ChicopeeFRESH
  • About
    • Local Sourcing
    • School Gardens
    • Meet the Team
    • Contact >
      • Volunteer
      • Media >
        • Photos
        • Project Food Awareness
  • Food Truck
  • Farm to School 101
    • Events
  • Menus
  • Resources
    • For Families
    • For Food Services
  • Blog
  • About
    • Local Sourcing
    • School Gardens
    • Meet the Team
    • Contact >
      • Volunteer
      • Media >
        • Photos
        • Project Food Awareness
  • Food Truck
  • Farm to School 101
    • Events
  • Menus
  • Resources
    • For Families
    • For Food Services
  • Blog

Read Our Blog

Turkey Tofu Burgers

9/23/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
​By Yitong He - UMass Dietetic Intern
 
Turkey is an excellent source of protein. It is rich in vitamin B, potassium, and other vitamins and minerals our bodies need. Using ground turkey breast also lowers the fat content in your diet compared to other ground meats. This recipe uses turkey breast and tofu as
the primary ingredients, a combination that greatly boosts your daily protein intake. Added vegetables and light seasoning make these patties juicy and nutritious. This recipes also leaves plenty of space for you to add other ingredients and make unique flavors!
 
What You'll Need:
  • 1lb Ground turkey breast
  • 200g Firm Tofu (smashed if you aren't using a blender)
  • 1 Egg
  • 100g Chopped Carrot
  • 60g Chopped mushroom
  • 3g Salt
  • 1 tsp vegetable oil (or any other oil you have at home)
 
Steps:
  1. Chop the carrot and mushroom.
  2. Heat the frying pan with 1 teaspoon vegetable oil. Add chopped carrots and mushrooms, cover, and sauté for about 7 minutes, until well cooked. Make sure to stir every few minutes. Set aside.
  3. Add cooked vegetables, tofu (may need to break this into smaller pieces), egg, salt, and ground turkey to a blender or food processor. Blend well.
  4. Shape into patties (any shape/size as you like)
  5. Heat oil over medium heat in the frying pan. Sauté the patties and cook both sides over medium high heat until lightly brown, for about 5 minutes, flip, and then cook another five minutes. Lower the heat, check the burgers, and cook until heated through.
 
Tips:
  • If you do not want to use a blender, you can mince the carrot and mushrooms into small pieces, smash the tofu, and combine them with the other ingredients in a bowl before forming the patties.
  • Create tons of amazing flavor combinations by adding spices, seasonings, sauces, and salt to the patty mixture
  • Instead of patties, you can skip this step and make turkey tofu crumbles for soups, salads, chili, tacos, lettuce wraps, enchiladas, and more!

Ways of Serving:
  • On its own with ketchup/BBQ sauce/any seasoning you like
  • Wrap in lettuce/whole wheat wrap/soft taco shell
  • Put it on bread or a bun and eat as a sandwich
  • Serve with salad

Nutritional Value:
  • Rich in protein and fiber
  • Low in fat
  • Good sources of Vitamin B, Potassium, Calcium, Iron, Manganese, Selenium and Copper
 
Other Benefits:
  • Easy to make/cook and can be stored in the freezer for several days
  • Customizable - plenty of options for serving and seasoning
  • Uses common/affordable ingredients
  • You can replace the mushroom and carrot with any other vegetables you like (create your own patty!)
 
Allergens: Soy, Egg
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Peach Fluff

8/12/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
This is an easy ambrosia-style recipe using fresh peaches and only a handful of ingredients from the grocery store. When we made this recipe, Chicopee FRESH used local peaches from Joe Czajkowski Farm in Hadley, MA. In Massachusetts, fresh peaches are generally available from July through September. Try this dreamy treat as a side dish or dessert at your next cookout!
(recipe adapted from
: https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/apricot-fluff/​)
​Ingredients
1 cup of plain yogurt
1 package (3 oz) peach gelatin mix
1 carton (8 oz) whipped topping
1/2 package (about 5 oz) miniature marshmallows
3 cups cubed fresh peaches (about 6 peaches, peeled or unpeeled is fine)
Directions
In a large bowl, mix the peach gelatin into the yogurt. Stir for about 2 minutes or until the mix has dissolved. Next, fold in the whipped topping. Add themarshmallows and peaches. Refrigerate until firm, about 4 hours.
Tip
  • If you don't have fresh peaches, you can use canned or thawed frozen ones instead.
  • Try this recipe with other fruit/gelatin combinations and let us know how they turn out!
0 Comments

Bowie Students Participate in "Adopt a Cow" Program!

