Our menu highlights produce its peak of seasonality and taste, enabling us to take advantage of this summer's seasonal harvest and source more of our product locally, rather than from thousands of miles away. From antioxidant-rich basil to fiber-packed strawberries and vitamin C-loaded pineapple, these seasonal ingredients on our summer menu are not to be missed.
Sunny days are headed our way! This might mean you are enjoying more time outdoors (hello, summer BBQs!) or else sheltering indoors to avoid the rising temperatures. Regardless of your setting, summer produce is always a highlight of the season, and we want to share some fun facts about a few of our seasonal favorites. Sit back, relax and enjoy these six special summer ingredients!
Basil
Why we love it: Basil, which is a member of the mint family, is a healthy and delicious way to add flavor to both sweet and savory meals! Basil is rich in unique antioxidants, which scavenge and remove harmful free radicals from the body. Basil can support liver health, and when tested in animal models, reduce chronically high blood glucose. Culinarily, it can be used in sweet dishes like a watermelon basil salad, and savory dishes like Thistle’s Kale Pesto Pasta Salad.
Find it in: Peach and Fava Salad (Week of July 10) and Southern Picnic Salad (Weeks of July 3 and August 14)
Strawberries
Why we love it: With their sweet and slightly tart flavor, strawberries are your archetypal summer fruit! They are tasty on their own, added to frozen treats, and baked into desserts. They pack more than a flavor punch; strawberries are also very healthy! One cup of sliced strawberries provides over 3 grams of fiber, which accounts for 8-12% of the recommended daily intake. Strawberries are also rich in vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant to help keep you healthy. As summer fruits go, strawberries are one of the “berry” best!
Find it in: Strawberry Cake with Vanilla Cashew Cream (Weeks of June 26 and August 7), Chocolate Strawberry Overnight Oats (Week of July 10), Vaifala Strawberry Chia Pudding Cup (Week of July 24)
Cucumber
Why we love it: Cucumbers, part of the Cucurbitaceae family, are a refreshing and hydrating summer fruit that are often confused for vegetables. With temperatures on the rise, cucumbers are perfect for keeping you hydrated as they contain around 96% water, Cucumbers contain some fiber in their skins, plus some micronutrients like potassium, phosphorus and magnesium. There is also evidence to suggest that cucumbers have antidiabetic, anti-tumor, and anti-inflammatory effects. We love cucumbers raw, in fancy cocktails, and pickled!
Find it in: Veggie Burger Lettuce Cups (Weeks of June 26 and August 7)
Pineapple
Why we love it: Pineapple is a sweet and tangy nutrition powerhouse! One cup of pineapple chunks provides over 100% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C, and contributes fiber, potassium, and vitamin B6. Pineapple also contains an enzyme called bromelain, which can aid in digestion and may help reduce inflammation. We love pineapple chunks frozen in popsicles, diced into pineapple salsa, or eaten freshly cut.
Find it in: Blue Lagoon Falafel Bowl (Week of June 26 and August 7)
Corn
Why we love it: At the corn-erstone of any good picnic, you’ll find the humble yet surprisingly nutrient-dense corn! Culinarily, corn is incredibly versatile – it can be popped, grilled, creamed, turned into syrup, turned into starch, turned into flour, and added to breads and muffins. A small cob of corn is low in total calories but provides fiber, vitamin C, and magnesium, making it a healthful and delicious summer choice.
Find it in: Grilled Corn and Poblano Chile Salad (Week of July 24)
Peaches
Why we love it: Juicy and flavorful, peaches complete any summer picnic spread! Along with nectarines, plums, and cherries, peaches belong to the stone fruit family and are delicious raw, cooked into desserts, or preserved in jams. They are packed with health benefits as well, including blood pressure lowering potassium, bad-cholesterol reducing fiber, and harmful free radical reducing vitamin C.
Find it in: Peach Cobbler Mousse with Sweet Smoked Almonds (Weeks of June 19 and July 31), Peaches and Cream Oatmeal (Weeks of June 19 and July 31), Peach and Fava Salad (Week of July 10), Balsamic Peach Crumble with Vanilla Cashew Cream (Week of July 24)
Is your mouth watering just as much as ours are? With such a bounty of delicious and nutritious produce choices this time of year, we encourage you to roll up your sleeves and get cooking or try them on our summer menu!
