Mr. Hank's Corner 5/25/18

As we wrap this year in both the Nutrition Lab as well down in the garden I have had so many requests for many of the foods we were able to make that it just proves that once a child has their hand in making or growing healthy food they will want to eat it.

In Upper Elementary the students had the chance to go visit the Mission in San Juan Capistrano. With that said I wanted to tie together foods that were part of the culture of the Missions. These foods included cacao, zucchini, mustard greens, beans and grains. The students made oven roasted vegetable tacos with a cilantro mango cream as a main dish. A salad consisted of grains over greens with mustard greens being in the mix as well as corn and a lemon dressing. Finally for dessert it was all about the zucchini and chocolate chip muffins. That’s right I did say zucchini muffins. It was great to see so many of the students trying these foods and better yet seeing them enjoy making them.

This next week students in Primary will taste a fresh lemon water with a herbal essence as well as yellow grape tomatoes as we wrap the year understanding the concept of eating seasonally. Yes, we are fortunate to have great weather year round in San Diego however, the importance of learning to eat seasonally helps in the reduction of things such as food miles and also food cost by eating what should be grown at the right time of the year. It is my hope to see this positively influence choices by students and families to not only better their own health but the health of our planet.

If you like strawberries right now at Cyclops Farms in Oceanside, CA has some of the tastiest and locally grown organic strawberries available. The Seascape strawberry is one growing there and it is just full of sweetness. Great to make in a dessert, eat alone, top off a waffle, or even add into your water with a jalapeno. Strawberries are among the top 20 fruits in antioxidant capacity and are a good source of manganese and potassium. Just one serving -- about eight strawberries -- provides more vitamin-C than an orange. So the next time you are looking for a tiny fruit that packs a powerful antioxidant punch turn to the strawberry.

#Health #BellaGardenProject