11/9/2021

1 Comment

 
Picture
This year, students from four classrooms at Bowie Elementary School are participating in the free “Adopt a Cow” program through Discover Dairy. The year-long program connects students with a local farm where they can adopt a 100-pound dairy calf as their classroom mascot. Don’t worry, they don’t have to find a pen big enough to hold her! The photos, stories, and activities sheets the program sends the class about their calf’s life on the farm really make her come alive for the students. Through the program, students will learn about their calf’s family, breed, diet, daily routine, the milking process, and so much more! To practice their writing skills and show some love for their calf, students are then encouraged to write letters to their calf and host farm family.

Bowie’s host farm is Fletcher Farm in Southampton, MA. Established in 1989, Fletcher Farm is owned and operated by The Fletcher Family. They currently care for 85 milking cows on their 100-acre farm. Like most children who grew up on a farm, Farmer Nicole was responsible for many farm chores at an early age. She now works there full-time and is dedicated to raising happy and healthy animals. For the next seven months, the students at Bowie will connect with Farmer Nicole to learn about their adopted calves and the farm they live on. The four classrooms at Bowie participating in the program and their calf's names are: 
​
  • Mrs. Jacques, Grade 5 - Diane
  • Mrs. Swiatlowski, Grade 5 - Shine
  • Mrs. Gagnon, Grade 4 - Demi
  • Mrs. Hamel, Grade 1 - Capri

Take a look at their calves!
1 Comment

The Fresher the Better –  Seasonal Eating

10/26/2021

0 Comments

 
By Rachael Marion, UMass Amherst Dietetic Intern
Picture
The changing of the leaves reminds us that winter is right around the corner and the farmer’s markets will soon be wrapping up. It’s time to take advantage of those last couple of trips and stock up on the available fall produce. Modern-day food processing and distribution have made it easy to forget about the importance of eating what’s in season. Seasonal eating allows us to eat a varied diet that supports our body and our environment. Here are a few more reasons why eating seasonally is beneficial:

​
Better flavor and nutritional value!
Food that’s in season is fresher, healthier, and more flavorful! Have you ever eaten a peach in the winter that tastes nothing like the fresh ripe peach you had in the summer? Seasonal produce is rich in vitamins, minerals, and flavor. As soon as they are harvested, the nutritional quality of fruits and vegetables begins to decline. Produce can spend as much as a week getting to the store, then a couple of days before it makes its way to your refrigerator, and then up to another whole week before it’s finally eaten. Eating seasonally benefits your health since the food has traveled fewer miles and is at peak freshness.

Knowing what is in season will help your wallet!
Did you know eating seasonally can help you save money? When you buy food at the peak of its supply, there’s more to pick from, which means prices are usually at their lowest. Pricing in the supermarket can tell you a lot about seasonality. For example, if you’re usually paying $2 per pound of peaches and the prices increase the next month to $3 per pound, that’s a good sign that the fruit is scarcer and has to travel a greater distance to get to you.

Support the local economy!
When you purchase food that’s in season from local farms, you’re supporting both the local farmers that worked hard to grow the food and the local economy. Farmers are able to retain more of the value of their produce when it is sold locally because they don’t have to pay to have it shipped across the country. Supermarkets have very high standards for what the produce they will buy from farmers. This means farmers sell less product and a lot of misfit food items that worked equally as hard to grow end up going to waste. Your community needs your support. Take a trip to the markets, ask questions about the production process, and engage with your community!

Get creative!
Using produce that was grown locally and in season encourages us to be more creative in the kitchen, trying recipes we wouldn’t have otherwise tried. Use the buttons below to check out what’s in season near you and try some seasonal recipes!
​
What's in season near me
winter roasted vegetables
Summer balsamic Grilled Steak Salad With Peaches
Autumn pumpkin spice muffins
0 Comments

What Is all of the hype about seafood?!

5/17/2021

4 Comments

 
Seafood has always been considered a superfood but it is often not consumed as much as other sources of protein, such as beef or chicken.

With numerous health benefits, seafood is a great way to boost your nutritional intake!  Here’s why:

Picture
Rich in omega-3’s: 
Seafood is the only food that contains naturally abundant amounts of omega-3 fatty acids.  These fatty acids have been extensively studied and play a key role in healthy brain function and heart function.  A diet rich in omega-3’s has been shown to help reduce a person’s risk of heart disease and may help lower triglyceride levels.  Omega-3’s are also anti-inflammatory, which can provide many benefits in terms of arthritis and other inflammatory conditions.  These essential fatty acids are more abundant in fatty fish, like salmon, mackerel, herring, trout, sardines, tuna, and oysters.  Although we categorize some fish as fatty, they still have significantly less fat in them compared to red meat, which makes them more heart healthy and are a great source of lean protein that packs in a lot of flavor!

