food Archives - Page 4 of 45

April 9, 2023

The best dog food in 2023, according to experts

In addition to providing a cozy bed and plenty of toys, feeding your dog a nutritious diet is one of the many responsibilities that come with being a pet parent. But selecting the right food for your pup is one of the most important decisions you can make as a pet owner: Experts told us the right food can not only lead to better absorption and digestion but also give your dog distinct health advantages.

“Commercially processed canned or kibble foods are formulated to meet dogs’ nutritional needs for proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals — they’re convenient, consistent and readily available, and they undergo a process of quality control and inspection that is meant to catch any contaminants or pathogens before they affect pets or people,” explained Dr. Lori Teller, a board-certified veterinarian and president of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

LEARN MORE How to determine the best food for your dog | Wet versus dry food | Is a grain-free formula better for dogs? | Are raw food diets and supplements necessary?

As the number of dog-owning households grows in the U.S., it comes as no surprise that Americans are spending more on their furry friends’ diet. According to a recent survey by the American Pet Products Association, people spent upwards of $50 billion on food and treats for their pets in 2021 (up from $38 billion in 2020), with dog owners spending an average of $287 on food annually. Major pet supply retailers, like Chewy and Petco, have also seen a higher demand for premium dog food in the past year despite inflation concerns causing decreased spending on other essentials, like leashes and toys.

We consulted veterinarians and animal nutrition experts on what to keep in mind when shopping for the best dog food and compiled some highly rated options based on their guidance.

Best dog food to consider in April 2023

In line with our experts’ advice, all of the following highly rated dog foods — including dry kibble and canned wet food — meet or exceed the Association of Animal Feed Controls Officials (AAFCO) nutritional standards. They also come from brands that have a team of veterinary nutritionists on staff to regulate the use of high-quality ingredients, and each brand provides a feed guide on its packaging to help you determine the appropriate portions for your dog’s weight and size. All of the brands also offer high-calorie options for puppies and easily digestible kibble sizes for various sized dogs.

Best overall dry dog food: Royal Canin

Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition Small Adult Formula Dog Dry Food

Royal Canin offers some of the most diverse dog food options on the market — the brand makes both dry and wet food for a variety of dog sizes, breeds and dietary restrictions, including food sensitivities and gastrointestinal issues. I feed my 4-year-old Havachon, Bella, Royal Canin’s small-breed kibble — formulated for small dogs from 10 months old to 8 years that weigh 9 pounds to 22 pounds — after it was recommended by my veterinarian. Select’s manager of editorial operations Shari Uyehara says she also feeds her dog Loki, a 1-year-old cavalier King Charles spaniel, the same formula after it was recommended by Loki’s breeder. I’ve noticed that Bella prefers this brand over others, which she would often leave half-eaten. Royal Canin also offers its dry food formula for medium and large breeds, as well as a puppy formula.

Best subscription dog food: The Farmer’s Dog

The Farmer’s Dog Subscription Dog Food

There are several subscription home-delivery services for dog food, which regularly send bags of fresh food directly to your door. Dr. Judy Morgan, a veterinarian who specializes in integrative care, recommended The Farmer’s Dog, which she calls “TV dinners for dogs” due to their palatability. Select’s social editor Sadhana Daruvuri feeds The Farmer’s Dog to her 1-year-old Maltipoo, Bandit, and he loves it. “I knew friends who tried it, and their dogs were all big fans, so I did a trial with Bandit and it was obvious he liked it way more than his kibble,” she says. If you’re on a budget and have a large dog, this might not be a cost-effective option for you, but it may be more beneficial for owners of smaller dogs, Morgan says.

Best dog food for puppies: Hill’s Science Diet

Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Small Bites Dry Dog Food

Hill’s Science Diet’s dog food for puppies is designed for dogs up to 1 year old and is packaged in a small, easy-to-digest kibble, according to the brand. The formula contains natural DHA from fish oil that works to support healthy brain and eye development, as well as a vitamin E and vitamin C blend that helps support a healthy immune system in puppies, Hill’s Science Diet says. The food comes in a 4.5- or 15.5-pound bag, and the brand also offers a canned puppy formula, which our experts say can be great to mix into your dog’s kibble.

Best dog food for large breeds: Purina

Purina Pro Plan Adult Large Dry Dog Food

Purina says it employs several veterinary nutritionists to help determine healthy formulations and ingredients. The brand’s highly rated Pro Plan dog food is geared toward dogs of different sizes and in all stages of life, including large-breed adults and puppies, according to Purina. The Purina Pro Plan formula contains natural prebiotic fiber for digestive health, and omega-6 fatty acids and vitamin A for skin and coat health, according to the brand. Select’s associate updates editor Zoe Malin says her large 100-pound yellow lab Chance eats the weight-management dry kibble from the brand, which Purina says contains a more optimized protein-to-fat ratio, since he’s 9 years old and less active now.

Best frozen dog food: Just Food For Dogs

Just Food For Dogs Fish & Sweet Potato

Just Food For Dogs is designed to be high in protein and low in calorie count, so it can be beneficial for dogs who may be overweight or don’t get regular exercise, according to the brand. It offers a variety of meal options that are made up of locally sourced produce and only one source of protein for a limited ingredients diet.

