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Hungry Minds: The Best Brain Foods

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By Kristin Kessler, RD

Food can feed your belly, food can feed your soul, but did you also know that food can feed your brain? While an overall healthy diet is important to keep your brain functioning at top speed, certain foods can boost brain function. Try some of our favorite brainy foods to make sure you’re getting all of the nutrients your hungry mind needs.

 

Opt for Omega-3 Fatty Acids

 

With all of the positive press, it should come as no surprise that foods containing a high amount of omega-3 fatty acids are number one on this list! Feed your brain with this light and refreshing Salmon & Dill Green Bean Salad, perfect for warm summer nights. If you’re not a salmon fan, substitute another fatty fish such as mackerel or tuna. If you’re a vegetarian or don’t like fish, pick up flaxseed oil or walnuts during your next trip to the grocery store.

Eat Probiotic-Rich Foods

 

Have you ever heard of the gut-brain connection? It may sound like something from a science fiction movie, but recent research has taught us that our gastrointestinal system and brain are much more connected than we thought. Keep your intestines happy and healthy with gut-friendly bacteria called probiotics, which can be found in fermented foods such as yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut and miso. For your next dinner, try out this Chickpea and Kraut Pasta Toss. To maximize intake of probiotics, avoid heating the sauerkraut too much or serve it on the side at room temperature. Your gut and brain will thank you!

Whole Grains for the Brain

You can literally feed your hungry mind by opting for whole grains throughout the day. The brain’s favorite supply of energy comes in the form of glucose. Whole wheat bread or pasta, brown rice and oatmeal are rich in whole grains and release glucose slowly into the bloodstream, helping you to keep you feeling happy and mentally alert throughout the day. The brown rice in this Creamy Coconut & Veggie Brown Rice Pilaf with Honey Roasted Pecans will help keep you sharp as a tack.

Summer Sides That Brighten Up Dinner

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It’s official: summer is in full swing! And while we welcome the warmer weather, steamy temperatures can sometimes wilt your inspiration in the kitchen. Luckily, a superb, summery side dish can salvage any meal. Here are a few tasty and simple-to-prepare recipes that will elevate your dinner from mediocre to mouth-watering. Bonus: all three are prepared sans-oven, so you can stay cool while your taste buds heat up.

 
Better Your BBQ

Summertime is practically synonymous with BBQs and no BBQ is complete without a proper slaw. For a tasty twist on traditional coleslaw, try Summery Slaw, made with Libby’s® French Style Green Beans and Whole Kernel Sweet Corn. Colorful, crunchy and full of flavor, it’s a sunny complement to any meaty main course.

Freshen Up With Veggies

Fluffy couscous and zesty veggies join forces in this Cilantro-Lime Corn Couscous, featuring Libby’s® Sweet Corn, cherry tomatoes and baby spinach. The dish is harmoniously tied together with a light, flavor-packed dressing made with fresh lime and olive oil. Add it to tonight’s spread and freshen up mealtime in no time.

Add Pep with Pepper

Sometimes, all your food needs is a little kick of flavor. Jazz up any entrée with a generous side serving of Lemon Pepper Parmesan Peas. Made with just three ingredients (Libby’s® Sweet Peas, lemon pepper and parmesan), this sweet-yet-spicy combination will put that pep back in your dinnertime step.    

Super Summer Salads

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Nothing beats a refreshing, satisfying salad at the end of a long, hot summer day. Let the official one-dish meal of the season help you shift into a summer state of mind. Salads are one of the few dishes that can be customized for every taste preference. Quick, easy and delicious, here are some summer salad recipes for every member of your family.   

 

The Adventurer For those salad lovers who like to venture outside of their comfort zones, there are plenty of ways to mix up your menu this summer. Need inspiration? Take this Pea, Ricotta and Bacon Salad for a spin this summer. 

The TraditionalistWhen you’re looking for a dish that is guaranteed to please the masses, lean on the family favorite recipes. Check out our recipe for Taco Salad, livened up with Libby’s® Whole Kernel Sweet Corn and Libby’s® Organic Black Beans. 

The MinimalistWe all know that person who finds flavor and taste in the simplest ingredients. Adding Libby’s vegetables to salads contributes the perfect amount of flavor. Try this recipe for Green Bean & Tomato Salad this summer or kick it up a notch with Easy Three Bean Salad.

Celebrate Earth Day the Libby’s Way!

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While everybody is looking for new ways to live more sustainably, the classic three Rs – reduce, reuse, and recycle – are always reliable! Just in time for Earth Day, which takes place each year on April 22nd,  we have compiled three simple ways you can go green!

