Posts

Get into the Spring Spirit with Snap Peas!

-
Image
Springtime is here! For those of us who live in Ohio, produce can be a little hard to find, since certain fruits and vegetables are not in season year-round. Now that we are entering the warmer months of April, May, and June, that means we finally get an abundance of in-season produce options! One of my favorite seasonal foods that I can find in the spring are snap peas! While snap peas are often used as a vegetable in a culinary setting, they are scientifically considered a fresh legume. Legumes are defined as the mature, immature, or germinated edible seeds of legume plants. Dried legumes, such as beans, peas and lentils, are the mature form of legumes; however, if the seeds have not dried out, they are considered a fresh legume. Think of the soybean: in its mature stage, it’s just a soybean, which can be fermented and eaten, or even used for oil extraction. But when the seed is still immature, it is juicy, green, and is used as a vegetable. Immature, fresh legumes often have a lower...
Post a Comment
Read more

Farmer’s Market Haul: Eating Seasonally Through Your Local Farmer’s Markets

-
Image
Have you ever looked into what foods grow where you live? Many have not. Most people go to the grocery store and buy their produce year-round, without ever considering that those foods are not actually traditionally grown year-round. And that’s completely okay! But I want to challenge you to learn about your locally grown foods, and even try some of them! A great place to start would be your own local farmer’s market. This is perfect because most farmers’ markets are starting back up and/or moving back outside in April-June! Some local farmers/ markets near the Kent State Campus are: The Haymaker Farmer’s Market: Outdoor season begins April 4th, open from 10-1 on Franklin Ave. downtown Kent.  Thrive Together Farmer’s Market: Tuesdays from 3-6 pm, June 16-September 1st – 999 East Maine St., Ravenna, OH. Stow Community Farmer’s Market: Saturdays from 9-12:30, May 30th-October 6th – 1567 Pilgrim Drive, Stow, OH.  Hudson Farmer’s Market: 9-12:30, June 6th-October 10th – On the ...
1 comment
Read more

Egg-cellent Greek Yogurt Treats to Make This Easter

-
Image
Easter is the perfect time for colorful, fun, and festive treats (and yes, you can still enjoy sweets while keeping things nourishing!)  These Greek yogurt-based recipes are creamy, delicious, and packed with protein, probiotics, and calcium in every bite. Greek yogurt is naturally versatile and pairs deliciously with fruits, chocolate, granola, and more, making it the perfect base for treats that are both satisfying, nutrient-rich, and fun to make. Ready to whip up something festive and tasty? Let’s “hop” right into three egg-cellent Greek yogurt Easter treats that the whole family will love! Easter Egg Greek Yogurt Popsicles Ingredients (serves 12): 2 cups Greek yogurt 2 tbsp maple syrup ½ cup diced strawberries ¼ cup sliced blueberries ¼ cup crushed granola (optional; avoid honey granola for babies under 1) Instructions: Spoon a small amount of yogurt into the bottom of your popsicle molds. Layer in berries, granola, or other toppings. Add another spoonful of yogurt to cover the...
1 comment
Read more

Building Strong Bones One Recipe At a Time!

-
Image
Having strong bones is essential to health and quality of life in older adults, but adults begin losing bone mass after age 35, with 1 in 5 women and 1 in 20 men having osteoporosis. The good thing is you can start preventing osteoporosis right now!  While bone density is largely genetic, there are plenty of lifestyle changes you can make now to build strong bones and prevent osteoporosis.  Some of these include regular weight-bearing or resistance exercise, and avoiding or limiting the use of alcohol and tobacco products. But I would like to highlight one specific lifestyle factor that affects bone density: your diet.  There are several nutrients involved in building bone, including calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and protein. Generally, consuming a diverse and balanced diet should provide adequate amounts of these nutrients to help your body build strong bones.  Try this delicious Greek Salmon Bowl recipe to build strong and healthy bones that...
Post a Comment
Read more

Spring has sprung! (Hopefully for good)

-
Image
By this time, I’m sure we can all agree that we are over the freezing cold weather. When March rolls around, the weather starts to change – hopefully by becoming warmer – which calls for new beginnings. I relate the seasons changing to changes of seasons in one’s life. We are always changing, whether that’s reestablishing old or new cycles into our lives, reflecting on the past, and maybe even creating new goals for the future.   I may be biased because my favorite color is green but green is widely represented in different ways in different cultures. In our culture, most of us think St Patrick’s Day and maybe relate the color to the overwhelming naturalistic aura it gives off in the spring when trees grow new leaves and plants start to bloom.   In the 19 th century and thereafter, green was viewed with the relationship between prosperity, rebirth, and wealth which represented some dualities of life - health and sickness, longevity and discontinuity, etc. The color boomed in ...
Post a Comment
Read more