Super Healthy Summertime Recipes
It's summertime, and while the living may not be easy, access to some of your favorite fruits and vegetables is! Markets beckon us with their colorful, fresh produce, which is plentiful at this time of year, and the best part is that the farm-to-table meats, fruits, and veggies are so good for us! They inspire us to make healthier food choices and encourage us to create delicious and easy meals that appeal to adults and children alike.
Laurel, Maryland, is home to a few of the best markets you'll find anywhere and provide an abundance of interesting, unique, and fresh options. Here is a couple to check out that would meet the approval of your primary care providers at Sankofa Health. After a visit to any market, you're sure to be inspired to create some tasty summer-flavored recipes!
Dutch Country Farmer’s Market
A favorite of locals and tourists alike, Amish country's Dutch Country Farmer's Market is loaded with fresh vegetables, fruits, cheeses, and delicious homemade baked sweets, breads, and donuts. The meat department serves up excellent butcher cuts, ready for the BBQ. Pantry staples and fixings are available for those who enjoy baking at home.
Laurel Farmer’s Market
Laurel Farmers' Market is a group of farms that have joined to create one thriving and fun market with a complete and colorful selection of produce, fruits, flowers, and an assortment of goodies. The market is a mainstay within the Laurel area, begun in 1996, with vendors from several Maryland farms, including Fountain Farm, Walter Farm, Welsh's Produce, and John's Local Corn And Produce.
Tasty Summer Recipes
During the summer months, food goes from the field directly to the table. When deciding what to purchase or make for your next meal, here are a few simple, unique and healthy recipes to inspire you with culinary zeal.
A popular summer salad recipe enjoyed in Amish homes that helps to beat the summer heat is an easy Mozzarella Salad comprised of basil leaves, cherry tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, and extra virgin olive oil.
Herbed Tomato Gratin is as delicious as it sounds and simple to make. Low in calories and fat, this delightful dish is excellent as an accompaniment to a BBQ or served with light, crusty bread. Tomatoes are also considered an added protection against sunburn as they contain the carotenoid called lycopene.
Grilled Swordfish with Tomatoes and Oregano will appeal to all seafood lovers and offers a unique blend of flavors, using an after-grill marinade technique inspired by escabeche. A touch of honey is combined with capers, oregano, and briny fish flavors. Even better, swordfish is low in calories and fat and an excellent source of cancer-fighting and heart health micronutrients, selenium, protein, niacin, vitamin B12, and Omega-3.
Indian-Spiced Stuffed Eggplant is brimming with aromatic spices that do wonders with this plentiful vegetable. Large eggplants can make a complete meal or use small ones to create side dishes. Gluten and dairy-free eggplants contain vitamins and antioxidants and are rich in polyphenols, which aid in processing sugar.
It's always a good idea to check with your Laurel, MD Sankofa Health practitioners to find out more about healthy lifestyle and food choices that are best for your dietary needs when you venture out to raid the bountiful farmers' markets this summer.