 

Reduce

Not only are veggies good for you, they’re good for the environment! It takes approximately 29 gallons of water to produce a pound of vegetables. Compare that to the 1,850 gallons needed for a single pound of beef. Consider making more of your meals meatless. You and your family won’t feel like something is missing with a hearty dish such as Individual Herbed Vegetable Pot Pies.

Reuse

Reuse household items, like Libby’s cans, to create arts and crafts! Once painted and decorated, steel cans make excellent planters.  You can then incorporate your home-grown herbs into recipes, like this one for Turkey Pasta Salad with Basil Dressing.

Recycle

Sometimes it’s hard to tell what items can be recycled. Cardboard, paper, food boxes, glass bottles, jars, jugs, plastic bottles and caps, and, of course, cans can all be recycled. Libby’s cans are made with 100% steel, so you never have to question how to best dispose of them.

Be sure to involve your kids in your Earth Day initiatives. It’s a great way to make them excited about the importance of preparing meals, watering plants, or taking out the trash. You might feel more enthusiastic about these chores too, knowing your small changes are helping make the world a little greener!

Eating O’ the Greens

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By Deanna Segrave-Daly, RD

 

When March rolls around, I’m thinking GREEN. There’s St. Patrick’s Day, of course, but it’s the first day of spring that has me anticipating green buds on the trees, green grass on the ground and all the green edibles that will be soon popping up.

 

Dark leafy greens and green veggies are nutrient powerhouses that we all should be eating more of. Here are my top 5 favorite ways to get more flavorful greens into your every day diet (beyond the iceberg salad): 

  1. Veggie Roast – Roasting any vegetable brings out a natural sweetness and can make bitter tasting ones taste better. Toss chopped broccoli, Libby’s® Cut Green Beans or Brussels sprouts with olive oil, minced garlic and black pepper. Roast in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, stirring every 5 minutes until vegetables are tender.
     
  2. Dynamite Dips & Spreads – Puree cooked greens with Libby’s® Garbanzo Beans and seasonings in a blender (add a little water if too thick). Or make this Sweet Pea Dip with fresh mint. Serve as a dip with whole grain crackers or use as a sandwich spread.
     
  3. Stellar Soup & Stews – Simmer chopped Swiss chard, broccoli rabe or collards in any soup – from chicken noodle to your favorite chili – to add extra nutrients and flavor. Mix greens into cheese and broccoli soup and puree for extra creaminess without a lot of extra calories. Or try this Spicy Sweet Pea Bisque.
     
  4. Buddha Power Bowls – The latest trend in bowl cuisine features noodles or whole grains paired with eggs, beans or tofu and chopped veggies. Add in chopped, sautéed leafy greens, like kale and spinach or try this Lean Green Warm Barley Salad.
     
  5. Punched Up Pesto – Traditional pesto mixes basil with pine nuts but you can blend almost any green veggie, herb and nut with olive oil and parmesan cheese for delicious results. Swap in arugula with pistachios or mint with almonds for a super quick pasta sauce.

 Here’s wishing you a green filled week!

Warm Soups to Fight Cold Weather

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The winter weather can be brutal, with winds, freezing temperatures—sleet and snow! That’s why there’s nothing better than coming in after a cold day to a nice hot meal, like a hearty soup.  Here are some soup recipes that will keep your family warm and well fed.

 

 

Winter Minestrone

Minestrone is a great soup because of the variety of vegetables — and this one even includes some diced ham for protein.  It’s also a great choice for the cold winter months because the ingredients allow it to serve as a full meal.  Use Libby’s® Cut Green Beans and Mixed Vegetables to add great flavor to this rustic and classic dish.

Vegetable Sausage Soup

The sausage in this dish makes an ordinary vegetable soup into one with diverse spices and flavors. It’s a great choice to help you refuel after being outside in the cold. Use Libby’s® Cut Green Beans, Sliced Carrots and Whole White Potatoes to make a soup that will be a treat for the whole family.

Spicy Split Pea Bisque

Split pea soup is often singular in texture and flavor, but ours is not! This spicy dish calls for some chili powder and black pepper. Salty and crunchy bacon crumbles and a dollop of cool Greek yogurt mix up the consistency and offer a surprisingly delightful flavor combination. However, the peas are the star of this dish, so use Libby’s® Naturals Sweet Peas to get it started; the result will be a soup that is delicious and nutritious.

What’s your favorite soup? Serve it up and share a photo on our Facebook page!