This sweet potato and fish option provides a balanced diet for dogs with sensitive stomachs or those in need of a novel protein due to allergies, Just Food For Dogs says. The brand offers two types of food: Fresh Frozen, which has no preservatives and can be thawed and served, and Pantry Fresh, which is shelf-stable for up to two years and doesn’t require refrigeration, according to the brand.

Best dog food for sensitive stomachs: Purina

Purina Pro Plan Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Dry Dog Food

Some dogs are sensitive to certain food ingredients, which can cause excessive itching, loose stools, occasional vomiting and other symptoms. Investing in a dog food formulated for dogs with sensitive stomachs and skin can help minimize these issues. This option from Purina is crafted without corn, wheat or soy to make it more easily digestible for dogs with an intolerance to these ingredients. However, experts told us these types of ingredients should only be avoided if your dog has an intolerance, as they are full of healthy vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates. To help your dog maintain a complete and balanced diet, the brand says the formula contains high-protein salmon, probiotics and prebiotic fiber for digestive and immune health and omega-6 fatty acids to help support a healthy skin and coat.

Best poultry-free dog food: Merrick

Merrick Grain Free Real Salmon & Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food

Former Select editor Morgan Greenwald gives Merrick’s salmon and sweet potato kibble to her 1-year-old pit bull mix, Suzie, since she can’t tolerate some other types of protein. “She gobbles it down and she does great with it — she has a sensitive tummy and her vet said we should avoid chicken and turkey, so I stick to salmon,” Greenwald says, adding that she likes the sweet potato in the formula “because it’s good for dogs’ digestion.”

The experts we spoke to agree: Studies show that proteins like beef and chicken are among the most reported causes of allergies in dogs, so it’s important to look out for common signs of allergies — like excessive itching and vomiting — to figure out what works best for them, says Dr. Joe Wakshlag, professor of clinical nutrition and sports medicine and rehabilitation at Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine. However, most dogs don’t usually experience these types of allergies, so you don’t need to avoid chicken and turkey unless you think your dog may have an allergy or intolerance.

Merrick Grain Free Real Salmon & Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food

Best wet dog food: Royal Canin

Royal Canin Adult Gastrointestinal Canned Dog Food

If you prefer to incorporate canned food into your dog’s meals, Royal Canin offers a variety of wet food options tested by veterinary nutritionists that can help you provide them with a little more diversity at dinnertime. Though it’s on the pricier side, this low-fat option can be good for adult dogs with gastrointestinal issues or digestive sensitivities, according to the brand. The formula contains prebiotics to help maintain good bacteria in the gut, a blend of dietary fibers that can promote healthy digestion and omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil to help soothe the GI tract, according to Royal Canin.

How to determine the best food for your dog

The two biggest factors that determine whether your dog’s food is good for their health is whether it’s nutritionally complete and balanced and whether you’re giving your dog the right proportions based on their size and weight. “Overall, when selecting your pet’s food, it is important to consider the information on the label and information beyond the label,” says Dr. Megan Shepherd, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist and owner of Veterinary Clinical Nutrition, PLLC.

On the label, the nutrition adequacy — or the AAFCO statement — indicates the species and life stage the food is formulated for and how it’s substantiated, either by formulation or feeding tests. But what isn’t on the label can be equally as important. The Global Nutrition Guidelines set by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) recommend investigating the brand to determine the people involved in the product’s formulation and manufacturing and whether the company routinely analyzes its finished products for nutrient content, pathogens and other items that don’t belong in dog food.

“Do they have veterinarians on staff or, more specifically, do they have veterinary nutritionists who are board-certified in that field? Brands that provide the best diets also invest in research,” says Dr. Brian Roberts, a board-certified veterinarian and regional medical director in the Mid-Atlantic region with VCA Animal Hospitals.

Below, we break down some key considerations experts suggest when shopping for high-quality dog food.

Meeting AAFCO nutrition standards

Our experts all agreed that any good dog food will meet the AAFCO nutrition standards. “You can determine if a pet food meets your pet’s nutritional needs by looking at the nutritional adequacy statement on the label — if this statement includes the phrase ‘complete and balanced,’ then the product is intended to be fed as a pet’s sole diet and should be nutritionally balanced,” Roberts says.

“We have the AAFCO to make sure that everything you feed [your dog] is a form of dog food that’s nutritionally complete,” Wakshlag says. You should be able to find the statement — which the FDA considers one of the most important aspects of a dog or cat food label — on the back label (in small font).

While AAFCO has feed control officials that develop standards, definitions and policies for the sale and distribution of pet food, among other animal feeds, the voluntary membership association doesn’t regulate, test, approve or certify pet food, so there’s no such thing as an “AAFCO approved” brand or product.

Ingredients and palatability

Finding the best food for your dog is much less about the specific ingredients than you may think. Dr. Richard Hill, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist and associate professor at the University of Florida Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, told us dog owners should focus on the nutrients their companion is getting from those ingredients instead.

However, the ingredient list can give you an idea of what nutrients your dog can get from their meal. The AAFCO states that an ingredient list is required to display all ingredients from highest amount to least amount by weight, which means the first three listed are the most critical — this will help you determine if the formula is vegetable-based with things like corn and rice or meat-based with chicken, fish or lamb, experts told us.

