Al Fresco Foodie

Lately, my idea of happiness is al fresco dining! Anytime I\’m heading to a restaurant I will ask for a table on the patio to bask in the fresh air and sunshine. Let me just say in dental school we never had much training in nutrition, but I’ve been reading up some recent articles. I was inspired to write this post after hearing about a Fresh Food Pharmacy on the news, just thinking how many diseases today are preventable with lifestyle changes. There is a famous Hippocrates quote: “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” Take pledge with your family at the Campaign to Eat 30 Vegetables in 30 days vegoutwithrfs.org #VegOut2017

I recently got back from a trip to the west coast and I have a new found obsession for food trucks and farmers markets! I love the idea of Fresh Fridays in July at the Boston Children\’s Museum, which showcase healthy recipes and set up a mobile farm stand for kids to take home their choice of locally grown fruits and vegetables. I’m also pretty happy that my herbs and plants all survived while I was gone for a few weeks. Having fresh herbs makes me want to try making new dishes! A favorite of ours is anything with Chimichurri sauce. This sauce is usually made by placing parsley, garlic, oregano, crushed red pepper, EVOO and red wine vinegar in the food processor!

It doesn’t help having champagne taste on a beer budget. Some of the most delicious and healthy items don’t cost a fortune. There was this awesome ginger kombucha (fermented) tea that tasted just like a Moscow mule! Mmm solo tasty! Get your friends, family or coworkers outside for a picnic to try new drinks and dishes. Plan a vegetable swap for those guys that are overflowing with abundance in your garden. You can even cook up a daily dose of goodness on the grill.

No need to be hangry this summer! Here is a compilation of my favorite healthy foods/beverages that taste even yummier on warm summer days:

Breakfast

• Citrus infused water– I recently got soda stream to make some sparkling water with a splash of lemon. It is more acidic than regular water, but still much less acidic and better than juice or soda
• Peanut butter, banana, coffee smoothie– they called this a “funky monkey” out west
• Spinach, pineapple, apple, ginger smoothie– “tropical twist”
• Chiles, spinach, scrambled egg on rye toast

Lunch

• Fresh picked spinach, kale, arugula, swiss chard salad– all will last longer than supermarket bought when stored in the fridge. Adjust recipe/servings to fit your needs, like substituting avocado for egg.
• Pasta– check out a local cooking class if you want to learn to make from scratch! Grill or steam some of these to throw in which are healthier when cooked: kale, spinach, mushroom, carrot, or heirloom tomatoes J

Dinner

• Lean meat– Keep meals balanced in fat- or make them good fats- lean meats like chicken breast or extra lean ground beef, egg whites/whole eggs
• Whole grain Basmati rice– light and fluffy, gluten free and low in fat. Basmati tastes best to me. Do you agree?
• Chef Dr. Rob uses both in cauliflower fried rice (along with some broccoli, carrot and soy sauce)   

Dessert

• Dark chocolate– packed with antioxidants!! And another excuse to go try the local brand, Taza chocolate in Somerville, MA or just eat the ones from my hometown, Lindt Truffles with the dark blue wrapper hehe
• Locally grown berries– typically less pesticides when grown on a smaller scale. In New England, June is strawberry season, July is blueberry season and blackberries and raspberries through September

Bonus points if you share your delicious items with a friend, I like to say that, “it’s great to share the calories” especially if you come across big portions! ‘Tis the season for everything outdoors. Here’s your guide to Farmers Markets in Massachusetts- http://www.visit-massachusetts.com/state/farmers-markets/

Happy munching,

Lynne

 

* Disclaimer: This content on this blog is based on my opinion. I do not receive any financial incentive. Follow at your own discretion.