Following the food calendar

For those of us who still like to have tangible references for the passage of time, a watch and a calendar are indispensable.

I still wear a watch almost every day; if I am not looking directly at a computer or phone screen, I check my wrist to know the time of day.

I have a daily cartoon calendar in my workout space that offers my first official giggle of the day – a relief after all that huffing and puffing.

And our kitchen calendar is our main reference, especially useful these days when it always seems like “blursday”.

Themes are fun for calendars, and, of course, food is one of my favourites. Did you know you can fill a calendar with days that celebrate all kinds of food?

Some of the occasions are a bit ridiculous, even for a die-hard like me: do we really need a Date & Nut Bread Day (Sept. 8)? Others must have started as marketing efforts: Fig Newton Day (Jan. 16) and Chocolate-covered Raisins Day (Mar. 24) seem a bit dubious.

Part of me is sad that I missed Whipped Cream Day, though.

There are a few oddities too, perhaps just from bad planning… Ketchup Day is June 5, but it’s just for ketchup; French Fry Day is not until July 13.

I don’t know why Pie Day is listed as Jan. 23. One would think it would be March 14 (all the math lovers out there will understand why). Instead that day is devoted to potato chips.

I wondered about a day coming up soon that showed up on a food calendar in memory of a famous gourmand. Jan. 18 is Winnie the Pooh Day.

Many people know it better as Martin Luther King Day, and his birthday is certainly a wonderful occasion to celebrate. A.A. Milne was also born on the same day, and he created the silly old Bear who loved honey.

He also taught us, through Pooh, about being kind and trying to understand others peacefully. I figured a bit of honey on my toast that day would honour these famous characters and their spirit.

If you would prefer to take a more random approach and not worry about the significance of your food, then here are a few more upcoming days:

• Tuesday, Jan. 19 is Popcorn Day. Traditionally this is my date night with Hubby, and we like to watch movies so we will be celebrating this day for sure.
• Thursday, Jan. 21 is Granola Day. (I have a feeling there was an effort to put more healthy foods in January and work up to the junk food and dessert items. I might have to skip ahead and celebrate Jan. 27 instead – Chocolate Cake Day.)
• Sunday, Jan. 24 is Peanut Butter Day. Those of us who love the stuff don’t need a special day, but well, who am I to argue? It is also Squirrel Appreciation Day. Coincidence? I think not.

For those folks making a healthy start to the year, you will be pleased to know that January as a month is listed on a few counts in that department. It is National Oatmeal Month, and there is a trend toward what they call Veganuary.

Perhaps you would like to have a slower start to the year with easier meals to prepare for this month? Take heart, it is National Slow Cooker Month. Perhaps you got one for Christmas and are wondering what to do with it? I found a good reference for you here.

If all else fails, it is Hot Tea Month. On a grey day, I like to cure the winter blahs with some of my Mom’s advice: “There isn’t much a cookie can’t cure.”

A homemade oatmeal raisin cookie — or chocolate chip if that’s your thing — and a cup of tea make everything better, even if only for one day on the calendar.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.