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National Eat Your Vegetables Day is June 17th!

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We all know it’s important to eat a diet full of nutrient-rich veggies, but chowing adequate amounts of produce can be easier said than done. Case in point: a recent study by the CDC revealed less than 9 percent of Americans meet the USDA’s recommended vegetable intake of 2 to 3 cups per day. With National Eat Your Vegetables Day approaching on June 17th, there’s no better time to start sneaking more of these feel-good gems on your plate. Check out the following Libby’s recipes–each featuring multiple types of veggies—for tasty, timely inspiration.

Say Hello to Salad

 

Salads are a great way to consume loads of different veggies all in one dish. This Peas, Carrots & Candied Walnut Salad delivers three types of produce: soft butter lettuce, sweet peas and diced carrots. It’s topped with sweet and crunchy walnuts and tangy feta cheese for an unforgettable medley of flavor.

Jazz Up the Classics

Another pro tip for consuming more veggies: just add them to your favorite dishes! This Turkey Tetrazzini with Green Beans and Mushrooms dresses up classic egg noodle pasta with and hearty diced turkey, creamy mushrooms and French-style green beans. It’s delectable as a hot main course or can also be chilled in the fridge and served up as a summer picnic side dish.

Health-ify Old Favorites

 

Health-ify your favorite takeout items by creating them at home. This allows you to control sodium levels and is also an ideal opportunity to toss in bonus veggies. The next time you’re craving Chinese, pull out this recipe for Mixed Veggie Fried Rice. It unites Libby’s® Mixed Vegetables with healthier-for-you brown rice. You can also switch it up—or add even more veggies—with Libby’s® Sliced Carrots, Libby’s® Sweet Peas, Libby’s® Cut Green Beans or Libby’s® Sweet Corn.

International Picnic Day is June 18th

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The passing of Memorial Day means summer is (unofficially) in full swing and nothing celebrates the best of this warmer season quite like a picnic. The term “picnic” is French is origin, and historians believe this form of casual, al fresco dining became popular in France after the Revolution. French or not, you can partake in this time-honored tradition along with folks from around the world on International Picnic Day on June 18. Here are our favorite Libby’s dishes perfect for the occasion.

Side Show OR Main Show

 

Pay tribute to the creators of the picnic with this French Style Potato Salad. It combines classic flavors of lemon, olive and garlic with the convenience of Libby’s® Sliced White Potatoes and Libby’s® French Style Green Beans for a fresh, hearty picnic side dish. You can also transform it into a simple main dish by tossing in a protein, like canned tuna or garbanzo beans.

Taco Time

 

Enjoy a customizable, handheld entrée with these Lunchbox Tacos featuring Libby’s® Vegetable Cups alongside salsa, black beans, chicken and your favorite cheese. They’re best prepared directly before eating, so pack up all the ingredients in your picnic basket and then assemble on-site.

Upgraded Pops

 

Finish your picnic on a sweet, yet healthy note with these Avocado Sweet Pea Frozen Pops. A fresh, creative take on the traditional popsicle, these green gems are a creamy, nutrition-packed treat. Not a fan of avocados? Try the Sweet Corn variety, starring Libby’s® Whole Kernel Sweet Corn Cups and plain Greek yogurt. Whatever your flavor, just be sure to stash the pops in a cooler with plenty of ice to ensure they’re still frosty come chow time. 

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo With Hearty Bites

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Cinco de Mayo, aka the fifth of May, recognizes the Mexican army’s 1862 victory over France during the Battle of Puebla as part of the Franco-Mexican War (1861-1867). While the holiday is relatively minor in Mexico, it’s widely celebrated in the United States as a tribute to Mexican heritage and culture. Traditions include parades, mariachi music performances, street festivals—and of course, food. In the spirit of the holiday, we’ve pulled together three dishes that celebrate Mexican flavors. Fire up your appetite!

Traditional With A Twist

Tortilla soup—or sopa de tortilla—is a traditional Mexican soup consisting of fried corn tortilla bits in a hearty broth of tomato, chili powder and other spices. This recipe for Mexican Tortilla Soup brings two bonus ingredients to the mix: Libby’s® Whole Kernel Sweet Corn and tender chicken breast strips. Add even more deliciousness by topping your bowl with creamy avocado chunks, cheese cubes and sour cream.

Kicked Up Greens

This Mexican Chicken and Corn Salad packs heat, crunch and flavor. Chicken breast seasoned with smoky paprika combines with black beans, a Libby’s® Sweet Corn Vegetable Cup and cherry tomatoes for a seriously hearty—and healthy—salad. Tortilla chips and bacon bits add the perfect textured topping.

Meatless Magic

Celebrate the holiday sans meat with these Mexican Salsa Veggie Burgers. The burgers themselves are packed with tongue-tingling flavor thanks to oregano, cumin and lime juice, and the salsa topper kicks things up yet another notch with bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, Libby’s® Whole Kernel Sweet Corn and cilantro. One bite will bring the party to your mouth.