AAFCO has developed several safety standards for ingredients used in pet food, and the association goes into depth about common pet food labels.

Organic food needs to follow production and handling requirements set by the USDA’s National Organic Program — which regulates all organic crops, livestock and agricultural products — to be recognized by the association.
Human-grade has no real definition in any animal feed regulations because very few pet food products can be officially considered edible by humans, AAFCO says.
Natural food has to be derived solely from plant, animal or mined sources and cannot be produced by a chemically synthetic process (although ingredients can contain trace amounts of chemically synthetic compounds and still be considered natural).

“Some say natural ingredients like whole chicken are better than something processed like chicken meal; however, both are from the same source — chicken meal is just dehydrated chicken,” Roberts says.

There are some ingredients that you should avoid, though — the main one that’s commonly seen in commercial pet food is garlic powder. Garlic is a palatant, which means it’s designed to make the food taste better, according to Shepherd — however, it can be dangerous. “While the amount of garlic in pet food and treats may be below the level that could cause anemia, garlic still causes red blood cell oxidation — I recommend avoiding products that contain garlic powder,” she says.

Nutritional value and proportions

To make sure you’re giving your dog the appropriate nutrients and proportions, Shepherd recommended first checking the food’s energy density — which is shown as kcal (calories) per cup, can or ounce, similar to the nutritional facts on human foods — and its feeding guidelines. Once that’s determined, you can keep an eye on your pet’s weight with the Body Condition Score, which is a visual scale that evaluates the amount of fat on key parts of the dog’s body (a 4 or 5 score is ideal).

Unfortunately, the No. 1 nutritional disease in dogs is obesity and, in some breeds, this can take as much as two years off their lifespan, according to Hill. A lot of obesity problems in dogs come down to the owner’s inability to understand their dog’s calorie intake. “We just pay attention to what’s on the side of the bag and those recommendations are pretty much for the normal, active dog — a lot of dogs just aren’t normal and active,” Wakshlag says. “That’s one thing to consider that’ll help your dog live longer: It’s not necessarily about what you’re feeding them, it’s how much you’re feeding them,” Hill notes.

Your dog’s size, weight and life stage

Generally, your dog’s food should match their life stage. For example, you should feed your puppy food that has the puppy label until they reach their adult body weight — small breeds can switch to adult food at seven to nine months, while bigger breeds typically switch at 12 to 14 months, according to the American Kennel Club.

“Puppy food is appropriate for adult dogs only if the adult dog will not become overweight on a higher calorie food,” Shepherd says. When it comes to the later stages of your dog’s life, if your senior dog is healthy and eating a nutritionally balanced diet, there is no need to change their food, according to Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.

You’ll often see certain dog foods labeled for small, medium and large breeds — these labels mostly deal with the size of the kibble and whether it’s easy for them to ingest. Some brands like Royal Canin offer breed-specific formulas, which can help certain breeds’ needs. “Manufacturers that follow nutritional science have developed diets with ingredient content for specific classes of breeds who are predisposed to certain problems. Many large and giant breeds can develop joint problems in life — some of which are linked to certain ingredients — and diets labeled ‘giant breed’ take this into consideration,” Roberts says.

Wakshlag suggested being mindful of whether the formulas are actually beneficial or just marketing tactics, noting that you should double-check the ingredients list and nutritional content to make sure the food is actually serving its purpose for your breed.

Wet versus dry food: What’s the difference?

The main difference between dry food and canned dog food is its water content. “Kibble is 10{d2b09b03d44633acb673e8080360919f91e60962656af8ade0305d5d8b7e4889} water, [while] canned food is upwards of 70{d2b09b03d44633acb673e8080360919f91e60962656af8ade0305d5d8b7e4889} water,” Roberts says. If both products have the same ingredients and only the water content differs, he noted it’s okay to mix the wet food with your dog’s dry kibble, especially if they often get picky about their food or need an extra boost of hydration. You can also add fresh dog-safe vegetables and fruits to their meals (or as treats) to add nutritional value without adding the calories (as long as they’re still getting their normal kibble), Wakshlag says.

Dry food is also more economical and typically much more stable if it’s stored in its original container in a dry location compared to wet food, which perishes at room temperature after opening, according to Shepherd. (For food safety purposes, Hill recommended storing your dog’s kibble in a cool, dry environment to prevent it from going bad and completely cleaning out the bag or reusable container before putting new kibble on top.)

Shepherd added that a sole wet food diet can be helpful for dogs who can no longer chew kibble due to dental disease or dogs who may benefit from a higher moisture diet due to health conditions, like chronic recurrent urinary issues.

Is a grain-free formula better for dogs?

A grain-free formula is made without wheat, barley, rye and corn, and it’s commonly fed to dogs with a gluten intolerance. However, a grain-free diet isn’t better for your dog — and feeding grain-free kibble to your dog can sometimes prevent them from getting their appropriate daily nutritional intake.

