Blog Posts

Kids can help cook this summer, and it is a great way to help them eat new or different foods! It's as easy as PLAN, COOK, and EAT.PlanWork together to pick out a recipe or menu item they want to make with you. Start by looking at a cookbook, a recipe box, or recipe website and pick something that looks tasty and easy! Add the ingredients to your shopping list and plan when you will make the recipe.

Our popular Pizza Buns recipes is the perfect main dish for a busy evening. Serve with a side of green beans, piece of fruit, and glass of milk for a balanced dinner the whole family will love!Pizza BunsServes: 6Serving Size: 1 sandwich

Did you know that less than 3% of Americans get enough fiber in their diets? It is recommended that women eat 25 grams of fiber per day and men 38 grams. On average, Americans only eat about 50% of the amount of recommended fiber per day. Eating enough fiber each day has benefits for your overall health. How can you eat that much fiber? Eating a balanced and colorful diet, making half your grains whole grains, and aiming for 5 servings of fruit and vegetables per day is the easiest way to reach your daily fiber goal.

Did you know that it can take an average of 12 or more times offering a new food for your child to eat it?  Having your child try new foods can be hard. Here are our favorite tips on how to help children try new foods:  Get Children Involved - When at the grocery store, ask them to pick out a new fruit or vegetable they want to try. Have them help with washing and cutting the new food. This will make them excited to try it!  

Cooking a whole chicken feeds your family and saves you money.Most recipes call for boneless skinless chicken breast, but it can be very expensive. If you buy the whole chicken instead, you can save up to $2.00 per pound. These savings are not just for one meal. With just a few extra steps, your family can enjoy just one chicken in three different and tasty ways.Meal 1: Roasted Chicken

We know that childhood is a very important time for growth. Kids are exploring their environments and making sense of the world around them. What they experience can have a big impact on their future choices. This is true for nutrition, too! Children are learning what foods they like and what ones they would rather avoid. Parents are tasked with providing nutritious meals that will help their children’s minds and bodies grow strong. Calcium is important for all of us, but it is especially beneficial for children and young adults.

You cannot ignore it – pumpkins are everywhere. From pies, to coffee, and even bagels, it is hard to avoid. However, pumpkin is a versatile ingredient that does not always have to mean desserts and sugar. Our Sweet Pumpkin Sandwiches, a cousin to the more familiar Sloppy Joe, shows that pumpkin can shine as part of the main course, too.Choosing & Storing Pumpkin: Look for pumpkins without cuts and soft spots, and that are firm and heavy for their size. You can store pumpkins in a cool, dark place for up to two months.

Seeing pints of strawberries is a welcome sight at farmers' markets! When they are in season, strawberries tend to be easier to find, taste sweeter, and cost less than what we pay during the winter.Eating strawberries fresh as a snack is a great way to enjoy this sweet fruit. They also work great in easy recipes, like our Breakfast Parfait.Strawberries Nutrition: Strawberries are high in vitamin C, boasting more than citrus fruits when comparing ounce to ounce. Strawberries are also a high in folate, an important nutrient for your body's cell and tissue growth.

We love the month of May! Not only are the temperatures getting warmer, but you're in for a treat at the local markets! Many local farmers' markets in Illinois are opening up this month if they take a winter break. There will be more and more variety for you to choose from as the month goes on. What's in Season for May?

May's five ingredients or less recipe is a super versatile side dish that you will love! Enjoy it with your favorite sandwich, serve it at a BBQ, and bring it from home as part of your lunch. We love how the different flavors mix together for a savory dish that is perfect for Spring.