Summer is here which means there is an abundance of local produce. This is a great time to increase the variety and nutrients in your diet as well as support local farms and gardens.
While it sadly cannot stay warm with an abundance of fresh produce all year, you can take advantage of summer harvest throughout the year with a few cooking hacks. Here are some ideas for how to eat your local, nutritious produce year round.
1. Buy fresh produce now and freeze it
Freezing the fresh produce is a great way to have local frozen veggies to add in recipes throughout the year.
Berries and fruit are great to wash and freeze for later use as well. They are especially delicious in oatmeal, yogurt or smoothies.
You can even try to make smoothie packs by adding your fruit and veggies into individually proportioned bags for an even more convenient option with extra yummy produce.
Curious where to purchase local produce in Bellingham? Check out Joe’s Gardens, Goods Nursery and Produce, The Bellingham Farmer’s Market on Saturday, or other farmer’s markets in Skagit Valley.
As we approach July, keep your eyes posted for the raspberry festival in Lynden. If you happen to visit the clinic on a Thursday 11am-2pm, check out the Barkley Market in the green space just outside the building!
2. Meal prep, but not the way you may think
If you are able to designate a day to meal prep, get ready to roast some veggies! While you may tend to think meal prepping requires making entire meals at once and then freezing them, you can also prep individual components and pull them out to add variety in your diet throughout the week.
For instance, roast trays of veggies and then freeze them in bags, or try the popular Souper Cubes to freeze individual portions of vegetables. Then pull out and reheat with your choice of carb and protein. This is a convenient way to take some stress off of having to worry about an entire recipe or cooking all the components of a meal.
If you meal prep your carb and protein ahead of time and freeze them into individual portions, you can mix and match your meal once you begin to develop stock in your freezer.
Pro Tip: Freeze the individual components of meals ahead of time and then buy or make your favorite sauce weekly to put on it allowing you to switch up the flavors of your meals with minimal effort.
3. Utilize homemade condiments
Jam is a classic way to preserve fruit, but it is often filled with high amounts of sugar. Instead, try making chia jam for a lower sugar option with increased fiber, protein, and healthy fats. The best part: It only requires two ingredients!
Chia Jam Recipe:
1. Cook the fruit down and add a couple tablespoons of chia seeds. 1-2 usually, but can be made into bigger batches as well.
NOTE: The chia seeds naturally absorb moisture, thickening the cooked fruit puree into jam consistency.
2. Freezing this into individual portions, or by laying it flat in a freezer bag and drawing lines down it to easily break off portions at a time.
3. Thaw portions in the fridge and enjoy throughout the week.
This would also be a delicious way to add fibrous carbohydrates and flavor to plain Greek yogurt at breakfast!
If you are looking for more ways to incorporate fruit and veggies into your diet in delicious ways, I would love to be alongside you on your journey of nourishing your body.
Reach out to the front desk to book an appointment today.
