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| Olive Gruyere Quiche |
Mac ‘n Cheese with Olives and Peas
Ingredients |
| 2 cups cooked broccoli florets |
| 1 cup frozen peas |
| 1 cup heavy cream |
| 1 cup low sodium chicken broth |
| 1/2 cup sliced California Ripe Olives |
| 8 oz. whole grain pasta, cooked |
| 1 1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese |
Directions
Heat broccoli, peas, cream and chicken broth to a boil in a medium sized saucepan. Turn down to a simmer and add California Ripe Olives. Toss in pasta and cook for 3-4 minutes over low heat. Remove from heat and stir in cheese, then season to taste with salt and pepper if necessary. Serves 4.
Looking for more foods to feed the kids? We’ve got tons of kid friendly California Ripe Olive recipes right here. TOP
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It recently occurred to me that nutrition news is always so emphatic. One day it’s all about cutting carbs, the next it’s counting calories, then it’s eliminating certain fats from your diet. It’s as if there’s always someone out there trying to tell us that if we follow their advice (and most of it involves depriving ourselves from one thing or another), we’ll been in great shape, have perfect physiques and live to be two hundred and two. Well, I’m over it!
You see I’ve been doing a little research of my own, and I’m onto this new kick that’s destined to take over the tabloids. It’s called eating your age. No, not eating the five green beans on your plate because you’re five years old (although that’s been a successful little game in my household). I’m talking about eating the right foods for your body based on your stage of life.
When you start to think about it, it seems so obvious. Of course, a ten year old kid is going to have different needs than his two year old little brother or his forty-five year old dad, but sometimes when food shopping for the whole family we lose sight of this. If only supermarkets were set up more like department stores, it would all be so simple, right?
But do we rally need that? A lot of this is common sense. In addition to serving portion sizes that are appropriate for different age groups, there are key foods that are beneficial at each stage as well. For instance, dairy products for growing kids, soy foods for maturing women and iron-rich ingredients for the child bearing set. Even fats, both saturated and monounsaturated from foods like California Ripe Olives, almonds and avocados are part of a healthy diet as long as you eat the right amount for your particular phase of life.
What it boils down to is that you have to know who you’re feeding in order to decide what they should be eating. Sure, there are universal foods like whole grains, monounsaturated fats, fresh fruits, vegetables and lean meats that remain in style at any age, but others are age appropriate and should be eaten that way. In other words, you might still sneak a little of that trendy skateware into your husband’s summer wardrobe, but keep in mind it’s probably better suited for jr. than the rest of the family! TOP
Fit for All Seasons |
| Age Group |
The Focus |
The Look |
| Young kids |
Bone growth, brain development, vitamin absorption |
Milk, dairy, fish, good fats |
| Teens |
Acquiring good stable nutritional habits |
Avoiding soda, substituting whole grains for white bread |
| Child bearing women |
Sustaining energy, fetal health if pregnant |
Beets, beans, legumes, spinach, red meats |
| Men |
Heart health, prostate, Alzheimer disease |
Dark leafy greens, tomatoes |
| Older women |
Minimizing menopausal symptoms, breast and heart health, osteoporosis |
Soy products, salmon, whole grains, monounsaturated fats |
| TOP |
Let them Eat Cheese
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Contest: Olives for the Ages
We’ve done kid-friendly recipe contests, but what about the adults out there? Do you have something that’s marvelous for the mommy set, dead-on for dads or perfect for pops? Send in your favorite recipes for all different age groups and we’ll put 'em to the test. Load ‘em up with California Ripe Olives of course, and tell us who they’re geared toward—young moms, middle ages, older folks. Then as always, we’ll test ‘em, taste ‘em and choose the champion. The winner of the California Ripe Olive quarterly recipe contest will receive, a case of our favorite little black fruits and recognition on our website. So get into those kitchens and start cookin’, no one’s getting any younger while we wait for the winner! TOP
"Otherworldly Olives"
Recipe Contest Winner TOP |
Balsamic Tofu Stir Fry
Ingredients |
| 2 Tbsp. olive oil |
| 1 lb. extra firm tofu, diced 1-inch, drained |
| 1 red onion, chopped |
| 2 zucchini, sliced into half moons |
| 6 oz. cauliflower florets, sliced |
| 4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced |
| 1 cup California Ripe Olives, whole, pitted |
| 1/4 cup chopped basil |
| 3 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar |
| salt and pepper to taste |
Directions
Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a non-stick wok, griddle or sauté pan over medium-high heat. Cook tofu in pan for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally until browned on all side. Transfer to a clean bowl and wipe out pan. Heat remaining oil in pan and add onions, zucchini and cauliflower. Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally until browned and tender, then add garlic and continue cooking for 1 more minute. Toss in mixing bowl with tofu and stir in California Ripe Olives, basil and vinegar. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serves 4. Serve over pasta, bulgur, cous cous or rice if desired. TOP
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The thing about feeding kids is that it’s always a balancing act. It’s important to feed them what’s necessary for proper growth and development, while teaching them healthy habits that will stick with them for life.
We all know that kids need lots of calcium for their bones to grow, but did you know that they also need plenty of fats, including saturated and unsaturated fats, to absorb vitamins and nutrients and develop a good head on their shoulders…That’s pretty important too, wouldn’t you say?
Why not take advantage of this? Particularly when paired with whole grains, fruits and vegetables, good fats—monounsaturated fats and a controlled amount of saturated fats— can round out a healthy diet. (And get your kids to eat a lot of foods that they’d otherwise oppose!)
Take this recipe for instance. Hidden within this rich creamy sauce that no kid can resist are broccoli florets, peas and whole grains. Of course, California Ripe Olives float around giving them a little extra treat in every bite. The best part is it won’t take you any longer to prepare than that plain ol’ blue box of mac ‘n cheese you’ve been using for years. I told you new is newsworthy! TOP
Tofu or Not Tofu… that is the question
Lately there’s been a little murmuring in the news about whether or not soy foods are really all that. From what I understand the jury’s still out over soy products for kids, but if you’re a woman who’s exiting her childbearing years, my sense is…Tofu!
Loaded with isoflavons that have been linked to curbing all of those lovely menopausal issues that are such a joy to so many, it would be crazy not to learn to love tofu and other soy foods. And men of the same age take note, this stuff is packed with protein and low in fat, so you can be sure that it’s as good for your ticker as it is for your ever-changing abs.
So that brings me to recipe time. I thought about doing something that hides the tofu, but changed my mind. The thing is tofu is actually one of those foods that people think they don’t like because they’ve either never tried it, or had it prepared poorly. (Probably more often the former.) Instead, I opted to embrace it! Try this Italian twist on a stir fry using flavorful veggies like onions, cauliflower and California Ripe Olives along with diced tofu to give it some punch. Remember, you’re never too old to like something new! TOP
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