“Although often seen in humans, actual cases of true gluten intolerance in dogs and cats are quite rare,” says Roberts, adding that the aforementioned ingredients aren’t just filler ingredients. “Carbohydrates — and corn especially — provide calories, extra fiber for better digestion, important vitamins and minerals and antioxidants,” he says. Hill echoed the importance of carbs in your dog’s diet: “There’s no reason why animals shouldn’t consume a reasonable amount of carbohydrates — [they’re] okay in moderation.” Plus, grain-free foods will usually use other sources of carbohydrates in place of grain — including potatoes and legumes — so the formula will very rarely be low in carbs despite the brand’s marketing, Hill explained.

Research has found an association between some grain-free diets and dilated cardiomyopathy in some dogs, but the cause for the association is still under investigation by the FDA. “We don’t know if there are ingredients to avoid or if it is due to an overall quality control issue,” Shepherd says. Wakshlag notes that it may not be the grain-free foods that are causing these issues, but rather the dogs themselves may be predisposed.

Are raw food diets and supplements necessary?

Typical dog food, whether it’s basic dry kibble or a combination of kibble with wet food, is specifically designed to meet your dog’s nutritional needs. Some dog owners will feed their dogs a raw food diet — which can be homemade, freeze-dried and dehydrated — and this typically consists of everything from raw meat and eggs to dog-safe fruits and vegetables. But our experts advised against it: “The AVMA discourages feeding dogs any animal-source protein that has not first been subjected to a process to eliminate pathogens because of the risk of illness to cats and dogs as well as humans,” Teller says.

Raw meat-based diets can also produce a higher risk of microbial pathogens, antibiotic resistance genes and other anti-nutritional factors, according to Shepherd. This also goes for freeze-dried meat products that typically get mixed in with kibble as “boosters” — “they should be considered raw as freeze-drying does not eliminate pathogens,” Shepherd says. And if your pet is eating a complete and balanced commercially available pet food, supplements are not recommended unless specifically prescribed by your veterinarian, Teller noted.

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April 9, 2023

How Puerto Rico’s Food Culture Shaped This Nutrition Expert – Consumer Health News

THURSDAY, April 6, 2023 (American Heart Affiliation Information) — Prolonged in advance of she was a nutrition professional, Josiemer Mattei was a woman dwelling in Puerto Rico.

“I experienced the advantage and incredible encounter of rising up near a farm, the place I was capable to know the place my meals was coming from, how it is grown and how it ought to style,” claimed Mattei, now an affiliate professor of diet at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Community Overall health in Boston.

For “The Authorities Say,” a new American Heart Affiliation Information series in which specialists make clear how they apply what they’ve acquired to their possess lives, she talked about being pescatarian, the problems people make in pursuit of perfection, and her in general angle towards food items.

“Ingesting is anything that we do from the second that we’re formed right until the 2nd that we choose our very last breath,” she explained. “And it truly is something that we ought to consider as section of our complete very well-getting.”

In this article are highlights from the dialogue.

Is there a guiding basic principle driving what you try to eat?

I decide on my foodstuff centered on a mix of wellness benefits, benefit, moral challenges, style and cultural tastes, and also the business I’m acquiring.

I’m really mindful of the funds. I am also a pescatarian.

Did you normally take in this way?

No, I have not. I was a carnivore right until my early 20s. I grew to become a pescatarian for health and fitness and for animal rights and moral reasons, mostly environmental impression.

In my adolescence, I was ingesting speedy and processed meals because it was offered in the corner stores and institutions exactly where my friends were hanging out. My behavior were rather bad at that point.

The place did you grow up, and how does that have an affect on how you consume?

I grew up in Puerto Rico, and my loved ones meals were being really classic. A standard loved ones food in Puerto Rico would be sure, rice and beans – I know that is a tiny bit stereotypical, but it truly is legitimate. We also had a whole lot of root veggies. We had a large amount of fresh new tropical fruit and vegetables. I grew up mastering to love that flavor – mangoes, guava, pineapple, avocado, lemons, papaya – I signify, they grew in my backyard. I grew up near to the coast, so we would have fresh seafood usually. I can come across some Puerto Rican generate and seafood listed here, but I attempt to invest in area and in-time. It truly is more clean, low-price tag and sustainable.

We are a food items-centric lifestyle. I you should not indicate it in a undesirable way – I mean it in a really, very great way. You go to somebody’s property, you carry food items. Somebody’s sick, you deliver food items. You want to say, “thank you,” you provide food items. So it can be really a way of displaying really like.

And our meals is delectable. Actually, it is really certainly tasty.

When I arrived to the mainland U.S., I had to changeover my habits from the Puerto Rican delicacies to what was in this article. That was tough. But I was getting additional fascinated in diet mainly because I was observing what nutrition could do. I had relatives who have been having hypertension truly young, genuinely early on. Diabetic issues was beginning to come to be fairly rampant on the island at that time.

I switched to a pescatarian diet program and improved my routines general.

Stroll us through what you could possibly consume in a common day.

I do not have a perfect food plan. You can find no these point. You have to give by yourself some leeway.

So, with that introduction, I can tell you that a usual day for me would 100{d2b09b03d44633acb673e8080360919f91e60962656af8ade0305d5d8b7e4889} start off with espresso. This is a very classic beverage from my tradition.

For breakfast I typically have either cereal with 1{d2b09b03d44633acb673e8080360919f91e60962656af8ade0305d5d8b7e4889} milk, or oatmeal. I appreciate oatmeal. If I’m in a hurry, I skip breakfast, or I have a bagel with peanut butter.