Go Green for Earth Day!

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By Kristin Kessler, Registered Dietitian

Home to more than seven billion people, three trillion trees, and more animals than many of us can count (the ant population alone is 10,000 trillion!), Mother Earth is a pretty populated place. And since we only have just one planet, it’s extra important to take care of it. Earth Day—celebrated every year on April 22—began 46 years ago to increase conversation on environmental issues, like fossil fuels, renewable resources and overall sustainability. This Friday, in addition to conserving electricity and recycling, take your Earth Day celebrations into the kitchen with our simple tips for sustainable eating!

Embrace the “All Produce is Beautiful” movement

Every year, six billion pounds of fruits and veggies in the U.S. go unharvested or unsold—not because they’re spoiled, but because they’re considered “ugly.” Deformed, wonky, crooked, or long-necked, just because this food doesn’t look like your typical produce doesn’t mean it’s not as tasty and nutritious! Honor homely veggies by combining them with Libby’s products in big casserole or soup dishes, like this recipe for Minestrone Soup. No one will ever know you chose the “ugly” produce over the “pretty” produce!

They’re called leftovers, not trash!

 

Food waste is no throwaway topic. Every year, approximately 2.9 trillion pounds of food—about one third of all food produced worldwide—gets tossed. Learn to love (and actually use) your leftovers in creative ways by incorporating them into salads, sandwiches and wraps. Extra helpings from last night’s roasted chicken can be tomorrow’s lunch with these Spicy Chicken Lettuce Wraps.

Skip the meat (for a day)

Take a tip from the meatless Monday playbook and go vegetarian on this Earth Day. Going meatless can help reduce water usage, greenhouse gases and fuel dependence. To put it into perspective, approximately 1,850 gallons of water are needed to produce a single pound of beef, while a mere 39 gallons of water are needed to produce a pound of vegetables. Choose vegetarian sources of protein (think: lentils and beans) to improve both your health and the health of the planet. The next time you’re hankering for a burger, try this vegetarian recipe for Mexican Salsa Veggie Burgers instead. It’s filled with beans and spice and everything nice.

Bid Hunger Adieu: Three Stay-Full Snacks

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When was the last time you were “hangry”? A combination of hungry and angry, the term describes that unfortunate phenomenon when you’re extra cranky because it’s been too long since you’ve last chowed. Being hangry often sneaks up on us, striking when we’re too busy and stressed to realize what’s happening and usually during that lengthy lunch-to-dinner stretch. Fortunately, there’s an easy solution: fiber. This dietary substance is found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes, and eating more of it can help keep you feel fuller—and fuss-free—for longer. Try out the below fiber-filled snack recipes and kick your hangry self to the curb.

Dipping delight

This Seven Layer Dip combines three fiercely fiber-packed ingredients: Libby’s® Whole Kernel Sweet Corn, Libby’s® Cut Green Beans and black beans. Pair it with your favorite whole grain chips, crackers or flatbread for a delicious and satiating snack.

Packing heat

 

These Spiced & Stuffed Samosa “Baked” Potatoes are as flavorful as they are filling. Libby’s® Sweet Corn, Libby’s® Cut Green Beans and Libby’s® Sweet Peas bring the fiber, and smoked paprika and curry powder bring the heat.

Colorful crunch

Transform stale bread into mouth-watering magic with this recipe for Sweet Corn & Tomato Pesto Bruschetta. Roma tomatoes, Libby’s® Whole Kernel Sweet Corn and fresh pesto make a vibrant and energy-boosting topping to whole wheat toast.

Peas, Please! Why—and How—You Should Eat More Of These Green Gems

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Peas—those tiny, tasty emerald veggies—are sweet in more ways than one. Rich in fiber, heart-healthy antioxidants and essential vitamins, these starchy legumes pack serious nutritional punch in pint-sized form. What’s more, their mild, palate-pleasing flavor blends well in an array of dishes, making them an easy, healthy addition to whatever you’re preparing. Check out our Product Locator to find where you can buy Libby’s® Sweet Peas near you and then get cooking with some of our favorite pea-centric recipes. 🙂

Green on green

 

Looking for a light yet seriously flavorful lunch (or starter course)? Try this Warm Baby Green Salad with Peas, Pistachios and Pecorino. Sharp, salty pecorino cheese and buttery, crunchy pistachios add a new level of tongue-tingling complexity to Libby’s® Sweet Peas.

Just plain scrumptious

 

Why does Peas Company Style deserve a place in your personal recipe box? 1) It’s definition easy-peasy: just five ingredients and two simple steps to prepare. 2) It’s undeniably delicious. 3) There’s crumbled bacon on top. Need we say more?

Pea-pleasing pasta

 

This Little Ears Pasta with Peas, Mint & Ricotta features all you could ever want in an entree—plus more. There’s creamy ricotta, nutty parmesan, zesty lemon, fresh mint, adorably shaped pasta and of course, the main star: Libby’s® Sweet Peas.