- Author: Chris M. Webb
The USDA’s ChooseMyPlate.gov website is full of great information, including sample menus and recipes.
- The Sample Menus for a 2000 Calorie Food Pattern is a 7-day healthy eating template. It is designed to supply the recommended amount of key nutrients. Even better, the food choices were chosen with cost to the consumer in mind. The cost of the menu items is less than the national average spent on food, per person, in a 4-person family.
- White House Recipes is a collection of healthy recipes with easy to follow instructions. Recipes include: Warm Baked Apples with Dried Cherries; Raisins and Blueberries; Broccoli Soup; and Cauliflower Mac and Cheese.
- Food Group Recipes is another wonderful collection of recipes with nutrition in mind. Recipes include: Lemon Velvet Supreme; Corn Chowder; Roasted Root Vegetables; and Outtasight Salad.
- SNAP-Ed Connection Recipe Finderis a fantastic resource. This online collection includes: tips, food safety, and the ability to sort recipes by a wide range of categories. Recipes can be searched by: style, cooking equipment required, menu items, themes, nutrients, and cost.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
The USDA’s People’s Garden has a wide variety of resources for the home gardener, including recipes. Many of the recipes were developed by students in DC’s Central Kitchen Job Training Program.
The recipes are brimming with fresh vegetables and herbs. They include:
- Roasted Root Vegetable Medley
- Roasted and Curried Butternut Squash Soup
- Afghani Sweet and Spicy Pumpkin Kabobs
- House Brined Pickles
- Summer Corn Salad
- Tomato Bruschetta
- Chinese Veggies and Rice
- Minted Cucumber and Tomato Salad
- Gazpacho Andaluz
We hope you enjoy them!
- Author: Chris M. Webb
The Ventura County Health Care Agency has a wonderful new online resource intended to improve the wellbeing of our community.
From their site:
“Wellness Everyday is committed to supporting the mental, physical and social health of all individuals living within our community. By providing education, resources and information on the latest programs and projects offered within our community, we believe the Wellness of our Ventura County community can belong to each of us.”
The site is nicely designed and easy to navigate. The three main sections: mind, body, and relationships each have many suggestions and links for further resources.
Subtopics include: parenting, exercise, nutrition, creativity, resilience, sleep, and much more. There is even a section dedicated to healthy aging.
This fabulous online resource is available in Spanish.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
UC ANR’s new after-school curriculum is designed to help 9 to 12 year olds good health skills that will last a lifetime. The six week hands-on program promotes preparing and eating healthy meals as well as encouraging plenty of physical activity.
In addition to the introduction these free, downloadable lessons include:
- Let’s Make It Clean: Wash Up!
- Make It Healthy: Eat Balanced Meals
- Make It Crunchy: Go for Whole Grains!
- Make It Colorful: Choose Fruits and Veggies by Color
- Make it Delicious: Plan and Balance
- Make It Fun: Eat and Share
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Presented by the Ventura County Ag Futures Alliance last month’s agricultural summit set out to increase connections and support between the local agricultural industry and the larger community.
Approximately 250 community stakeholders (farmers, ranchers, distributors, buyers, chefs, policy makers, public health advocates, community planners, and others) attended the Making Connections: How the Local Food Movement Can Support Ventura County Agriculture themed event.
Agriculture is an important part of our local economy. Like any other industry, agriculture has its share of challenges and opportunities. Shared dialog between producers and consumers within our area provides a wonderful bridge to reduce and minimize challenges while finding ways to increase awareness and collaboration. Attendees discussed distribution systems, public health, land use, childhood obesity, urban encroachment, pesticides, labor needs, water, and the need for fresh food education and marketing,
Additional information about the summit, and the issues discussed, can be found at the Ag Innovations Network website, this Ventura County Star article, and this radio piece by KCLU.
Support for this program came from many in the community. Sponsors include the UC Thelma Hansen Fund. The purpose of the Hansen Fund is to support and maintain University research and extension activities for the sustainability and benefit of agriculture and natural resources in Ventura County. A complete list of donors can be found here.