You must start with a successful garden plan to grow nutritious, sustainable food for your healthy meal plans. Now more than ever, growing your food can be a stress reliever, save you money, and provide your family with delicious vegetables and flavorful herbs. Supermarket organic options can be costly, and with the current shopping restrictions, who wants to go to the store? To achieve a bountiful garden, you must start with a plan… Planning Your Garden Whether you are using containers or plotting a garden in the ground, having a plan is crucial for success. Ideally, you should keep a record of what you grow, plant maintenance, and your harvest.…
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What You Need to Know About Food Labels
It is National Nutrition Month and this week I want to share with you some insight on what you need to know about food labels. The confusing and bureaucratic-filled process by which the United States came to pass our food labeling system is overwhelming – and a topic for another blog post. However, just know the United States Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services are required to revisit the guidelines every five years. These two government agencies appoint a joint committee, review research, and determine the final design and text. The lobbyist for organizations such as the Grocery Manufacturers of America; the American Society for…
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Fiber is Essential for Good Health
Fiber is a nutrient most Americans do not get enough of but it is essential for good health and a stable digestive system. Most of us should increase our fiber intake by double! The average American only gets 10-15 grams per day, whereas 25 – 30 grams is more ideal. One of my husband’s favorite foods is artichokes cooked in a pressure cooker. My mother-in-law would place a small amount of water in a pressure cooker. Set raw artichokes in the pressure cooker, upright; and cook. To serve, she placed the artichoke, upright, in a bowl, which about ¼ cup of melted butter. Leaves would be plucked off, dipped in…
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5 Ways to Handle Picky Eaters
Do you have Picky Eaters in your household? I bet the majority of you do! Whether it is a spouse, kids, or yourself – there are ways to handle those picky eaters. Here are some of my suggestions. Educate Your Family About Food Waste Food is the No.1 item Americans throw away. Each year up to 40 percent of the food supply in the US is never consumed. Teach your children to appreciate the luxury of our vast food supply and encourage them to chose whole foods, when grocery shopping. As a family, discuss the economic, environmental and social impacts of wasted food. Involve your kids in starting a compost pile…
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Growing and Cooking Onions
Growing and cooking onions are treasured around the world for their pungent flavor and versatility in many dishes. Onion Characteristics There are two main classifications of onion – green onions, aka scallions, and dry onions, which are mature onions with a juicy flesh covered with dry, papery skin. There are dozens of dry onion varieties – way too many to go into for this post; however, we will concentrate on the stronger flavored, globe onion, which is what I used for the smothered pork steak recipe below. Globe onions can be yellow, red or white and range from 1-inch diameter, up to 4-inches. Rich in flavor and mildly pungent, these…
