Food donations get hotel guests a free breakfast

If you’re taking a staycation at the Ala Moana Hotel, pack six cans or five pounds of food.

Through April 3 your canned goods will benefit Hawaii Foodbank, and in return the hotel will give you a coupon for breakfast at the in-house Plantation Cafe.

The hotel’s annual partnership with the food bank allows guests to bring food on multiple days. The contributions must be in the form of cans or unopened, nonperishable bags, such as rice.

Call 955-4811 or visit www.AlaMoanaHotel.com.

Workshop offers healthier dessert recipes

Partaking of dessert doesn’t have to be sinful. Learn how to use healthful alternatives to refined sugars, flours and dairy products at "Have Your Cake and Eat It, Too," a cooking workshop at the Green House sustainable learning center.

The class runs 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday. Dodi Rose of Dodi-Licious will demonstrate three dessert recipes that are no-bake, gluten-free and vegan: two chocolate mousses and a purple sweet potato pie.

Fee is $30. The center is located at 224 Pakohana St. Call 524-8427 or visit www.thegreenhousehawaii.com.

Learn which foods can help stave off hunger

If hunger pangs make dieting a struggle, an upcoming lecture can help.

"Weight Loss Without Hunger: Is It Possible?", presented by the Vegetarian Society of Hawaii, will offer suggestions on food that will fill you up for hours.

Elaine French, founder of the Vegetarian Society of Utah, will address whether popular diet foods such as rice cakes, air-popped popcorn and fat-free crackers really do help.

The talk will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday at Ala Moana Beach Park’s McCoy Pavilion. Admission is free. Call 944-8344 or visit www.VSH.org.

Short stack for big benefit

Everyone wins on National Pancake Day, especially IHOP customers and Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children. On Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Oahu IHOP restaurants, guests will be offered a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes. In return, they can make a donation to the Children’s Miracle Network; Kapiolani is a network hospital. Last year, IHOP served four million free pancakes and raised $2.1 million. Visit www.ihoppancakeday.com.