A Salad for Everyone

Wow, this is an ambitious article from Mark Bittman:

The Minimalist - Recipes for 101 Simple Salads for the Season - NYTimes.com

Look it over and just try not to be tempted to make at least one of them!

I love salads in the summer for a few different reasons - they let you avoid cooking, they are nice and cool (I live in the desert, so this is important), and they are a great way to get in some fruits and vegetables. But, it is so easy to get in a salad rut. In the summer, we have so many fresh ingredients available to us to yummy up a salad. One of my favorites is to add summer fruit to a fresh salad, like nectarines or plums.

As I've probably said before on this blog, one of the best ways to eat better is to concentrate on trying to eat more fruits and vegetables. Remember, beans can count as a veggie! I think I'll try Mr. Bittman's suggestion for summer cherries, since I still have a good bunch in my frig:

" Pit and halve cherries (or halve and pit cherries), then cook gently with olive oil and a little balsamic vinegar until they break down. Toss with chopped radicchio, endive, escarole or a combination, some toasted hazelnuts and more oil and vinegar, if necessary." Yummy! Which one will you try?

Spongebob in my kitchen

I found this bag of frozen edamame with Spongebob on the front, and I figured I'd buy it to coaxe my picky little 3-year-old to actually eat a vegetable. Now, as you know from my blog, I believe in putting the veggie on the plate but not forcing the veggie down the hatch - they need to be able to try the veggie in their own (excrutiatingly slow) time.

Being a bit of a slacker mom, my 3-year old has been introduced to Spongebob and his friend, Patrick. So, yes, he was very impressed to see the weird little guy in our refrigerator. His brother, the more ambitious eater of the two, dove right in to the edamame, popping them into his mouth. The 3-year-old watched, amused, and finally - he tried it! And he liked it!

I forget about edamame in the world of veggies, since it's not something I was raised on - the only time I eat it is when I'm out with my husband for sushi, with no kids in sight (aaaaah...) But, edamame is actually very kid-friendly. It has a very mild, almost buttery taste, and it is fun for kids to be able to "play with their food" by popping the soybeans out of the pod into their mouth. It's a great source of protein and fiber, and contains something called isoflavones, which are quite healthy and only found in soy.

I think I'll invite the yellow guy back again soon.

Who thought of this name?

I am impressed with all of the new frozen vegetables that you just stick in the microwave right in the bag, but I came across this line from Green Giant - they call them Steamers.

Now. I must explain that I grew up with brothers only, I am married to a man who still has a sense of humor that a 12-year old boy would appreciate, and I have two young boys. So, if you get why I think the name "Steamers" for a vegetable line is funny, then you also probably have little boys/grown boys roaming around in your life. If you don't get it, go find a 12-year old boy and ask him what a Steamer is.

One of my favorite things!

I really love this product from Birds Eye vegetables - individually frozen packages of baby brussel sprouts - bonus: they don't have any sauce on them. You just stick them in the microwave for a couple minutes, and you have a perfect portion for one of brussel sprouts - yum!

There must be a new technology in the wrapping business, because now there are all kinds of "micro in the bag" veggies available - frozen and fresh. I just bought some fresh broccoli at Fresh and Easy that you microwave in the bag, and it turned out great! I'm a little freaked out by the microwaving in plastic concept, because that just seems like something you shouldn't do - but, I'll trust that this technology was tested and approved for human consumption (it was, wasn't it...?)

Have a plan

One of the first things a person does when trying to eat healthy is to "load up on fruits and vegetables". In fact, if you look inside any magazine that offers healthy eating tips, you will probably find this exact mandate offerred as advice. The problem is that there is rarely a plan in place to use all of those fruits and veggies - and so, they sit. And go bad. And the well-intentions to eat better turn to frustration as money and food are thrown away.

The intent of the advice is valid - fruits and veggies are indeed the rock-stars of the food world. If you focus on just that one thing - eating more of your fruits and veggies - you will end up eating a healthier diet. The problem is the fact that they are perishable. You can buy a box of Twinkies without having to worry about eating them in the next few days. Those Twinkies can languish for years, or even centuries, if you believe the tales.

The best way to get more fruits and vegetables into your diet is to do a little pre-planning. Instead of just hurling random produce into your cart at the market, think ahead of time - what kind of fruit would you like to add to your cereal in the morning? What kind of vegetable can you add to your typical turkey sandwich? Before you throw those kiwifruit into your basket, think about when specifically you plan to eat them.

Don't forget about the other forms of fruits and veggies - frozen, canned, and dried; these versions can also be healthy (sometimes even healthier - more on that later) - and they help stretch the time between grocery visits.