At the farmer’s market, we believe that eating fresh, seasonal food can be a quick and delicious addition to any meal. Health experts and chefs encourage us to enjoy foods that are grown at the same time of the year that you eat them. For example, that means squash in the summer and fall, and asparagus in the spring. More than just a trendy food movement, eating seasonally benefits both your health and your pocketbook.
Maybe the best result of eating seasonally is that you get the best tasting, healthiest food available. The same reasons that keep the cost of seasonal food down also drive its quality up; the food is grown closer to you so it's harvested at the peak of its season and brought to market before it begins to tire. This means you get fruits and vegetables that haven't had time to lose their flavor or their health benefits by sitting in a shipping container for a trip across the continent or across the ocean.
There are so many quick and easy ways to fit some of these fresh and seasonal foods into meals. Let’s take a look at three vegetables that are available year round in the grocery store and in abundant supply at their peak at the farmer’s market: cabbage, zucchini, and spaghetti squash.
Cabbage
- Use a traditional cabbage slaw to dress up and provide crunch to a pulled pork sandwich.
- Imagine what a wonderful addition a spicy slaw will be in your next wrap or burrito!
- Creamy whole grain mustard slaw elevates a standard brat sandwich to a Yum.
Zucchini is a blank palette that you can flavor according to your taste. Like the other vegetables mentioned here, you could eat it 7 days a week without it tasting the same.
- Your Mexican dinners will be a sure hit with taco zucchini boats.
- Garlic zucchini noodles: who doesn’t like garlic, parmesan and olive oil? Feel free to add your protein of choice.
- In the mood for Pad Thai? Serve it on zucchini noodles!
Spaghetti Squash (you can cook it in the microwave!)
- Comforting spaghetti squash and meatballs.
- Creamy spaghetti squash Alfredo.
- Spaghetti squash with pesto and pine nuts for a taste of summer.
Give it a try. You’re sure to discover something that you and your family will enjoy. Over the upcoming growing season, the Burnett County Farmer’s Market in Siren will offer samples of healthy, seasonal foods. Those recipes will then be shared and posted to the Burnett County Farmer’s Market Facebook page. Don’t forget to stop by Saturdays, Tesora parking lot, 1:00-3:00 pm. You can also visit the Spooner Farmer’s Market on Saturdays at the ReStore parking lot from 8:00am-1:00pm!
“Healthy Minute” is brought to you by healthyburnett.org
Last Update: Jul 11, 2017 8:28 am CDT
