A virtual wellness program offered by the National Institute for Fitness and Sport and provided to you through your employer.
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A virtual wellness program offered by the National Institute for Fitness and Sport and provided to you through your employer.
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Choosing Summer Produce Farmer's Markets
In the heat of summer, nothing can be more delicious than a freshly made dinner salad with hand-picked lettuce, crisp cucumbers, and tomatoes ripe off the vine. After dinner, why not top off the evening with some plump strawberries or a slice of mouthwatering red watermelon for dessert? Summer is the ultimate season for indulging in sweet, ripe fruits and fresh, crisp vegetables. For the ultimate selection of the summer season’s best produce, check out your local Farmer’s Market.
Farmer’s Markets are unique due to the opportunity the customer has to interact and directly ask questions to the vendor. Since all market products are locally grown and produced, the customer is able to feel confident in the product’s origin. Many Farmer’s Market vendors also provide the customer with valuable nutrition information, and guide them to wholesome food choices. If you’ve ever wanted to learn the best way to pick fresh produce, visiting a Farmer’s Market will expose you to the best advice available!
During the summer season Farmer’s Markets are not hard to find. For a complete listing of those in Indiana visit the Indiana State Department of Agriculture’s website at www.in.gov/isda.market. This website provides a list of Farmers Markets by county, and also includes market locations, phone numbers, directions, and hours.
When choosing produce at a Farmer’s Market remember the appearance often denotes quality. Carefully examine all produce before purchasing, and keep in mind the following suggestions when making your choice:
Tomatoes: Choose the reddest and ripest available. Ripe tomatoes will have a distinct sweet aroma. Skin should be firm, with no bruises. Remember that size does not play a role in quality. Some of the juiciest tomatoes are small.
Berries: All berries should be plump and deeply colored. Raspberries should be soft where as blueberries and strawberries should be firm. Smell for aroma, and look for uniform color in all berry selection. Make sure to check the bottom of the container for mold.
Corn: The ear of the corn should be bright green, tightly wrapped around the cob. The silk should look fresh, and not be wilted. Kernels should be plump, and in tight rows.
Melon: Melons should be symmetrical and sweet smelling at their stem. Pay attention to color: Cantaloupes should have tan skin, honeydews creamy yellow skin; watermelon should have a creamy or yellow underside, not white or pale green.
Peaches: Good-quality peaches will be fairly large, firm to slightly soft and have a yellowish or creamy background. A red blush may be present, on some peach varieties to differing degrees, but this is not a true sign of quality. An extremely ripe peach that is at room temperature will also have a sweet peach smell. Peaches that are slightly green at the stem were picked too early and will not ripen.
Strawberry and Feta Salad
Ingredients 1 cup slivered almonds 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon honey 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1/4 cup raspberry vinegar 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 2 tablespoons brown sugar 1 cup vegetable oil 1 head romaine lettuce, torn 1 pint fresh strawberries, sliced 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
DIRECTIONS
Source : www.allrecipes.com
Nutrition Info Servings Per Recipe: 10 Amount Per ServingCalories: 376 Total Fat: 34.3 g Cholesterol: 22 mg Total Carbs: 11.8 g Dietary Fiber: 2.7 g Protein: 7.3 g
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