My lunches are typically a sandwich – egg sandwich or tuna sandwich with no mayo. I undoubtedly choose a whole-wheat bread. I toss a whole lot of veggies on it. I also like salads. I put some protein on, like salmon or egg. I love beans on my salads, or chickpeas. Once more, if I am in a hurry, I may get a frozen meal or canned soup. If I do that, I make certain that these are very low-sodium.

Evening meal is typically my healthiest food of the working day. And it truly is usually our household meal with my spouse and two daughters. My little ones are also vegetarian or pescatarian. We have bean soups, we have chilis, we have rice and beans. I period with herbs and spices, incredibly minor salt. We make foods with eggs. The young ones like Puerto Rican foodstuff like tostones (fried plantains) and sorullos (corn sticks). I use healthful plant-primarily based oils to fry them. But we also appreciate global flavors like Japanese, Mexican and other Latino cuisines.

I do drink liquor a couple of situations a 7 days. I like my beers, and I do like my desserts. Absolutely the Puerto Rican desserts, which are wonderful. If I go down this rabbit gap, I may possibly by no means quit!

As a nutritionist, I advocate for mastering our having patterns. I consider I am fairly fantastic about recognizing my starvation and fullness cues. And if I snack due to the fact I am hungry, I eat yogurt or fruit.

If a person is seeking to alter their eating behaviors, how do they get to where you are?

I will not know if exactly where I am is the objective. Like I reported, there are no best practices. This is what performs for me, for my household, for my finances.

But if people are looking to improve to much healthier practices, I assume they should be conscious of their intention and why are they transforming – their determination.

To me, the solution to that is for greater perfectly-currently being and wellbeing. That is what healthful nourishment will reach. Fat loss, or hunting great, or things like that – individuals are temporary motivations.

What’s your most crucial nourishment suggestions?

At the end of the day, you might be going to try to eat food items you like. Obtain a thing that’s very good for your human body, very good for your thoughts and perfectly-getting and that aligns with your budget, culture and values. Eat wholesome foods, and avoid processed foods. This is in essence what the dietary recommendations convey to us to do for a balanced feeding on sample.

We all have our ups and downs and our distinct phases in our life. Taking in healthful is a long race. Just continue to keep at it, be form to yourself and get pleasure from the excellent food items that is out there.

American Heart Affiliation Information covers coronary heart and mind health and fitness. Not all views expressed in this tale reflect the official posture of the American Heart Affiliation. Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Affiliation, Inc., and all rights are reserved.

By Michael Merschel, American Heart Affiliation News

April 9, 2023

Bean stew, clam casserole and a creamy dip: Yotam Ottolenghi’s recipes for cannellini beans | Food

Tinned beans, jarred beans and dried beans: happily, there is use for them all. For convenience, it’s tinned all the way. Jarred, meanwhile, have the benefit of being big, buttery and instantly ready, so they are most definitely your friend. Last, for when you have some time, and want the beans to absorb the flavours of whatever they are cooked with, it’s dried for the win (but get them soaking and cooking sooner rather than later, because they need time to reach their full potential). Regardless of which type you go for, however, there are myriad ways to incorporate the humble bean into your day-to-day.

Cannellini beans with grilled tomatoes and crisp oregano (pictured top)

Grilled red peppers work as well as the tomatoes here, if you want to play around. For a quick midweek meal, grill the tomatoes the day before or use jarred red peppers. Either way, serve with plenty of grilled bread and a green salad.

Prep 15 min
Cook 20 min
Serves 4

4-5 plum tomatoes (600g)
3 mild red chillies (60g)
100ml olive oil
30g oregano, leaves picked (15g)
7 garlic cloves, peeled and cut in half lengthways
1 x 660g jar cooked cannellini beans, or other white beans – I like Bold Bean Co
1 lemon, zest peeled off in 5 wide strips, then juiced, to get 45ml
2 tsp fennel seeds, toasted and lightly ground in a mortar
Salt and black pepper

Put a griddle pan on a high heat and, once smoking, lay in the whole tomatoes and chillies, and grill, turning often, until their skins are blackened all over – the chillies will take two or three minutes and the tomatoes seven to 10. Lift out of the pan with tongs, set aside and, once they are cool enough to handle, peel off all the skins. Cut each tomato into four chunks and tear each chilli into three or four long strips (if you prefer less heat, scrape out and discard the seeds and pith).

Put 70ml oil in a small saucepan on a medium-high heat and, once hot, fry the oregano leaves for a minute, until crisp and deep green in colour. Pour into a sieve set over a small bowl and leave to cool.

Meanwhile, put the remaining 30ml oil and the halved garlic cloves in a medium saucepan on a medium-high heat and cook for a minute or two, until softened and starting to brown around the edges. Tip in the beans and the liquid from the jar, add 120ml water, the strips of lemon zest, half of the fennel, half a teaspoon of salt and plenty of cracked black pepper, stir gently and warm through for just three or four minutes.

Spoon the bean mix on to a serving plate. Add the tomatoes, chillies and lemon juice to the oregano oil bowl, with a quarter teaspoon of salt and plenty of cracked black pepper. Mix gently and spoon this over the beans. Serve with the crispy oregano leaves and remaining fennel seed scattered on top.

