4 servings

Active Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 medium acorn squash, halved (see Tip) and seeded
• 1 teaspoon plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 8 cups chopped chard leaves (about 1 large bunch chard)
• 1 15-ounce can white beans, rinsed
• 1/4 cup chopped kalamata olives
• 1/3 cup coarse dry whole-wheat breadcrumbs (see Note)
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Preparation

1. Cut a small slice off the bottom of each squash half so it rests flat. Brush the insides with 1 teaspoon oil; sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Place in a 9-by-13-inch (or similar-size) microwave-safe dish. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave on High until the squash is fork-tender, about 12 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion; cook, stirring, until starting to brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Add garlic; cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Stir in water, tomato paste and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Stir in chard, cover and cook until tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in white beans and olives; cook until heated through, 1 to 2 minutes more. Remove from the heat.
3. Position rack in center of oven; preheat broiler.
4. Combine breadcrumbs, Parmesan and the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a bowl. Fill each squash half with about 1 cup of the chard mixture. Place in a baking pan or on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with the breadcrumb mixture. Broil in the center of the oven until the breadcrumbs are browned, 1 to 2 minutes.

Nutrition

342 Calories; 13 g Fat; 3 g Sat; 8 g Mono; 6 mg Cholesterol; 49 g Carbohydrates; 11 g Protein; 12 g Fiber; 665 mg Sodium; 151 mg Potassium

2 1/2 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 3 starch, 1 vegetable, 1/2 plant-based protein, 2 fat

Nutrition Note: Vitamin A (100% daily value), Vitamin C (60% dv), Magnesium & Potassium (33% dv), Folate (29% dv), Iron (20% dv).

Tips & Notes

• Tip: Make it easier to cut a pumpkin, acorn squash or other winter squash: pierce in several places with a fork; microwave on High for 45 to 60 seconds. Use a large sharp knife to cut in half. Remove the seeds and stringy fibers with a spoon.
• Ingredient Note: We like Ian’s brand of coarse dry whole-wheat breadcrumbs, labeled “Panko breadcrumbs.” Find them in the natural-foods section of large supermarkets. To make your own breadcrumbs, trim crusts from firm sandwich bread. Tear the bread into pieces and process in a food processor until coarse crumbs form. Spread on a baking sheet and bake at 250°F until dry, about 15 minutes. One slice of bread makes about 1/3 cup dry breadcrumbs.

Yield: 8 servings, about 1 cup each

Total Time: 45 minutes

Prep Time: 35 minutes

To Make Ahead: Prepare through Step 2 and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 day.

Recipe Ingredients:

1. 2 pounds green beans, trimmed
2. 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3. 3 tablespoons minced garlic
4. 3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
5. 1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon or 2 teaspoons dried
6. 1/2 teaspoon salt
7. Freshly ground pepper to taste

Recipe Steps:

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Place a large bowl of ice water next to the stove.
2. Add half the green beans to the boiling water and cook until tender-crisp, about 4 minutes. Transfer the beans with a slotted spoon to the ice water to cool. Repeat with the remaining beans. Place a kitchen towel on a baking sheet and use a slotted spoon to transfer the beans from the ice water; blot dry with another towel.
3. Just before serving, heat oil in a large Dutch oven or large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the green beans and stir. Add parsley, tarragon, salt and pepper and cook, stirring, until heated through, 1 to 3 minutes.

Recipe Nutrition:

Per serving: 92 calories; 6 g fat (1 g saturated fat, 4 g mono unsaturated fat); 0 mg cholesterol; 10 g carbohydrates; 2 g protein; 4 g fiber; 148 mg sodium; 186 mg potassium

© 2009 EatingWellInc.com Photo: Ken Burris

And while a cancer diagnosis is devastating, there is a strong support system that exists for patients through a network of non-profit organizations. Prevent Cancer Foundation has joined with Amgen, the Cancer Support Community, the Patient Advocate Foundation and the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship in a campaign called Breakaway from Cancer, which highlights the resources available to the public through our organizations from prevention through survivorship.

In June of 2010, as part of the Breakaway from Cancer Campaign, we participated in a policy discussion at the annual meeting of the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) called “Striking the Balance.”  Our Striking the Balance discussion identified areas for improvement in the spectrum of cancer prevention and care, and identified several actions steps to take to enable these improvements.  The discussion included leaders from all four organizations, including our President and Founder, Carolyn Aldige, as well as oncologists Lee Schwartzberg and John Marshall, moderator Susan Dentzer and special guest Patrick Dempsey who participated via Skype. We are pleased to make this panel discussion available to you through the Breakaway from Cancer Website (www.breakawayfromcancer.com) through a series of podcasts. 

