Happy National Nutrition Month!
As always, at The Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ), we understand and address hunger as a health issue. The cheapest and most convenient food items are oftentimes the unhealthiest and detrimental to the health of our hungry neighbors.
That’s why CFBNJ directly combats this by providing highly nutritious “foods to encourage” – fruits, vegetables, proteins, dairy, and whole grains. Last year, 73% of all our distributed food fell under this category, totaling to over 75 million pounds of food. In addition, 34% was fresh produce, a 10% increase from the previous year. That’s nearly 35 million pounds of fruits and vegetables!
In celebration of National Nutrition Month, we’re bringing to you 5 easy healthy recipes from our community kitchen! These recipes consist of whole ingredients with savory tastes that your whole family will enjoy.
Veggie Burrito Bowl
Have you ever heard the phrase “eat the rainbow?” Every single food contains its very own specific nutrients vital to our health, and remembering to eat the rainbow everyday can be one of the simplest ways to ensure we are getting the full spectrum of health benefits. This Veggie Burrito Bowl is a colorful and nutrient-dense recipe that we hope will inspire you to incorporate more fresh foods in your diet!
Sweet & Savory Yogurt Dips
If you’re looking for healthy snacks to give your kids, this one’s for you! These recipes are from Debby, our Senior Director of Corporate Relations and Volunteers and mother of 2. There are two to choose from: Peanut Butter Honey Yogurt Dip and Cucumber Mint Yogurt Dip. Serve them both with veggies and we promise you and your kids will love them as much as we do.
Honey Lime Cilantro Shrimp
Did you know that shrimp is loaded with vitamins and minerals such as zinc, magnesium, and much more? With spring and summer right around the corner, you can enjoy the weather and family outings with this nutritious seafood recipe that will have everyone’s mouths watering. It’s quick, easy, and light on the stomach, perfect for the warmer weather.
Spinach & Gruyere Potato Casserole
This hearty side dish is a great addition to any table. It’s a combination of different flavors and nutritious elements to create something new and delicious. It includes potatoes, eggs, dairy, and vegetables like spinach, fennel bulb, basil, and parsley to meet many of our nutritional needs. Feel free to switch out the potatoes with something else to mix in with the custard! Try it out and let us know how it is.
Black Bean, Brown Rice, & Peach Salad
A simple, healthy, and hearty meal we created for a previous National Nutrition Month! After all these years, it’s still a foodbank favorite. High in vitamins and fiber to improve digestion, this Black Bean, Brown Rice, and Peach Salad makes a nutritious and filling lunch. It’s also an easy and quick recipe that you can make in less than 10 minutes.
More from the Community Kitchen –
For more Cooking for a Cause recipe videos, check out our recipe video playlist on YouTube. For our full list of healthy meals, visit our recipe blog on our website! Also, tune in to our Wellness Wednesdays, live on our Facebook every Third Wednesday of the month, for more healthy recipes form our NJ SNAP-Ed Nutrition Educators.