Our menu highlights produce its peak of seasonality and taste, enabling us to take advantage of this summer's seasonal harvest and source more of our product locally, rather than from thousands of miles away. From antioxidant-rich basil to fiber-packed strawberries and vitamin C-loaded pineapple, these seasonal ingredients on our summer menu are not to be missed.
Sunny days are headed our way! This might mean you are enjoying more time outdoors (hello, summer BBQs!) or else sheltering indoors to avoid the rising temperatures. Regardless of your setting, summer produce is always a highlight of the season, and we want to share some fun facts about a few of our seasonal favorites. Sit back, relax and enjoy these six special summer ingredients!
Basil
Why we love it: Basil, which is a member of the mint family, is a healthy and delicious way to add flavor to both sweet and savory meals! Basil is rich in unique antioxidants, which scavenge and remove harmful free radicals from the body. Basil can support liver health, and when tested in animal models, reduce chronically high blood glucose. Culinarily, it can be used in sweet dishes like a watermelon basil salad, and savory dishes like Thistle’s Kale Pesto Pasta Salad.
Find it in: Peach and Fava Salad (Week of July 10) and Southern Picnic Salad (Weeks of July 3 and August 14)
Strawberries
Why we love it: With their sweet and slightly tart flavor, strawberries are your archetypal summer fruit! They are tasty on their own, added to frozen treats, and baked into desserts. They pack more than a flavor punch; strawberries are also very healthy! One cup of sliced strawberries provides over 3 grams of fiber, which accounts for 8-12% of the recommended daily intake. Strawberries are also rich in vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant to help keep you healthy. As summer fruits go, strawberries are one of the “berry” best!
Find it in: Strawberry Cake with Vanilla Cashew Cream (Weeks of June 26 and August 7), Chocolate Strawberry Overnight Oats (Week of July 10), Vaifala Strawberry Chia Pudding Cup (Week of July 24)
Cucumber
Why we love it: Cucumbers, part of the Cucurbitaceae family, are a refreshing and hydrating summer fruit that are often confused for vegetables. With temperatures on the rise, cucumbers are perfect for keeping you hydrated as they contain around 96% water, Cucumbers contain some fiber in their skins, plus some micronutrients like potassium, phosphorus and magnesium. There is also evidence to suggest that cucumbers have antidiabetic, anti-tumor, and anti-inflammatory effects. We love cucumbers raw, in fancy cocktails, and pickled!
Find it in: Veggie Burger Lettuce Cups (Weeks of June 26 and August 7)
Pineapple
Why we love it: Pineapple is a sweet and tangy nutrition powerhouse! One cup of pineapple chunks provides over 100% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C, and contributes fiber, potassium, and vitamin B6. Pineapple also contains an enzyme called bromelain, which can aid in digestion and may help reduce inflammation. We love pineapple chunks frozen in popsicles, diced into pineapple salsa, or eaten freshly cut.
Find it in: Blue Lagoon Falafel Bowl (Week of June 26 and August 7)
Corn
Why we love it: At the corn-erstone of any good picnic, you’ll find the humble yet surprisingly nutrient-dense corn! Culinarily, corn is incredibly versatile – it can be popped, grilled, creamed, turned into syrup, turned into starch, turned into flour, and added to breads and muffins. A small cob of corn is low in total calories but provides fiber, vitamin C, and magnesium, making it a healthful and delicious summer choice.
Find it in: Grilled Corn and Poblano Chile Salad (Week of July 24)
Peaches
Why we love it: Juicy and flavorful, peaches complete any summer picnic spread! Along with nectarines, plums, and cherries, peaches belong to the stone fruit family and are delicious raw, cooked into desserts, or preserved in jams. They are packed with health benefits as well, including blood pressure lowering potassium, bad-cholesterol reducing fiber, and harmful free radical reducing vitamin C.
Find it in: Peach Cobbler Mousse with Sweet Smoked Almonds (Weeks of June 19 and July 31), Peaches and Cream Oatmeal (Weeks of June 19 and July 31), Peach and Fava Salad (Week of July 10), Balsamic Peach Crumble with Vanilla Cashew Cream (Week of July 24)
Is your mouth watering just as much as ours are? With such a bounty of delicious and nutritious produce choices this time of year, we encourage you to roll up your sleeves and get cooking or try them on our summer menu!
