Produce Fairs Making Healthy Eating Accessible
Posted by Megan Hildebrandt on Wednesday, October 13, 2010
This past summer Operation Frontline Colorado took part in our fourth successful year of Produce and Health Fairs. The fairs provided free bags of fresh produce to improve the healthy eating of low-income Denver families. With many families experiencing difficulties in accessing fresh fruits and vegetables, we know that it’s important to make produce available as well as provide food, nutrition, and flavor education which gives practical advice on healthy ways to prepare the foods received.
The Produce and Health Fair project serves four counties in the Denver Metro area. Every Friday morning throughout the summer of 2010 a Food Bank of the Rockies truck delivered a full load of seasonal produce and other nutritious foods to one of four sites. Families from local neighborhoods came out to receive the free produce and learn about services available to them in the community such as WIC, dental services, county workforce centers, car seat safety and many others.
Our mission was to show individuals what to do with the food they were receiving that day. We brought along a creative team of volunteers and staff to help prepare a simple and tasty recipe utilizing the available food. Many individuals (including myself) were exposed to foods they had never seen or eaten!
The most exciting item of this season was the Chayote Squash. This pear shaped vegetable is a mix between a cucumber, apple and a zucchini in both texture and flavor. I had never worked with it before and suspected that many participants wouldn’t have a clue about how to use it either. My coworker and I located a recipe that utilized this unique squash along with several other items donated that day and put an Operation Frontline spin on it. We ended up sampling out a Chayote Squash, Corn and Black Bean Salad. Participants were amazed at how good it tasted, definitely commented on the fact that they “would have never thought to do anything like that”, and said they would go home and try the recipe for sure! We had several moments like this along the way which reinforced how important it is to bridge the gap between good nutrition and actual food.
Thanks to the Food Bank of the Rockies (FBR), over 70,000 pounds of fresh produce was distributed to over 4,000 families this summer. The FBR is an integral partner in The Campaign to End Childhood Hunger in Colorado. Without the partnership of the FBR, Tri-County Health Department and our amazing volunteers, the Produce and Health Fair efforts would not be possible. We look forward to another successful summer in 2011!
• 3 ears fresh corn• 1 chayote squash
• 1 can black beans
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1-2 small jalapeno peppers
• 1 small red onion
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• Juice of 3 limes
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tsp cumin
• Small handful cilantro, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Cut corn off ears. Heat sauté pan over med-high heat, add 2 tsp olive oil and cook corn for 3-4 minutes or until tender, cool. Dice chayote squash, bell pepper, jalapenos, onion and one clove of garlic and put in large bowl. Mix lime juice, honey, olive oil, cumin together and add to diced vegetables. Add minced cilantro and salt and pepper to taste.
Nutritional Analysis per serving:
Calories: 173, Protein 8g, Carbohydrates 33g, Dietary Fiber 7g, Fat 2g,
October 13, 2010 | 2 comment(s) | Tags: Cooking Matters, event, farmers markets, Operation Frontline, recipe
Comments
2 reader comments so far.
The produce fair is a wonderful summer event and great way to feed our neighbors in need! Thanks for sharing this information and healthy recipe.
Posted by Janie Gianotsos on October 14, 2010
tres interessant, merci
Posted by rachat de credit on February 20, 2011
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