Cannellini beans with clams and spiced tomato (pictured top)

Yotam Ottolenghi’s cannellini beans with clams and spiced tomato. — Photograph: Louise Hagger/The Guardian. Food styling: Emily Kydd. Prop styling: Jennifer Kay. Food styling assistant: Kristine Jakobsson

Although I love the convenience of tinned beans, there is no comparison in taste to cooking them from scratch. There’s no set time for how long it will take your beans to cook, as beans differ in variety and age. Just beware of using old beans, as however long you soak and cook them, they will never become tender. I’ve used cannellini beans, but feel free to use different kinds of beans, such as butter or haricot.

Soak 8 hr+
Prep 10 min
Cook Up to 2½ hr
Serves 4-6

400g dried cannellini beans, soaked for at least 8 hours
1 medium onion, peeled and finely chopped (150g)
1 whole garlic head, top 2cm cut off to reveal the cloves
1 cinnamon stick
750g clams, or mussels
100ml olive oil
2 tsp cumin seeds
10g fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
2 tomatoes (180g), cut into 2cm pieces
2 tsp paprika
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
Fine sea salt and black pepper
4 tsp apple cider vinegar
20g coriander, roughly chopped, plus 1 tbsp extra to serve
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

Drain the soaked beans, then put them in a large cast-iron saute pan for which you have a lid. Pour in enough water to cover the beans by 5cm, then bring to a boil. Skim any froth that rises to the top, then turn down the heat to medium-low, stir in the onion, garlic and cinnamon stick, and cook for up to an hour and three-quarters, or until the beans are soft and cooked through – check them at the hour mark, and then every 15 minutes thereafter. Top up the water as necessary, so the beans are always submerged.

Meanwhile, put the clams in a large bowl, cover with very cold water and discard any with broken shells or that refuse to shut. Agitate the clams so they spit out any sand, then drain and repeat until the water runs clear. Strain, transfer back to the bowl and refrigerate until needed.

Put 70ml oil in a small frying pan on a medium heat, then add the cumin seeds and cook for a minute, until fragrant. Add the ginger, cook, stirring, for a minute more, then stir in the tomatoes and cook for one minute. Stir in the paprika, ground cinnamon, a quarter-teaspoon of salt and a good crack of pepper, cook for another 30 seconds, until fragrant, then take off the heat.

Once the beans are soft, strain them through a colander set over a bowl to catch the cooking liquor. Return the solids to the casserole, squeeze in the garlic flesh, then add 100ml of the reserved cooking liquid, the remaining two tablespoons of oil, the vinegar and three-quarters of a teaspoon of salt. Return the pan to a high heat, boil for three minutes, until until the sauce is almost completely reduced, then add the clams. Cover the pot and cook for three minutes, shaking the pan occasionally to encourage the clams to open and to stop the beans from sticking. Once all the clams are open (discard any that do not), take off the heat and stir through the coriander.

Scoop out two tablespoons of tomato pieces from the tomato mixture and stir them through the clams along with the lemon juice.

To serve, drizzle the rest of the tomato topping all over the top, sprinkle on the extra tablespoon of coriander and serve directly from the pan.

Cannellini bean and sweet potato dip with lemon, olive and urfa sauce

Yotam Ottolenghi cannellini bean and sweet potato dip with lemony-olive-urfa sauce. — Yotam Ottolenghi’s cannellini bean and sweet potato dip with lemon, olive and urfa sauce. Photograph: Louise Hagger/The Guardian. Food styling: Emily Kydd. Prop styling: Jennifer Kay. Food styling assistant: Kristine Jakobsson

This dip and sauce pairing is a real treat – creamy and sweet from the dip, sour, hot and acidic from the sauce – but they also work well individually, if you have any of either left over. The sauce is great on all sorts, especially grilled fish or veg, so make double, if you like. Serve as part of a spread with flatbreads.

Prep 15 min
Cook 75 min
Serves 4

For the dip
½ whole garlic bulb, cut in half widthways
1 large sweet potato (400g)
1 x 400g tin cannellini beans, drained and rinsed (240g)
Salt
1 tbsp tahini
½ tsp lemon juice
2 ice cubes

For the sauce
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp cumin seeds, coarsely ground in a mortar
½ tsp caraway seeds, coarsely ground in a mortar
½ tsp coriander seeds, coarsely ground in a mortar
½ tsp urfa chilli flakes
¾ tsp rosemary leaves, finely chopped
1 tbsp tomato paste
1½ tsp olive oil
1 tbsp lemon juice
40g pitted kalamata olives, roughly chopped
20g picked flatleaf parsley leaves, roughly chopped

Heat the oven to 210C (190C fan)/410F/gas 6½. Wrap the garlic in foil and put this on a roasting tray alongside the whole sweet potato. Roast for 40 minutes, until the garlic is soft and golden, then take out the garlic parcel and roast the sweet potato for another 20 minutes (turn it after it’s had half an hour), until cooked through.

When the garlic is cool enough to handle, squeeze the flesh from the papery skins (discard the skins). Peel off and discard the sweet potato skin, then put the flesh in the bowl of a food processor and add the roast garlic flesh, the drained beans and a quarter-teaspoon of salt. Blitz for a minute, until smooth, then add the tahini, lemon juice and ice cubes, and blitz for another minute, until smooth.