Nutrient Dense:
Seafood provides the body with many nutrients that are essential for overall health and well-being.  Fish and shellfish are abundant in calcium, phosphorus, zinc, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus.  These minerals are essential for bone health and heart health.  They also help with metabolism, digestion, immunity, muscle function, and many other processes in the body.  Seafood is also rich in vitamin A, which is essential for eye and vision health.

Protein:
Seafood contains high quality protein that has all of the essential amino acids/building blocks that our body needs to function properly.  Protein is necessary for proper muscle function and helps to boost your metabolism and reduce the feeling of hunger.  It is estimated that 3 ounces of most fish or shellfish has ⅓ of the recommended daily protein amount.
​

Fiber: 
Seaweed and sea kelp are considered part of the seafood family and are packed with fiber!  Fiber is great at keeping our bodies “regular” and also plays a key role in keeping us full longer, which can help curb cravings and keep us from snacking on junk food in between meals.  Fiber is also great at lowering cholesterol levels and regulating blood sugar levels, which can also aid in weight loss.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Nori Salad Dressing
Versatile: 
There are so many different fish and seafood and so many different ways to enjoy them all so you will never get bored with adding delicious seafood creations to your diet.  Be creative and try new flavors and recipes and see which ones are your favorite!  Here are some recipes to help you get started!

Asian Glazed Salmon
Grilled Shrimp
Cajun Fish Tacos
Picture
Picture
4 Comments

May Spotlight: Seafood!

4/14/2021

1 Comment

 
Picture
The May Harvest of the Month is Seafood, and we're trying out a brand new local product: Kelp from Atlantic Sea Farms. This kelp is sustainably grown and harvested off the coast of Maine.  It is free from dyes, and it is never dried and/or rehydrated. Read on to learn about the amazing health benefits of kelp!
Sea kelp provides numerous health benefits and is a great way to add some extra nutrition to your meals!  Like many leafy greens, sea kelp is high in antioxidants, which help fight off disease, such as cancer.  It also provides lots of vitamins and minerals, like vitamin K, folate, magnesium, iron, calcium, vitamin A, potassium and iodine.  These vitamins and minerals are great at promoting bone, brain, and heart health!  Sea kelp also has the potential to help prevent diabetes and aid in the defense against depression and Alzheimer’s disease. It may even help with weight loss! 

The frozen kelp cubes and puree, powdered kelp, raw leaf kelp, ready-cut kelp, and sea-beet kraut from Atlantic Sea Farms is also allergen free and all of their products are gluten free, which makes them enjoyable for everyone!  With all of these great benefits, why not try some out!  Add a frozen kelp cube in your favorite smoothie or use some ready-cut kelp as a garnish on tacos!  The options are endless!


Sea kelp is a great superfood and by adding local sea kelp to your diet, you are nourishing your body, supporting local fishermen, and helping rejuvenate the ocean.  It’s a win-win-win!

This past week, we tried a new smoothie recipe that featured nutritious sea kelp and it was definitely kid approved!


Atlantic Sea Farms Website
Picture
Picture
Sea Kelp Smoothie Recipe
Picture
Picture
Picture
1 Comment

Spring Cleaning For Your Body!

3/31/2021

1 Comment

 
Picture
By Ashley Sturgis, Dietetic Intern

​
We all have heard about spring cleaning in terms of your house, but how about spring cleaning for your body?  Here are 4 tips to jumpstart your body and get an extra jolt of nutrition this spring!


1) Curb Your Cravings With Springtime Veggies!
Many refreshing and health boosting veggies are “in season” during the spring.  Vegetables that are in season have a lot more flavor and give you a great health boost!  Veggies also provide some fiber, which helps fill you up and keeps you full longer.  Try adding some spring veggies like asparagus, peas, spinach, chives, or fresh parsley to your breakfast to help kickstart your day!

Veggie Omelette Recipe

2) Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth with Springtime Fruits!
Fruits contain many different vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for overall health.  They are also rich in antioxidants, which can help reduce your risk of chronic conditions, such as heart disease, and can reduce inflammation. Try adding some springtime fruits like strawberries, lemons, kiwis, apricots, or pineapples into your diet to help rejuvenate your body and provide some more naturally occurring ingredients!

