This week's newsletter is packed with exciting questions, healthy recipes, inspiring athletes, local events you won't want to miss, and a must-read blog post! Enjoy reading this weeks newsletter!

Which of the following is essential for maintaining good health as a competitive athlete?

A) Proper nutrition and hydration

B) Consistent rest and recovery

C) Regular physical therapy or injury prevention

D) All of the above

Healthy Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs with Zoodles

Ingredients

• 1 ½ pounds zoodles (spiralized zucchini noodles, from around 3 zucchinis)

• Kosher salt

• 1/3 cup plain breadcrumbs

• ¼ cup whole milk

• 8 ounces ground turkey

• ¼ cup ricotta

• 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

• 1 tbsp finely grated parmesan

• ½ cup tsp dried oregano

• Freshly ground black pepper

• 1 ¼ cups tomato sauce (from a jar)

Instructions

1. Add zoodles and salt to a bowl and toss them together. Let the zoodles sit to soften and release excess liquid, around 10 minutes. Then pat them dry.

2. In a medium bowl combine the breadcrumbs and milk, let the mixture sit for about 5 minutes to allow the breadcrumbs to soften and absorb most of the liquid. Then add the turkey, ricotta, parsley, parmesan, oregano, ½ tsp salt, and a pinch of pepper to the breadcrumbs mixture.

3. Use your hands to combine the mixture and then form the mixture into 12 meatballs

4. Preheat an air fryer to 400F. Air fryer the meatballs until just cooked through and golden brown on the outside, around 10 minutes. Turn the meatballs halfway through the cooking time.

5. Warm the tomato sauce in a saucepan on the stove. Add the meatballs to the sauce, then lower the heat to low to keep it warm.

6. Season the zoodles with ¼ tsp salt and a pinch of salt. Air fryer the zoodles at 400F for around 5 - 6 minutes or until tender and starting to brown around the edges. Toss the zoodles halfway through the cooking time.

7. Add the zoodles to a shallow bowl or plate and top with 6 meatballs and spoon the tomato sauce over it. Add parmesan to the top and enjoy!

Click HERE to go to the recipe!

This week, our soccer coach at Lake Forest College Naomi is in the spotlight! Check out her bio below and book your next lesson by going to our website!

Introducing, Naomi Norman

“Hello, my name is Naomi. I am a defender on Lake Forest College Women's Soccer Team. I have been playing soccer competitively for the past 15 years. I love to work with people of all ages. My goal is to personal lessons to build on the strengths and weaknesses of each player. I aim that each lesson makes each player a better version of themselves. I work with a positive attitude that comes from a deep love for the sport. I hope to continue to make the game enjoyable!”

Book Your Lesson With Naomi Now!

Tween and Teen Art Break

The Allerton Public Library is hosting a workshop to learn more about artists and practice art skills. This event is taking place on Tuesday, February 25th at 4:00 pm at the Allerton Public Library. Registration is required and it’s for ages 11 -18.

Click HERE to learn more! 

Diy Beeswax Wraps

The Prieto Community Center is hosting a DIY beeswax wrap making night! DIY beeswax wraps help to save money and reduce plastic use. Materials and instructions will be provided by the Ecology Center staff. Children must to accompanied by a registered adult! This event is happening on Thursday, February 27th from 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. at the Prieto Community Center. The cost is $18 for residents and $24 for non residents.

Click HERE to learn more!

The sports industry has a variety of careers that are perfect for sports lovers who want to contribute to the success of individual athletes and teams. These careers range from more hands-on roles like athletic trainers and physical therapists to more creative roles like being a sports journalist or a sports marketing manager. So here are 4 roles that are perfect for sports lovers.

Click HERE to read more!

Based originally in Champaign, Illinois and quickly expanding across the rest of the Midwest, we at Top Tier make it our goal to connect you and your kids to high quality and successful college athletes across every playing field. We are currently offering lessons for several different sports from an array of elite college athletes. As college sports are expanding and becoming more popular throughout the country, we want to guarantee our customers can benefit from this great opportunity to receive quality training with flexible times. Check out our website to learn more.

The correct answer is D! (source: ChatGPT)