YFS Garden Update Okra and peppers



We spotted this green pepper recently in the YFS Kids Garden.  It was about size of a lime.  Some of the flower seeds are finally getting started and the hot growing season is on.    



This is an Okra plant. Okra is very popular in the South and used in recipes like fried okra and Gumbo stew. When cooked,  okra develops a characteristic  "slimy" or "gooey" texture that can be minimized by combining with an acid food such as lemon juice, tomatoes or vinegar. Okra is a powerhouse for nutrients including fiber, vitamin C,  folate, and antioxidants .

Great Summer Salsa recipe: Avocado Salsa with peppers, corn and olives.  

Need a snack idea for the classroom?  Here is a salsa recipes with an interesting twist of ingredients:  The recipe calls for corn, olives, peppers and avocados.  Serve it with a celery stick or whole wheat crackers. Children can help put the recipes parts together with easy to use ingredients.    

source: allrecipes.com

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Avocado-Salsa/Detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=salsa&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Recipe%20Hub&soid=sr_results_p1i1 

Thumping Watermelons!

picture from www.watermelon.org

 

Watermelon is a favorite summertime treat but do you ever hesitate to pick one out?  Here is are some tips to help you pick the perfect melon:

1. Sound.  Hold your melon with one hand and listen to it by thumping, tapping, slapping or rapping it with your other hand.  A great melon should carry a deep vibration and have a “full” sound.One person described the favored sound to be  “more like a tenor than a bass!” A melon that has a dull “thud” sound is not ripe.  In fact, a deep hollow sound may indicate the melon has a “hollow heart”.  This is a very disappointing melon to cut into.The center is separated into chunks, and the flesh is clearly overripe and mealy.   
2. Appearance.  Look on the underbelly for something called the “golden spot”, the “sweet spot” or the “field spot”.These terms indicate how the melon grew in the field as it lay in the sun. A yellow spot is better than a white spot and a white spot is better than no spot. 
3. Avoid a pigtail.  A great melon should be picked when it is ripe and not before.  If there is a existence of a green “stem” still on the melon this can indicate a melon has been picked before it’s time and therefore not as sweet.

The National Watermelon promotion board also has some other fun facts, pictures and games to check out on the following website:  www.watermelon.org  
 

YFS Kids Gardens

On June 20, 2014 a wonderful crew of volunteers from Fountain Spring Church arrived at the Adams site of Youth & Family Services to help us create a green growing space for our children. The possibilities for this outdoor learning environment will provide our children with  an opportunity to observe, discover, experience and connect lessons of how healthy food can be grown right in our own backyard!  

Empty fenced lot.  Let's transform it into a garden! 

Planning, measuring, and  beginning to build the  18 wooden beds 





Volunteers  from Fountain Springs Church at work placing the raised bed garden boxes.





Dirt work!   Time to fill the garden boxes with rich mulch from the landfill 



Almost ready to go, looking fantastic! Will add an irrigation system next.

What shall we plant for the children?

Start thinking about growing things!

This month focus on introducing children to some more green vegetables.  In the spirit of spring and growing gardens, enjoy this time lapse video of a patio garden in London over a growing season.  

One of the easiest seeds to grow in a small container is a bean.  Consider sprouting some beans with your children. Individual containers like a milk carton or a larger pot can be used to germinate seeds. Fill the container with potting soil and find a warm sunny spot for your project.  You should be able to see the sprouts within a few day. Do not forget to water!  Talk to your kids about what plants need in order to grow.  You can also sprout seeds in a small Ziploc bag and show children the emerging root stem.

 

Read all about it, "YFS is Busy!"

During the months of January and February,136 classroom activity sessions were offered to 2159 children within our Youth & Family Services programs. Nutrition promotion activities included some of the following:

• 82 GI kids sampling "Popcorn cauliflower" (see recipe in earlier post) with an overall  "thumbs-up" response
• YFS Rapid City Head Start offering a hands on cooking experience for 13 parents. Jill reported "We made Extra Easy Spinach Lasagna" and offered that parents were surprised they liked the spinach in the finished casserole. the group  also prepared a 3 lettuce salad and the children got involved with the  hands on activity of cutting up tomatoes, cucumbers and avocados. While the lasagna baked, the children went out to play. 
• Our Kid Tips Healthy for Life March newsletters shared an interview with one of our Head Start Parents who is enthusiastic about promoting food experiences and garden activities with  her children.
• YFS also provided a yummy Lunch and Learn opportunity  for more than 30 staff. The Registered Dietitian offered a talk on "Olive oils and a brief review on the principles of the Mediterranean diet. We tasted a variety of healthy oils and also learned some "oil" trivia. 
• YFS Nutrition staff spent time in Adams kitchen that same afternoon experimenting with some new recipes to consider for menu options. 

Thanks to the staff for their enthusiasm and commitment to promoting  wellness with our children, families and staff!

YFS Whole Grain Chewy Granola Bars

We tested and "tweaked " a new recipe for snack bar last week. Due to staff request, here is the recipe we used.   

Ingredients:  
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine             

2 tablespoons honey or corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg



1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup all purpose or whole wheat flour

1-1/4 cup Crispy rice cereal
2 cups quick cooking oats
1/2 cup craisins or raisins (optional)
1/2 -1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (optional)
1/2 to 1 cup nuts, chopped (optional)

1. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars.  Add honey, vanilla and egg; mix well.
2. In a separate bowl, mix together cinnamon, baking powder, salt and flour.  Add these   dry ingredients to the creamed mixture.
3. Stir in oats, cereal and raisins,  chips and nuts as desired. 
4. Press into a greased 9 x 13 inch pan.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until the top is lightly browned.
6. Cut into 24 servings. Enjoy!

 

Cruciferous Veggies- A Little Trivia!

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  Brussels sprout plant

  Vegetables pack a power punch!  It is estimated that over one third of all cancer-related deaths could be prevented by a healthy diet. Fruits and vegetables are key. Research suggests that people who eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day cut their cancer risk in half when compared to those who consume one serving or less. Vegetables are especially nutrient dense. Calorie for calorie they pack more vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other cancer fighting agents than any other food group. Cabbage family (cruciferous) vegetables for instance are particularly powerful cancer fighters.
• Odors getting to you?  There are a few tips to out-do the sulfur odors created when cooking vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, brussels spouts and cauliflower: a slice of bread, a wedge of lemon, a walnut, a stalk of celery are all suggestions for food  items to add to your cooking pot to help absorb the smells. Also, the longer you cook these guys, the more odoriferous they become.  Short cooking times in a stainless pot or in the microwave will also keep the odors at bay. 
• While cooking brings out the smells, these great vegetables can also be offer uncooked. Remember to wash all fresh produce thoroughly.  Offer coleslaw, broccoli tree and cauliflower florets with a healthy dip and enjoy the crunch of these nutritious garden gems! 

Here are a couple of short clips for working with cauliflower. Enjoy!

How to cut up a head of cauliflower

Roasted popcorn cauliflower.