Food Explorer Posters - Series 2

Hey kids, become a FOOD EXPLORER and check this out!

Asparagus

Did you know...?

• Asparagus is a member of the lily family, along with onions and garlic.

• Asparagus comes in many colors—green, white, and purple. White asparagus and green asparagus come from the same plant. If it’s covered with soil as it grows, it stays white. But if it grows in the sun, it turns green.

• A stalk of asparagus can grow as much as 10 inches in one day!

• Asparagus spears grow out of crowns buried in sandy soil. Massachusetts asparagus is available to eat only a few weeks a year. So enjoy this fresh, spring treat while you can.

DELICIOUS AND NUTRITIOUS

Asparagus gives us vitamin A, vitamin C, and folic acid. Folic acid is important for growing bodies and healthy blood .

A SUPER SNACK IDEA

Place three or four asparagus spears and some cheese in a tortilla. Roll it up, heat it, and enjoy.

ASPARAGUS HUMOR

What did the hippie farmer say to the asparagus crop in the early morning?

“This is the dawning of the age of asparagus.”

Hey kids, become a FOOD EXPLORER and check this out!

Bananas

Did you know...?

• Bananas grow in hot, tropical countries. Massachusetts is too cold to grow them.

• Bananas were a new treat at our country’s 100th birthday party. They were wrapped in foil and sold with instructions for how to eat them.

• Bananas come in many colors—yellow, purple, and red.

• A bunch of bananas is called a “hand,” and each banana is called a “finger.”

• The banana plant is not really a tree. It is a giant herb that grows up to 30 feet tall.

DELICIOUS AND NUTRITIOUS

Bananas have the nutrient potassium that helps our heart pump blood everywhere we need it.

A SUPER SNACK IDEA

Make a banana pop. Peel your banana, put it on a Popsicle stick, and freeze it.

BANANA HUMOR

Why are bananas never lonely? Because they hang around in bunches!

Hey kids, become a FOOD EXPLORER and check this out!

Bell Peppers

Did you know...?

• Green bell peppers have twice the amount of vitamin C by weight as citrus fruits. Red and yellow bell peppers have four times as much vitamin C as citrus fruits.

• Bell peppers are also called sweet peppers and are native to Mexico.

• Bell peppers can be found in a rainbow of colors and can vary in flavor.

• Bell peppers grow on a small plant and are available in Massachusetts starting in July.

DELICIOUS AND NUTRITIOUS

Bell peppers are an excellent source of vitamin C. They are also a good source of vitamin A and fiber.

SUPER SNACK IDEAS

• Eat raw bell peppers dipped in low-fat dressing or hummus for a snack.

• Top homemade pizza with sliced bell peppers.

BELL PEPPER HUMOR

What do you call a nosy pepper? “Jalapeño business!”

Hey kids, become a FOOD EXPLORER and check this out!

Blueberries

Did you know...?

• Blueberries grow in clusters on bushes and are available to pick in Massachusetts in July and August. Other berries like raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries grow in clusters too!

• Blueberries are also called star berries.

• There are over 50 varieties of blueberries.

• Native Americans enjoyed blueberries year-round. They would dry them in the sun and use the blueberries in stews and soups. They would also serve them with meat during the winter.

• Blueberries are one of the only natural foods that are truly blue in color.

DELICIOUS AND NUTRITIOUS

Blueberries are a good source of vitamin C, fiber, and phytochemicals!

SUPER SNACK IDEAS

•Add blueberries to cereal for added fiber and flavor.

•Toss blueberries into a salad.

•Keep a bag of mixed berries in the freezer for smoothies.

BLUEBERRY HUMOR

What do you get when 354 blueberries try to go through the door at the same time? A blueberry jam!

Hey kids, become a FOOD EXPLORER and check this

out!

Broccoli & Cauliflower

Did you know...?

• September is the best time to buy Massachusetts-grown broccoli and cauliflower.

• Italians brought broccoli to America and made it popular starting in areas like Boston’s North End.