Lemon Apricot Fruit Pops
​

Picture
3) Get Everyone Involved!
Kids are more likely to try new foods if they have a hand in helping make them!  Use spring fruits and veggies and create some food art on your plate!  Try some new recipes or have your kiddos pick out something new at the grocery store to try and have them rate it like a food critic!  This can be a fun way to incorporate more variety into your diet.
​

Fruit Cookie Pizza Recipe
​

4) Try Starting an Herb Garden!
Fresh herbs are very easy to grow and can even be grown in the windowsill!  Herbs can be used to help add great flavor to your food and can help reduce your salt intake.  There are many different herb garden kits that can help jumpstart your garden or you can simply buy some pots and soil and start them on your own!  Pick a spot in your house that gets a lot of light and make sure you give your herbs a lot of love!  Some great herbs to try to grow indoors are: Parsley, oregano, mint, chives, lemongrass, thyme, rosemary, and sage.

Picture
1 Comment

10 Ways to Stay Healthy @ Home

4/2/2020

6 Comments

 

By Caroline Grady, FoodCorps Service Member

Many of us are at home right now wondering how to take care of ourselves as we experience life transitions in our home and working environments. While we all live life a little differently at home, there are steps we can all take to make our health and wellbeing first priority. Read on for some peace of mind as we dive into easy steps everyone can take to be healthy at home!

1) Establish routine: 

When we are at home for long periods of time, it can be difficult at first to get things done. Setting healthy habits is crucial. Wake up at the same time every day as well as go to bed at the same time every day. Spend a half hour in the morning after you wake up to stretch, make a cup of coffee, and read the morning news. Routines are critical for crushing to-do lists while simultaneously allowing ourselves well deserved breaks for rest and social connection. Plan meals out the day before and schedule weekly check ins with your supervisor and best friend. Repeat routines each day for structure and support, and aim for a balance of productivity versus rest and being still. ​
Picture

2) SPICE UP YOUR LIFE:

Picture
Stuffy nose? Unplug with spices like cayenne pepper, chili powder, black pepper, or curry. Throw a teaspoon into your stir fry, soup, or even put on pizza. Other anti-inflammatory spices include turmeric, ginger, garlic, and cumin. Time for a taste test! Big tea fan? Try some ginger turmeric or chai tea. 

3) AIM FOR A BALANCED DIET:

A colorful plate is typically a healthy plate. Aim for plenty of fruits and vegetables, especially fresh ones. Include whole grains into your meals and snacks--whole wheat bread, multigrain crackers, and whole grain cereal. Diversify your protein--lean meats such as poultry and turkey, eggs, dairy, and vegetable based protein such as legumes and tofu. Increase water intake, decrease the amount of added sugars. Big sweet tooth? No problem! Trade milk chocolate for dark chocolate once in a while. Bake with coconut sugar or honey instead of cane sugar. Make a berry smoothie! ​​ 
Picture

4) SURPRISE YOURSELF WITH CITRUS:

Picture
A simple way to take in more Vitamin C, which supports a healthy immune system, is to throw slices of citrus fruits such as lemon, lime, and orange into your water bottle. Citrus fruits keep you hydrated and are a great source of fiber. Water has never tasted better and your home will feel like a hotel resort or spa!

5) Move your body:

Good news...there are so many ways to move your body and boost the natural feel-good chemicals we produce. Walking, running, dancing, what’s your pick? Even simple stretches help blood flow and release tension in our muscles. Busy day planned? Chat on the phone with a friend while you take the dog for a walk around the neighborhood. Join in on that conference call while you do some light yoga or stretching in the living room.
Picture

6) Consider new hobbies:

Picture
Did you know that learning a new skill boosts brain creativity? Check out tutorials and beginner-101 videos online such as on YouTube. Curious how to become a puzzle master? Or knit? Now sounds like the perfect time, and hobbies are a great way to take breaks during the day.

7) Pick up on old hobbies:

Dusty guitar lying around? Crafts stored in bins that are begging to be made? Revisit that half-finished story and unroll that yoga mat. You’ll probably be glad you did! Hone in on skills you already have and watch magic happen. 
Picture

8) Lean on your support system:

Picture
Stay connected to loved ones from afar with phone calls, video chats, and letters or cards by mail. Check on neighbors and offer support, as well as donate to a local nonprofit doing good in your community, such as a food bank. Spend time with pets for stress relief and laughs. Play board games with family and host family movie nights. 

