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[ KEY INGREDIENT ]

Okinawan spinach is right for our climate

This leafy green probably got its name because of its unique purple coloring, and not because of any significance to Okinawan cuisine.

Okinawan spinach is believed to have originated in Indonesia and is thus well-suited to Hawaii's tropical climate. The plant is a fast-growing ornamental shrub that produces lots of nutritious leaves. Okinawan spinach is also a relative of the cholesterol plant and is said to have the same properties -- helping reduce cholesterol levels.

The young leaves and shoots are popular in salads. The flavor is similar to raw spinach. The leaves and stems can also be cooked and incorporated in soups or stir-fries, but a slimy substance is released that may not be appetizing to some.

It's difficult to find Okinawan spinach in supermarkets, but it's generally available year-round at SKA Tropicals at the Saturday KCC Farmer's Market and occasionally in Chinatown.

[ DINING IN ]

Mondays are share days

Turn off the television, ignore the phone, ban the video games.

For one night, gather everyone together and do something rare in these busy times -- have dinner with the entire family.

Monday is "Family Day -- a Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children," a national effort to promote the benefits of this daily sharing time.

In Hawaii, Family Day is a project of the Center on the Family at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, along with Hawai'i Kids Count and Zippy's (well, you can have dinner together at Zippy's, one would suppose).

The point is, regular family dinners, with everyone paying attention to everyone else, is a way of strengthening the family unit, and that reduces problems of drug use and other risky behaviors in children.

So, try it. You'll talk, you'll share, you'll laugh. You can make sure they drink their milk and eat at least some of their vegetables. It could become a habit.

Family Day brochures are available at Zippy's locations, or download one from www.uhfamily.hawaii.edu.