• Today the average American eats 4½ pounds of broccoli per year, compared to only about ½ pound 20 years ago.

• Broccoli and cauliflower are related to cabbage, kale, turnips and mustard greens.

• The flowering heads of broccoli and cauliflower are called the curds.

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DELICIOUS AND NUTRITIOUS

Broccoli and cauliflower are packed with nutrients that protect us from illness and keep us strong.

A SUPER SNACK IDEA

These little green and white “trees” are fun to dip! Eat them, raw or slightly cooked, with your favorite low-fat dressing or dip.

VEGGIE

HUMOR

A student walks into the school nurse’s office. He has cauliflower up his nose and broccoli in his ears. "What's the matter with me?" he asks the nurse.

Nurse: “You're not eating properly!”

Hey kids, become a FOOD EXPLORER and check this out!

Cabbage

Did you know...?

• In 2012, a farmer from Palmer, Alaska, showed the largest cabbage ever grown. It weighed nearly 140 pounds and had leaves about 5 feet wide.

• Babe Ruth wore a cabbage leaf under his cap during baseball games to stay cool.

• Sauerkraut is pickled cabbage.

• Cabbage grows quickly. One acre of cabbages will grow more vegetables to eat than any other plant.

• Americans often celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with corned beef and cabbage. But before coming to America, most Irish could not afford beef at all. Irish immigrants made the meal popular when they found they could buy beef more easily here.

DELICIOUS AND NUTRITIOUS

Red cabbage or green cabbage is rich in vitamin C and other compounds that protect your health.

A SUPER SNACK IDEA

Try a crunchy cabbage roll-up. Spread light cream cheese on a big cabbage leaf. You can add some chopped fruit like apples, pineapple, or raisins if you like. Roll it up and enjoy!

CABBAGE HUMOR

How did the farmer fix his jeans?

With a cabbage patch!

Hey kids, become a FOOD EXPLORER and check this out!

Cantaloupe

Did you know...?

• Cantaloupes are a member of the gourd family, like squash and cucumbers. They grow on vines and can weigh more than 10 pounds.

• Caesar and Cleopatra probably ate cantaloupes, since ancient Romans and Egyptians enjoyed them.

• Cantaloupe is also called “rockmelon” or “muskmelon.”

DELICIOUS AND NUTRITIOUS

One cup of cantaloupe has all the vitamin A and vitamin C you need in a day. Both vitamins help build strong bones and helps our bodies heal cuts and scrapes.

SUPER SNACK IDEAS

• Cantaloupe chunks make perfect kabobs! String pieces on a straw or Popsicle stick together with other favorite fruits like strawberries, grapes, watermelon, or pineapple.

• Fill a cantaloupe wedge with sherbet or frozen yogurt for a cold, refreshing treat!

MELON HUMOR

Why do melons get married in church?

Because they can’t elope.

Hey kids, become a FOOD EXPLORER and check this out!

Cucumbers

Did you know...?

• Cucumbers are grown on a crawling vine on the ground. One cucumber plant can grow eight or more cucumbers.

• Cucumbers are most often available in Massachusetts from July to September.

• Cucumbers are 96% water. Eat a cool, crisp cucumber for a thirstquenching snack.

• Cucumbers are sometimes used on the skin to soothe a sunburn or swollen eyes.

• The saying “Cool as a cucumber” comes from the fact that the inside of a cucumber can be up to 20 degrees cooler than the outside.

DELICIOUS AND NUTRITIOUS

Cucumbers are a good source of vitamin K. Vitamin K helps blood to clot which stops cuts and scrapes from bleeding too much. Cucumbers also provide water to keep our bodies hydrated.

SUPER SNACK IDEAS

• Sliced cucumbers added to salads and sandwiches provide extra crunch.

• Dip cucumber slices in hummus or low-fat dressing for a snack.

CUCUMBER HUMOR

Why was the cucumber mad?

Because he was in a pickle.

Hey kids, become a FOOD EXPLORER and

check this out!

Eggplant

Did you know...?

