Beneficial Bites

Presented by the Aging and Disability Resource Center The kitchen staple, apple cider vinegar, has become somewhat popular in Google searches when seeking nutrition advice.  Some claim it to be a miracle liquid that can remedy many health ailments. Because there is little human research out there on apple cider vinegar, it's good to be cautious, but doesn't mean it can't offer some benefits and flavor. Vinegar comes from the French phrase vin aigre, meaning sour wine.  The acetic acid is what makes it sour.  Adding yeast to apples turns the sugars into alcohol, when a bacteria turns the [...]

We are focusing on this delicious fuzzy fruit during August since It's National Peach Month!  Peaches are a summertime favorite throughout the nation, and they are a great source of vitamins C and A, and are low in calories. There are two main types of peaches in our market, known as freestone and clingstone.  The clingstone peach is used more in processing plants since it's tough to manually remove the flesh from the pit.  Freestone peaches are easier to eat fresh because the pit freely separates from the flesh when bitten into. When selecting your peaches this summer, choose ones with [...]

Presented by the Aging and Disability Resource Center Mangoes, a member of the stone-fruit family, are one of the world's most prized tropical fruits.  Growing throughout Asia, India, and Central America, the mango offers a sweet, tangy, and creamy taste along with over twenty beneficial vitamins & minerals. Available year round, and almost always in-season, mangoes are a great snack either fresh or dried.  They are a great addition to salads, salsas, and baked goods. One serving of mango, or half of a whole fruit, offers 100% of your daily vitamin C.  It also contains 35% of your daily [...]

Presented by the Aging and Disability Resource Center The seed of the cannabis sativa, or hemp plant, hemp seeds are one of the biggest nutrition trends of 2019 & 2020.  Although related to cannabix, hemp seed is not psycho-active and does not contain the THC, the active drug found in hemp leaf. For the last half of the century, hemp production and processing has been illegal in the U.S. until 2018 when Hemp Farming Act was passed.  This bill removed the hemp plant, along with its seeds and derivatives from the Controlled Substances Act.  In the last two years, [...]

Presented by the Aging and Disability Resource Center Peanuts, also known as groundnuts, goubers, or earthnuts, are grown worldwide for their edible seed.  Belonging to the legume family (along with beans, peas and lentils) peanuts grow underground leading to their species nae hypogea, meaning "under the earth". Peanuts were shared with the world when European explorers brought them back to Central European explorers brought them back to Central Europe and distributed them in trade routes with East Asia and Africa.  It wasn't until the early 1800's that peanuts were grown as a commercial crop in the U.S.   They were [...]

Presented by the Aging and Disability Resource Center Dates: Fad or Fruit of Paradise? When thinking of dates, many are taken back to the sweet, caramel smell lofting from grandma's kitchen, or the chewy texture of a freshly backed date bar.  However, there is more history and nutritional benefits to this bite sized fruit than many of us realize. Dates are considered the oldest eaten fruit in the world.  Referenced many times in religions such as Christianity and Islam, dates have played an important role in nutrition and cuisine for thousands of years.  Often called the fruit of paradise [...]

Presented by the Aging and Disability Resource Center Usually people either really like Brussel Sprouts or despise even the thought of them.  Maybe it's due to the smell when they are cooking or their leafy texture? Those who love them are in luck because they provide so much benefit to the human body when consumed. Brussel Sprouts are related to other cruciferous vegetables including broccoli and cabbage and is recommended that you include all of these family members in your weekly nutrition pan regularly in order to acquire their fantastic health benefits. Some of the health benefit highlights include [...]

Presented by the Aging and Disability Resource Center This off-the-vine fruit, the grape, is found on almost every continent and is so popular that most people don't hesitate to eat them (or drink them.)  With over 60 different varieties, this popular snack is jam-packed with flavor and nutritional benefits. Grapes fall into the "berry" category and can easily fit into your daily meal plan during a meal or as a snack.  A fair serving size would be about 1 cup which would equal about 15-20 graphics and 104 calories! The dark red and purple color of the grape screams [...]

Presented by the Aging and Disability Resource Center Have you had your corn on the cob eating contest yet this summer?  Even though corn is considered both a vegetable (fresh) and a grain (dried), in August we will be focusing on the edible vegetable: Sweet Corn. There are a lot of facts and nutritional information about sweet corn that many don't realize or even think about.  Even though this is a starchy vegetable, you can fit this food into a healthy meal plan.  Now, load it with butter & salt -- that's a whole other story! History shows that Native [...]