March 2024 Plant-Based Updates from Melissa
Happy Holidays! Growing mini-tomatoes, kale recipes, and Passover ideas.
I am impatiently waiting for my mini-yellow tomatoes to ripen - so excited to try these! They have taken over my hydroponic garden and are smashing the bok choy and stunting the lettuce and basil too!
It has been an exciting month with various projects. I hope to be able to share my new video for the Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetic Practice group all about cooking kasha varnishkes with a plant-based twist with you soon (follow me on Instagram @melissatraubrd).
I also attended the International Affiliate of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetic Association conference online. I truly enjoyed meeting colleagues from around the world and learning more about global nutrition concerns.
I've also had fun shopping at a new local Grocery Outlet. There are some excellent bargain buys with a larger and fresher produce section than other Grocery Outlet locations. Look for their NOSH: Natural, Organic, Specialty, and Healthy items for some interesting finds, and read more about my Top 10 favorites here:
Focus on Kale
Do you enjoy kale? It's not something I grew up eating but I have come to like it. Plus, it has a lot going for it nutritionally. One cup of cooked kale contains 177 milligrams of calcium (17.7% of the RDA for adults) plus a good amount of vitamin A, vitamin K, and folate with just 52 calories (source - USDA Food Data Central).
What I like to point out is that the calcium is not bound to oxalate like it is in spinach and Swiss chard. This means that we can absorb the calcium in kale much better. It's also super versatile: try it in salads, with pasta, stir-fries, burritos, or even smoothies.
Kale Tips:
Wash kale by dropping the leaves in a large bowl or pot of cold water and swishing them around. Amy sand or dirt should settle to the bottom. Then rinse off the leaves. Remove the center rib - that can be tough. Massage the leaves a little before using them for salad so they are more tender. Or just use baby kale leaves.
Kale Recipes:
Vegan Stuffed Mushrooms with Artichokes and Kale
Vegan Stuffed Shells with Kale and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Happy Holidays!
Wishing a Happy Easter and Ramadan Mubarak to all who celebrate.
If you’re planning ahead for Passover, here are some plant-based recipes to check out:
Please take a moment to participate in this month’s poll: