Lunch Box Lessons
Peeling Kiwis Trick
Pitting Cherries Trick
Summer is cherry season! Would you like to enjoy more cherries for snacks and desserts, but getting the pits out is, well…the pits! Try using some items in your kitchen to enjoy more cherries! We used an empty glass bottle with a chopstick! Yep, that’s it!
Here are some delicious cherry recipes!
Preventing Freezer Burn
What is Freezer Burn?
Freezer burn is actually the dehydration of your food product in its freezer packaging. Water molecules migrate from the inside of your food products to the outside, typically where the product is poorly wrapped.
Can you eat food with freezer burn?
Food with freezer burn can be consumed however, the texture and taste may have been altered by the freezer burn.
Can freezer burn make you sick?
You won’t get sick from the freezer burn. Always make sure to thaw and reheat your foods properly to maintain good food safety. For more information on thawing and reheating, visit our webpage.
How do I get rid of freezer burn?
While you can’t get rid of freezer burn, you can prevent it! See our tips below on preventing freezer burn.
How long does it take for freezer burn?
How long freezer burn takes to set into your foods depends on two things:
- What type of food are you freezing? Check out this Refrigerator & Freezer Storage Chart from the USDA for specifics.
- How well you package your food for the freezer. Keep in mind that not all storage products hold up to freezing well, look for freezer-grade storage products.
For more tips on freezing foods, freezer management, and packaging recommendations visit our page that will set you up for freezer success!
How can I prevent freezer burn?
- Wrap foods in a heavy freezer-grade paper, plastic wrap, freezer bags, or foil.
- Date all freezer packages and use the oldest food first
- Move older items towards the front of the freezer so they are used first.
- Check that your freezer is maintaining proper temperatures of 0 degrees F. Temperature fluctuations can accelerate freezer burn.
For more tips on safely storing food in the refrigerator or in the pantry or on countertops, visit our page on safely storing food.
Looking for recipes that go great in the freezer? Try Chicken and Broccoli Pockets for an easy grab-and-go lunch. Check out our Baked Ziti for a meal to feed the family. Breakfast? We’ve got you covered; Breakfast Power Bowls are made for the freezer. Easiest of all, from freezer to slow cooker, Chicken with Peachy Ginger Sauce.
Sources:
Library of Congress. What is Freezer Burn?
Be Sneaky with Vegetables
Getting picky eaters to eat vegetables can be a challenge some times! Here are our tips on being sneaky with vegetables.
We all know we need to be eating more veggies. Some of us love them and eat them at every meal. And then there are those of us who can’t stomach the thought of chomping on something green that looks like a tree. And no, we’re not talking about four-year-olds — we mean adults, too!
If you’re the primary cook in your family, and pasta sauce and French fries are the only veggies going down at your home, you may want to get a bit sneakier. We’ve come up with some pretty cool ways to help you add vegetables into meals without anyone knowing. You get to be creative and it doesn’t take much work. Saving time and eating healthy — sounds like a winning combination!
Get shredded!
Grab a box grater or the grating attachment on your food processor to shred zucchini, beets, carrots or parsnips to add to all sorts of recipes. Add a vegetable serving to your favorite whole grain muffins and quick breads by mixing shredded zucchini into your batter before baking. You can also sauté shredded carrots, summer squash or butternut squash for about five minutes before adding them to pasta sauce for a quick, veggie-filled meal. Even your pickiest of eaters may not notice!
Get mushy!
Replace half the ground meat in recipes like burgers, meatloaf and meatballs with cooked chopped mushrooms. Finely chop your choice of mushrooms using a knife or a food processor, then sauté in a little olive oil until soft – about three minutes or so. Once the mushrooms are cool, gently mix them with your lean ground chicken, turkey or beef. Cook thoroughly and follow the recipe as is. Voila! Another veggie-ful meal for the family.
Get Cheesy!
Cooked and pureed orange vegetables like butternut squash, sweet potatoes and carrots can be blended, unnoticed, into cheesy dishes we all love like macaroni and cheese, lasagna, or baked enchiladas. You end up using less cheese, which cuts some of the saturated fat and sodium. You can also add the sweeter-tasting veggies to a blender with some low-sodium broth and puree them into a smooth soup that most kiddos (and adults) will love.
Be smooth!
Grab that blender and put it to work! When you’re making your favorite fruit smoothie, add in a frozen banana and some spinach, carrots, squash or just about any vegetable (cooked is easier to blend, FYI). The frozen banana makes for a sweet, thick, and creamy smoothie and it adds a strong banana flavor that helps hide the flavor of the veggies. Want a more colorful smoothie? Try adding beet, avocado or sweet potato to change the tint. You’ll be surprised at how bright – and healthy — your breakfast will be!
Tricks for sneaking some extra veggies and fruits into your kids (or your) diet!
- Add grated vegetables such as carrots or squash to casseroles or soups.
- Add fresh fruit to cereal or oatmeal.
- Add diced vegetables such as bell peppers, mushrooms or spinach to eggs for a breakfast frittata.
- Kids love pizza so pile it high with veggies such as tomatoes, peppers, spinach and chopped broccoli.
- Try a fruit smoothie for breakfast.
- Create healthy breakfast muffins with zucchini or carrots.
- Experiment with veggie noodles by using a spiralizer to create these fun an nutritious noodles!
- Make your mac & cheese gourmet by adding broccoli.
- Spinach, tomato, or avocado can make a nutritious addition to the traditional grilled cheese sandwich.