To make the sauce, put a small frying pan on a medium-high heat, add all the spices and the rosemary, and toast, stirring frequently, for two minutes, until fragrant. Turn down the heat to medium, add the tomato paste and oil, and cook, stirring constantly, for two minutes. Add two tablespoons of water, simmer for two minutes more, then take off the heat and stir in the lemon juice. Leave to cool for 10 minutes, then stir in the olives and parsley.

Transfer the dip to a shallow lipped bowl with a lip, make a well in the centre, spoon in the sauce and serve.

April 8, 2023

Healthy food recipes at the Fellowship Community retirement community | Food and Recipes

Chef Dennis Rivera and dietician Kelly Strobeck from Fellowship Community in Whitehall were in the Sunrise Kitchen Friday morning to talk about healthy foods.

Fellowship Community is a retirement community with about 400 residents, ranging from independent living to skilled nursing care.

Healthy foods are a must for the residents.

Chicken Schnitzel

1 boneless chicken breast, 4 oz.
1 fresh egg, beaten
1 teaspoon of table salt
1 teaspoon of ground black pepper
1 ½ Tablespoon of flour
¼ cup of panko bread crumbs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Pound out chicken breasts by placing between 2 layers of plastic wrap (on a cutting board) and flatten with a meat tenderizer (hammer) to approximately 1/4 inch thick.

Beat egg in a bowl.

In another bowl, combine seasoning with panko bread crumbs.

Set up a standard breading station: flour, egg mixture, and seasoned panko.

Dredge chicken in flour, then place in egg mixture, followed by coating in seasoned panko.

Place breaded chicken on sheet tray and bake in oven until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F, approximately 10-12 minutes.

Country Gravy

2 cups of whole milk
1 cup of chicken broth
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon of table salt
Unsalted butter ½ teaspoon

Prepared Hot, Chilled for Cold Storage. Refer to HACCP Plan Form HFS# 001: Prepared Hot for Hot Service.

In cast iron skillet over medium heat, melt the butter, Next, add the flour to skillet to make roux. Continue to cook for 7 to 8 minutes, stirring frequently. Do not allow to brown.

Combine broth and milk in stockpot. Bring to a simmer to make stock.

Add the hot stock slowly to roux, stirring constantly to make a smooth gravy.

Add pepper to skillet. Stir well to blend.

Baked Sweet Potato with Whipped Goat Cheese

3 cups red grapes
1/4 cup olive oil
3 Tbsp. fresh thyme or oregano
1/2 tsp. black ground pepper
2 oz. walnuts, toasted, broken into pieces
2 sweet potatoes, medium
2 Tbsp. salt
8 oz. goat cheese

Whipped Goat Cheese

1 Tbsp. olive oil
½ tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black ground pepper
3 Tbsp. chives

Herb Salad

2 oz. each mix of herbs: parsley, dill, cilantro, chives & mint
1/2 tsp. Kosher salt
1/2 tsp. extra virgin olive oil

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Line a sheet pan with foil.

For the Roasted Grapes

In a medium bowl, toss the whole red grapes with olive oil, fresh thyme or oregano, salt and pepper. Pour onto the prepared sheet pan and place in the oven for 15-20 minutes until the grapes are soft, slightly charred and some have popped open.

Scrape the grapes and accumulated juices into a small bowl and stir in the toasted walnuts. Set aside.

Turn the oven down to 350 degrees F.

For the Sweet Potatoes

Wash the unpeeled sweet potatoes, and while they are still damp–rub the skins with the salt for an even coat on the surface. Place in the oven and roast until they are completely tender throughout, about 40 minutes.

For the Whipped Goat Cheese

While the sweet potatoes are roasting, whip the goat cheese with the olive oil, salt, and pepper. Stir in the chives and set aside.

For the Herb Salad

Combine the herb leaves in a small bowl and refrigerate until ready to use.

To Assemble

When the sweet potatoes are fully cooked, split each down the middle and squeeze and push the ends together, slightly to open them.

Toss the herb leaves with olive oil and Kosher salt.

Stuff each sweet potato with ¼ of the whipped goat cheese, a big pinch of the herb salad, and a scoop of roasted grapes. Drizzle with the leftover grapes juice and some extra virgin olive oil. Serve immediately.

Best Green Smoothie

1 ½ cup milk (dairy or dairy-free)
2 cups baby spinach
1 frozen banana
1 apple
¼ avocado
plus optional add-ins

Add all of the ingredients to a blender and blend on high for 30 seconds, or until creamy.

April 7, 2023

What happened to Baton Rouge’s Healthy Food Retail Initiative?

A three-calendar year initiative released by Mayor Sharon Weston Broome’s administration in late 2019 to recruit new grocery merchants to underserved neighborhoods in the parish sunsetted last yr devoid of any specials for a new retail store.

For the Wholesome Food items Retail Initiative, the administration partnered with Hope Company Company of the Mid-South, a Jackson, Mississippi-based credit rating union. The intention was for Hope Business to present financial loans to eligible grocers arranging to open up shops in certified food items deserts in the parish.