On Wednesday, October 20^th, we posted parts 1 and 2 of the series on breakawayfromcancer.com. Parts 3 and 4 will be posted on the website on Wednesday, October 27^th and Wednesday, November 3^rd, respectively.

I hope you will take advantage of the opportunity to listen to the perspectives of this expert panel and lively discussion!

I was instantly attracted to this position. The Foundation, its mission, and programs have helped to highlight an important aspect of cancer that many other groups tend to overlook: prevention. So much emphasis is placed on research for the cure, and what to do after diagnosis, that people forget that cancer can be prevented.

I came on board ready to help in any way that I could, and what better way to help than with the Prevent Cancer Foundation 5k? At 6:30 a.m. my friends Lina Schneider, Kaitlin McClure, Erin Guastini and I came together eager to start our day of volunteering. Yes, this is early for college students, but we didn’t mind because we knew we would be helping a great cause. While at the race, we assisted with the pre-race warm up, took lots of pictures of the runners/walkers, and cheered for them as they approached the finish line.

When the race was over, I took the opportunity to talk to a runner who ran with his whole family. He had many good things to say about the Foundation. He mentioned that last year, he participated in the 5K with colleagues from work. This year he brought his whole family to what he called “a great race, for a great cause.”

The key is getting the message out there. I recommend that all college/university students and groups follow Alpha Phi Omega  and get involved with the Foundation in spreading the message of prevention and early detection.

“A great race, for a great cause”, is a sentiment that was echoed by many runners throughout the morning. “It’s so odd that people don’t seem to think about preventing cancer,” said Lina. The Foundation does just that, and I love that they have put prevention in the forefront of cancer discussions across the country.”

The man (with his wife) was in his early 50’s, and they were both shocked when he was (subsequently) diagnosed with early prostate cancer. The woman told me how very thankful they both were; she took my hand and began to cry, saying, “I really need him. Thank you!” They walked away together holding hands and suddenly the rest of the week didn’t seem so long, so hard, nor so hot. 

Read the entire article on the Prevent Cancer Foundation Web site.

Editor’s Note: This post is  part of the 25th Anniversary Testimonials Initiative.

Without the Prevent Cancer Foundation, the future of cancer research and prevention would be much less bright.

Nearly 20 years ago, I helped found the Congressional Families Cancer Prevention Program, which is a longstanding partnership between the Prevent Cancer Foundation and the Congressional Club.  As President of the Congressional Club at the time, I knew that spouses of members of Congress have a unique perspective and platform that they can use to educate people across the country about important issues like cancer prevention.

The Congressional Club and the Prevent Cancer Foundation joined together in 1991, and the partnership was characterized by instant results and organizational synergy.  Harnessing our collective visibility, talents, energy, and national reach, we fought a common enemy: cancer.  That fight continues to this day, and it is a fight that we are increasingly winning. 

Read the entire article on the Prevent Cancer Foundation Web site.

Editor’s Note: This post is  part of the 25th Anniversary Testimonials Initiative.

Prevention is the ultimate weapon against cancer. The Prevent Cancer Foundation recognized this in 1985, and for nearly 25 years has been doing something about it.

Through the leadership of the Prevent Cancer Foundation, I have witnessed an extraordinary increase in national awareness of many kinds of cancer as preventable diseases – or ones that can be successfully treated when detected in their early stages.

The Foundation began to nurture a generation of cancer prevention scientists from its inception. As it now prepares to embark on its Silver Jubilee celebration, many of these young scientists who have received Foundation funding over the years are considered superstars in the world of cancer research – and the Foundation, whose impact extends far beyond its area of focus in cancer prevention, has become one of the leading and most respected organizations in the entire cancer community.

The Foundation has also taken a leadership role in educating the public about ways they can reduce their risk of developing cancer – or detect it early when chances of successful treatment are highest. One of their high-impact programs, the National Prevent Cancer SuperColon Tour, has crisscrossed the country educating Americans of every walk of life that this is a disease that can be prevented through screening – and the numbers of deaths from this disease are decreasing.

They have also recognize the importance of reducing disparities in access to prevention and early detection among the medically underserved and have long supported community outreach and education programs to address these disparities, in areas ranging from their own backyard of Washington, DC, to native Alaskans, to rural Kansans, to Latinas in suburban Chicago.

Editors Note: this blog post is part of the 25th Anniversary testimonials initiative. Read the full text.