste. Worth a try, especially for a busy household with kids!” –Lisa M. Chocolate lovers will be delighted to learn that this isn’t the first time science has concluded that chocolate may be good for your health. The Journal of the American Medical Association reported bioactive compounds found in cocoa and dark chocolate can help lower blood pressure and improve blood flow; a Canadian study involving almost 45,000 people determined individuals who ate chocolate were 22 percent less likely to suffer a stroke; and research published in the British Medical Journal found that chocolate consumption may be linked to a lower risk of heart disease.

_____________________________ Write your name here and fax the completed puzzle to 860-533-0585, send it via empty delivery box, or bring it to the shop and receive 10 percent off your next order . Limit one per customer. Expires February 28, 2018. WORD SEARCH C E N T Y R K S U D E L M W U X L F O R W G M Y Z A Q E L L R Y D N I I R H L C T P I F S D T Q V H T T K F H I R X I F H S E R F L U H I U N G F I S C E I F A B O L Q T G P N R L B F Y E B O E V O S C N W F A C I H G H A R U E S E H Z C E F L O C T O B E R Y E Y E O M S T N E I D E R G N I R E N O K F S P Y E E A I F O D Q L G S U I W J M R L O M A Q P T C O O U V A L M O P M Y J A W Q B P Z B T Z L U W I T H U B W P C Y B Q K B Y Y N C Y L I J

OCTOBER PAUL RESOLUTION WITH YUMMY

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EATING FINNEY FRESH HEALTHY INGREDIENTS KITCHEN LIFESTYLE LOVE EATING FINNEY FRESH HEALTHY INGREDIENTS

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309 Green Rd. Manchester, CT 06042 INSIDE

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Fire in the Kitchen

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Are You Committing a Facebook Faux Pas?

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True Tales of Happily Ever After

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Your Sweet Tooth Might Help Improve Brain Function

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Word Search

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Are 529 Plans Right for You?

T here are many strategies out there for folks who want to invest in their grandchildren’s education. Different options may be more attractive than others depending on your income bracket and the needs of your family. Traditional strategies, like life insurance policies or paying for your grandchild’s schooling directly, only work if you have the capital. Furthermore, those methods can often negatively impact how much financial aid your grandchild qualifies for. Before you commit yourself to one of these paths, it’s worth exploring a third option: 529 saving plans. Invest in Your Grandchild’s Education

529 plans are income tax-free savings plans specially designed to help you invest in a child’s higher education. In general, these are treated favorably by financial aid assessors, meaning you won’t hurt your grandchild’s chances of receiving government grants. There are two broad types of 529 plans: college savings plans and prepaid tuition plans. Savings Plans College savings plans use one or more investment portfolios to grow your grandchild’s tuition fund. Each portfolio contains a diversified mix of investments curated by the plan’s money manager. Most plans allow you to select from a menu of portfolio options that best fit your goals and risk tolerance. Many college savings plans start aggressive and then become more conservative as your beneficiary approaches college age. The downside with these sorts of plans is that there will always be risk involved; there’s no guarantee on investment returns. Prepaid Tuition Plans States and some private institutions have 529 plans available that let you pay for

your grandchild’s tuition up front, well before they are ready to head off to college. Some plans guarantee to cover a set amount of future tuition expenses in exchange for a lump sum or payment plan. Other plans allow you to buy “units” or “credits,” which translate to a fixed percentage of an institution’s tuition. Essentially, you pay the cost of tuition today rather than what it will cost by the time your grandchild goes to college. Prepaid plans are far less risky than savings plans, but they aren’t as flexible. They often limit options to state schools or select institutions, though most plans offer some form of reimbursement option if your beneficiary decides to attend another school. College just isn’t as affordable as it used to be. Knowing your options and finding a savings strategy early in your grandchild’s life can help ensure the avenues of higher education stay open for them.

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