Food, Recipe, and Activity of the Week - August 16, 2009
This week's features include:
Food - Nectarines
Recipe - Fruit on a stick
Activity - Mini golf
History
Nectarines have been available for centuries and it is believed to have originated from China. Making its way to Europe in the 16th century the nectarines were brought to the United States shortly thereafter. Nectarines belong to the Prunus persica family together with its cousin, the peach. Peaches and nectarines are genetic variants of one another. Although looking similar in appearance, nectarines tend to be sweeter than peaches. The skin is smooth with no fur, in contrast to peaches, and is commonly red and yellow in color. The flesh can be either white or yellow with the latter being more popular.
There are over 150 types of nectarines, but the most commonly grown are Fantasia, Harblaze, Summer Grand, Royal Giant, and May Grand. These ripen in the summer with the peak season being July and August. About 98% are grown in California and during the winter and spring season, nectarines are imported from South America or the Middle East.
Ripe nectarines should have a smooth and red colored skin. The skin should be firm yet yielding to gentle pressure, particularly along the seam. It should have a sweet fragrance. Unripe nectarines should be stored at room temperature for 2 to 3 days with no direct sunlight. To keep the nectarine fresh it can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.
Nutrition information
Nectarines are high in vitamin C and beta-carotene. It is more or less fat free and is a good source of fiber.
Nutrition analysis for 1 nectarine: calories: 67, carbohydrates: 12 g, protein: 1 g, fat: 0 g, cholesterol: 0 mg, sodium: 0 mg, fiber: 2 g, vitamin C: 7 mg, vitamin A: 101 RE
Makes 9 servings
Ingredients:
- 2 nectarines
- 2 cups orange juice
- 1 1/2 cups raspberries
Instructions:
- Remove the seeds from the nectarines and cut into chunks.
- Puree with the orange juice in a blender.
- Pour into plastic popsicle molds. Divide the whole raspberries among the molds and freeze.**
**Note: You can substitute ice cube trays or plastic or paper cups along with popsicle sticks or plastic spoons to substitute for popsicle molds
***Also, you can substitute other types of fruit for the nectarines and raspberries depending on your preferences. Some ideas include pureeing pears in apple juice with blueberries or bananas pureed in pineapple juice with grapes.
Nutrition Information: 49 calories, 0 grams total fat, 12 grams carbohydrate, 1 gram protein, 2 grams fiber, 1 milligram sodium, 0 milligrams cholesterol.
Courtesy of the Kaiser Permanente website. For more recipes and access to the recipe’s full nutritional profile, visit http://recipe.kaiser-permanente.org/kp/maring.
Why not turn the T.V. off tonight and instead spend a nice evening playing miniature golf with your family and friends? Mini golf is a game that everyone can enjoy. Plus, if you are an avid golfer, mini golf will give you some extra practice on the putting green. The extra obstacles and water holes might actually improve your game too! Mini golf is a great excuse to get outside and enjoy the weather while it lasts.
You may not think that you are burning many calories, but all of the walking and bending to pick up your ball add up. A 150 pound person can burn up to 122 calories playing mini golf for 40 minutes!
Always consult your physician before beginning a new activity.