Although many people think that Halloween is simply a children’s holiday filled with spooky fun, others believe that October 31 stems from something more sinister. So what is the real truth about Halloween? Here are a few facts that you may not know about the year’s scariest (and sweetest!) holiday.

1. Halloween’s origins can be traced back as far as 2,000 years. The holiday stems from a Gaelic festival called Samhain, which translates into “summer’s end,” an apt name for this favorite fall celebration. Samhain was a time for the community to gather resources for the coming winter months.
2. Halloween was far from sinister. Although Halloween and its predecessor Samhain held a few supernatural and pagan aspects, it was overall a very peaceful and community-oriented holiday.
3. Halloween costumes derived from All Saint’s Day. While we wear costumes for Halloween these days, the costume aspect actually derived from All Saint’s Day, not Samhain. Druid leaders wore traditional costumes made of animal skins to celebrate All Saint’s Day, and because the two holidays fall so close together, they merged with one another over the years.
4. The tricks led to the treats. In the 1920s and 1930s, American youth turned Halloween into rowdy block parties filled with acts of vandalism. In an effort to make the holiday more wholesome, community leaders attempted to ply children with sweets given out by neighbors, which eventually led to what we know as trick-or-treating.

Twenty Interesting Things About… Halloween [The Pioneer Woman]
13 Facts You Never Knew About Halloween [Business Insider]
History of Halloween [Live Science]

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Tacodeli’s owner, Roberto Espinosa, trained for years in kitchens throughout the Yucatan. The result is a small chain of restaurants throughout Austin, each of which is dedicated to using local ingredients and making each menu item entirely from scratch every day.

At Tacodeli, the menu comprises a very impressive variety of beef, chicken, pork, and vegetarian tacos with fresh sauces and garnishes, as well as salads, sides and starters that are equally authentic and delicious. If your taco craving starts as soon as you wake up, Tacodeli also offers breakfast tacos from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends.

Tacodeli's Spyglass Drive location is bright and colorful, with a covered outdoor patio that makes it a perfect spot for a relaxing lunch.

Tacodeli
1500B Spyglass Drive
Austin, TX 78746
(512) 732-0303
www.tacodeli.com
www.yelp.com/biz/tacodeli-austin-3

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Karen

Oil has a reputation for being bad for the waistline, but select oils are very beneficial when consumed in moderation. This helpful guide from the USDA provides simple, accessible descriptions of the main types of oils, then helps you to make informed decisions about which to use. Here are the highlights:

What are oils?
Oils are fats that become liquid at room temperature. Things like canola oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, and olive oil are common, as well as the oils found in foods like nuts, olives, avocados, and some fish.

How are oils different from solid fats?
Solid fats contain more saturated fats and/or trans fats, while oils contain more monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Saturated fats and trans fats raise the “bad” cholesterol in your body, which increases the risk of heart disease.

Why are oils important?
It is important to consume oils because they provide essential nutrients. Oils are the major source of essential fatty acids, which are necessary for your health, and they are also provide the majority of your body’s Vitamin E.

How much oil should I consume?
The average American adult needs anywhere from five to seven teaspoons of oil per day, depending on factors like your gender, age, and level of physical activity.

What Are “Oils”? [USDA]

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