9) ​Explore nature's beauty:

​The sun freely gives us Vitamin D, an important vitamin that helps make our bones strong. Take a step outside and inhale some fresh air, spruce up your front or backyard, start a garden or plant some seeds. No green space at your home? No problem! Plant indoors, if possible, or save seeds for future planting. You could take a seed, wrap it in a cotton ball, dip it in water, and let it sit in the sunlight in a small plastic baggie. Nature will then take its course! In addition, take phone calls outside for a change and go for a walk with family and pets in your neighborhood or on a public trail/in a public park nearby. 
​
Picture

10) Organize for peace of mind:

Picture
​We often forget how much the space we live and work in impacts us. Try forming to-do lists and set goals every day, revisiting them at the end of the day. Clear out clutter in your inbox and home...spring cleaning anyone? Free up mental space by removing any distractions and extra “stuff” laying around. This includes cell phones or television, too. Give yourself blocks of time to check social media and stick to them, to counter endless scrolling. Productivity will (hopefully) skyrocket! 
6 Comments

The Dupont Hoop House Is Making A Comeback!

3/10/2020

0 Comments

 

The Damage:

In early November, huge gusts of wind ripped through the Dupont hoop house, completely detaching the plastic covering and bending the metal frame to one side. The extent of the damage came as a shock, especially since we had been about to put up side walls, which would have prevented the wind from wreaking so much havoc.
Picture
Picture
Thankfully, the Horticulture program from Chicopee Comprehensive High School came to our rescue, and we worked together to make a plan to improve the hoop house for this coming growing season! The Horticulture shop has been a wonderful partner, and has helped us grow our school garden program across the district by building and repairing garden beds; distributing seeds, starts, and soil; and offering soil testing and other expertise. We're very thankful for the huge role that they've played in getting this hoop house ready to rock and roll for spring 2020!

On the Mend:

The pictures below were taken four months after the wind storm. Horticulture teacher, Jonathan Duff, and a group of his students are attaching end walls and doors to the hoop house. Students have been hard at work over the winter months building these doors, as well as new tables for seed starting. These tables will line one side of the hoop house, and the other side will be tilled so that students can plant directly in the ground. 
Picture
New tables for starting seeds!
Picture
Horticulture students attach end walls to the hoop house
Picture
The project be should be completed by the start of Dupont's spring garden club on March 19th! Garden club students will be starting seeds to plant in Dupont's garden beds, as well as to distribute to some of the elementary school gardens across the district.
0 Comments

An Udderly Amazing Adventure at Gillette Stadium

8/8/2019

1 Comment

 
We had a blast at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough yesterday at the Dairy Innovation Challenge! We were lucky enough to bring a team from Dupont School to experience this unique and informative event.

The day started with a photo shoot with Pat the Patriot, followed by some dairy trivia (who knew cows could smell so far?!) and a rotation of activities to help us learn more about dairy farming and nutrition. We enjoyed hearing from Kies Orr, a dairy farmer at Fort Hill Farms in CT, who showed us some of the different components of a cow's diet.  At lunch time, dairy took center stage in the amazing spread. We treated ourselves to creamy mac and cheese, and whipped up some fun concoctions at the milk flavor bar. And let's not forget the chocolate chip cookies, perfect for dunking!

After lunch, it was time for the students to buckle down to the challenge -- how do we get students to drink more milk in schools?! According to the New England Dairy Council, only 17% of students are getting 2 or more servings of dairy per day.  We heard some awesome presentations from schools across the state. Dupont student, Mariah, worked with a group from Worcester, coming up with the idea of a "Moo Mobile," or a wheeling cart featuring a variety of customizable dairy options. Way to go, Mariah!!

Once the presentations wrapped up, everyone got a behind-the-scenes look at Gillette stadium. The rain cleared up just in time for our tour, as we made our way through the corporate boxes, media box, clubhouse, and then down into the opposing team locker room. 

On the whole, we had a moonificent day learning and creating with teams from across the state. We're honored to have been selected to participate and hopefully we can add some innovative dairy items to our menus this year!

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
1 Comment
<<Previous

    Authors:

    The ChicopeeFRESH team is a group of creative individuals who are working to feed Chicopee students healthy, local and FRESH foods each day. 

    Archives

    September 2022
    August 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    April 2020
    March 2020
    August 2019
    July 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    March 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    December 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014

    Categories

    All
    Cooking
    Garden
    Harvest Spotlight
    Molly Burke

    RSS Feed

Picture