• In parts of Europe, some people thought that eating eggplant caused madness, leprosy, and bad breath. Europeans called it the “mad apple.”

• Shape is not the only reason for the name. Some eggplant varieties are white and shaped like hen or goose eggs.

• In the plant kingdom, eggplants are considered berries.

• Thomas Jefferson brought the first eggplants to America. He loved to experiment with new plants.

• Eggplants are related to potatoes, tomatoes, and peppers.

DELICIOUS AND NUTRITIOUS

• Eggplants are fat-free, low in calories, and high in fiber.

• Ratatouille is a wonderful hot stew made with eggplant, tomatoes, onions, green peppers, zucchini, herbs, and seasonings. It’s perfect for a cold winter’s day.

A SUPER SNACK IDEA

Eggplant makes a great spread or dip. Try a dip called baba ghanoush. (It’s even fun to say!) Blend the flesh of a fully cooked eggplant with garlic, lemon juice, tahini (a sesame seed butter, like peanut butter), and parsley. It’s great with pita bread and fresh raw vegetables.

EGGPLANT HUMOR

What do chickens grow on? Eggplants

Hey kids, become a FOOD EXPLORER and check this out!

Peas

Did you know...?

• Peas are high in protein—3/4 cup of cooked peas has more protein than a whole egg or a tablespoon of peanut butter.

• Peas have been a valuable food for 12,000 years. They are rich in important nutrients. When dried, they are easy to carry and can be stored for a long time.

• Ancient Egyptians packed dried peas and other foods in tombs to feed people in their afterlife.

• The French call both snow peas and sugar snap peas “mange tout” (pronounced mawnzh too), which means “eat it all.”

DELICIOUS AND NUTRITIOUS

Peas are high in protein and fiber. They also have iron, which helps build strong blood, and vitamin C, which helps our bodies heal cuts and scrapes.

A SUPER SNACK IDEA

For a sweet, “snappy” snack, dip fresh sugar snap peas in a low-fat dressing or dip. Try blue cheese dressing or another one of your favorites.

PEA HUMOR

What do you call an angry pea? Grump-pea.

Hey kids, become a FOOD EXPLORER and check this out!

Pumpkins

Did you know...?

• Massachusetts has more than 80 pick-your-own pumpkin farms. Have fun picking the best pumpkin for you.

• The world’s largest pumpkin weighed more than 2,600 pounds— heavier than a full-grown buffalo!

• The Irish made the first jack-o’-lanterns from foods like turnips and beets. When they came to America, they found pumpkins were much easier to carve.

• Early colonists made the first pumpkin pies. They filled empty pumpkins with milk, honey, and spices and baked in hot ashes.

• Pumpkins are in the squash family. They are really fruits because they have seeds.

DELICIOUS AND NUTRITIOUS

Like carrots, pumpkins have vitamin A that helps us see at night—all the better for trick-or-treating!

A SUPER SNACK IDEA

Try roasting pumpkin seeds for a crunchy, healthy snack.

PUMPKIN HUMOR

Knock Knock. Who's there? Wanda. Wanda who?

Wanda piece of pumpkin pie?

Hey kids, become a FOOD EXPLORER and check this out!

Spinach

Did you know...?

• Spinach is a leafy green plant and is available in Massachusetts starting in May.

• Spinach was the first vegetable to be frozen and sold for commerical use.

• When Popeye (the historic cartoon figure) made his debut in 1929, spinach became the third most popular children’s food, after turkey and ice cream.

• The word “spinach” is derived from the Persian word for “green hand.”

DELICIOUS AND NUTRITIOUS

One cup of raw spinach equals about two cupped handfuls. When cooked, this yields about ¼ cup of cooked spinach. (Spinach shrinks a lot when it’s cooked.) Spinach is an excellent source of vitamin K and vitamin A.

SUPER SNACK IDEAS

• Use fresh spinach on sandwiches instead of lettuce.

• Blend spinach with berries, bananas,and yogurt for a fruit and veggie smoothie.

SPINACH HUMOR

What’s a dancer’s favorite kind of vegetable?

Spin-ach!