The $1.8 million contract with Hope was supposed to be funded via $750,000 from the town-parish’s normal fund, $750,000 from Group Enhancement Block Grant funds and $300,000 from the mayor’s Wholesome BR software.

Hope Business is the very same firm that partnered with New Orleans in 2011 for its New Food items Retailer Initiative. That metropolis and Hope Business partnered on $14 million in repackaged Neighborhood Growth Block Grant resources to the program, which financed the opening of 3 new merchants, which include a Complete Foods Market place.

Due to the fact no new grocer was recruited as a result of the application, metropolis-parish spokesperson Mark Armstrong says the town-parish in the long run compensated only $26,000 to its application companions, Hope Organization and Pennsylvania-primarily based nonprofit The Foods Belief to deal with administration costs. That $26,000 was compensated through Healthier BR and was funded by means of philanthropic contributions, in accordance to Armstrong.

The remaining $1.7 million earmarked for the plan was supposed to be used as bank loan funds for grocers who made the decision to open up a new retail store.

“Ultimately, the deal arrived and went with that initiative and we have not uncovered a grocer yet,” Armstrong claims. “The administration however really considerably needs to support a new grocery keep and is however fully commited to furnishing funding after we find a companion.”

Even though this distinct initiative in the end didn’t pan out, Armstrong stresses that the city-parish stands ready to spend in a new keep and has built progress in cultivating entry to clean meals in underserved neighborhoods, including its partnership with Greenback Common to inventory fresh new produce at its north Baton Rouge retailers as properly as with Our Woman of the Lake’s Geaux Get Nutritious method.

The new Rouses grocery prepared for north Baton Rouge, on the corners of Florida Boulevard and North Ardenwood Push, was not section of the initiative, Armstrong suggests.

April 7, 2023

Discerning consumers shape food culture trends in 2023

customer uses a reusable bag to shop for vegetables

(Picture credit history: Pexels)

Society is always shifting, evolving toward our society’s biggest aspirations. After largely an aspiration, health and wellness society is now mainstream in the United States with virtually all customers engaged in some action to increase their longevity and strengthen their high-quality of daily life. As aspiration has morphed into our lived fact consumers have come to be extra knowledgeable and discerning.

Specifically in moments of financial pressure, customers are inclined to do their owing diligence to determine which well being and wellness merchandise are really truly worth their value. Discerning individuals anticipate organizations to deliver products with terrific preferences and textures, nutrient density, clear labels, and moral and sustainable component sourcing and manufacturing tactics. This is a significant bar for food stuff and beverage businesses to accomplish, and however, it is critical to retaining relevancy in today’s food stuff culture. A further crucial to preserving relevancy is to remain abreast of the developments that will support form upcoming need.

Tendencies monitoring and cultural curiosity preserve Hartman Team consultants at the top edge of the meals and beverage field. 3 macro traits have captured our notice for 2023: purposeful procurement, progressive ordeals, and the culture of wellness.

To start with, look at purposeful procurement in which the trio of high quality, wellness and sustainability are driving innovation. Much more especially, discerning buyers are searching to foods and beverage corporations to resolve complications like the pervasiveness of microplastics.

Next, food items and beverage firms need to be involved about ground breaking activities. In this pattern, disruptive suppliers are incubators of new and rising manufacturers as we are coming into the era of hyper-curation.

Lastly, inside the tradition of wellness trend, we see the urge to democratize wellness through the generation of wellness products and solutions and providers that are inclusive of all individuals irrespective of race, ethnicity, gender, instruction or income.

Diving deeper into purposeful procurement, discerning people aspire for their purchases to align with their values but are all too typically challenged by boundaries these types of as price and accessibility. In an progressively competitive natural environment in which shoppers are no for a longer time compelled to make trade-offs, we see values-based browsing transitioning away from compromise and toward commendable excellent. In this article products and solutions satisfy each the consumer’s high quality criteria and their anticipations for ethics and sustainability.

At the coronary heart of impressive activities, we witness the evolution of meals trends turning out to be inextricably tied to the affect of social media. Viral recipe movies from revolutionary creators are enabling broader customer access even though bending food traditions and hard concepts about who gets to come to a decision what is authentic. Social media development cycles are quickening, and the rise of the creator economy is fostering a surge of microtrends surfacing at a dizzying speed. Analyzing microtrends’ relevance in customer lifestyle can expose how your brand name can engage with the creator economy and gain in the small or long time period.

In modern-day wellness culture, we see that American individuals are collectively stressed out and endlessly active. Post-pandemic and inflation-weary, psychological and physical resilience is nevertheless best of thoughts for discerning individuals. Nourishing nervines and adaptogens can guidance and restore the anxious method, but lots of of the products accessible in today’s marketplace lack herbal abilities, decreasing item effectiveness and customer self confidence.

Monitoring and dissecting these macro developments is but one path towards successful in the 2023 marketplace and outside of. There are many far more trends and routes to progress, but we hope by sharing these observations we have assisted with relevancy servicing and generating larger empathy for today’s discerning customer.

As CEO of The Hartman Group, Demeritt drives the eyesight, tactic, functions and benefits-oriented society for the company’s associates as The Hartman Team furthers its choices of tactical thinking, consumer and sector intelligence, cultural competency and impressive mental funds to a world market.

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