Summer is a great time to live in Washington. It’s also a great time to eat fresh fruits and vegetables grown here in our state! You may have heard about “seasonal eating” before, but what does it mean? Eating fruits and vegetables “in season” means that you are purchasing and eating foods around the same time that they are being harvested from farms in our region. Seasonal eating has many benefits. One of the most important is that buying fruits and vegetables in season is often much more affordable.
Seahurst Elementary and Midway Elementary Host Campaigns
Food $ense offered healthy eating campaigns at two of our partner schools in May. Seahurst Elementary School partnered with F$ to highlight the importance of a healthy breakfast. As part of the campaign, F$ visited each classroom with a nutrition message and provided support materials to teachers and staff. Some classrooms even created murals to promote eating breakfast every day. Every student at Seahurst also received a jump rope from F$, to tie in with the overarching message of the campaign: “Skip Rope, Not Breakfast.” Students learned that breakfast is not only an important part of a healthy diet, but also helps them to do their best in school.
Early in June, Food $ense visited Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank in North Bend in partnership with the Department of Social and Health Services Mobile CSO unit. The Mobile CSO gives residents in more rural areas of the state access to services that would otherwise require a trip to the nearest city. The Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank also provides a much needed service to the upper Snoqualmie Valley. Executive Director Heidi Dukich says one of the most important roles of the food bank is to help people feel connected to their community—in as many ways as they can.
A great way to enjoy strawberries as their peak season begins to wrap up! As we move through the summer, try this recipe with fresh raspberries, blueberries, or peaches instead of strawberries. Sliced pears or apples are a great seasonal adaptation for fall, and mandarin oranges can take it into winter as well.
