So you want a healthier lifestyle for yourself and your family. Maybe you purchase organic produce? Scrutinize food labels? Chosing foods wisely for your family is a noble endeaver. Today I want to discuss a way to add value to your meals that maybe you haven’t thought about, and it ties into this month’s Recipe Redux theme: getting back to the dinner table.
Food is meant to be shared and enjoyed. It may come as a surprise, but when we gather around the kitchen table in North Carolina, my family looks forward to the salads I serve . How do I know? If it’s not on the table, they ask for it! Even their friends come for my salad. Today I ‘m making one inspired by my recent trip to Maine. The first meal I had in Portland, shared with blogger friends, (Regan Jones RD, Deanna Seagrave- Daly RD and Kita Roberts ) was a farmer’s market salad along with flatbread pizza. Today’s recipe is my rendition of that spectacular summer salad : organic arugula, cucumber, wild blueberries, feta cheese, and a ginger vinaigrette. My version isn’t any healthier than what’s served at the Flatbread Company in Portland, Maine. But here’s an idea to add value to this salad, or any food for that matter: enjoy it together. The benefits of family/shared meals go far beyond the fact that they are more likely to be nutritious. Please consider the research that suggests:
• Kids who eat regularly with their families, are less likely to snack on unhealthy foods and more likely to eat fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
• Children having frequent dinners with their parents are less likely to smoke, drink or use other drugs.
• Family meals positively impacts the development of lifelong healthy eating behaviors for youth.
• Family meals are associated with better academic performance.
The beginning of the school year is a perfect time to start making family meals a routine. Don’t get discouraged if you can’t sit down every night. Benefits can be reaped by sitting down together on occasion. Please visit the links at the bottom of this post for more inspiration for getting back to the dinner table!
Copycat Farmer’s Market Salad + Getting Back to the Dinner Table
Farmer’s Market salad with arugula, wild blueberries, feta cheese and a ginger vinaigrette
Ingredients
-
- 5 oz package organic arugula
- seedless cucumber, sliced
- feta cheese, 1/2 cup
- blueberries, 1 cup
for the vinaigrette
-
- 1 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 Tablespoon canola oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- fresh ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
1. In a large bowl or on a plater, arrange fresh arugula. Top with slice cucumbers, feta cheese and blueberries.
2. Combine ingredients for vinaigrette. Whisk and drizzle over salad. Toss. Serve immediately.
I just love blueberries on salads! It’s like tasty little sweet croutons 🙂 Your salad is the perfect example of how salads with farm fresh produce can be simple and delicious!
Ha! love your analogy, Rachael!
Love the simplicity of this recipe! And there’s nothing like a good arugula salad to have on hand and to get the family together for! Pinning 🙂
Thank you! And yes, always keep something green on hand for the family!
I love everything about this salad, Diane. Excellent post – so important to stop and enjoy meals, especially if we’re fortunate enough to have a family to enjoy it with.
Thanks Marissa!
Love that you shared all the benefits of eating a family dinner together. So important! I just got back from the Wild Blueberry barrens trip in Maine! This salad looks perfect!
Hi Jessica, I can’t wait to read your recap of the Wild Blueberry barrens trip! I love Maine. Want to go back.
What a beautiful simple salad – I could eat this every day!!
Me too!
This is just the kind of salad that I need to start making. I have a bad habit of trying to overdo it to the point that I end up not making salads for dinner. Sometimes simple really is best!
Fresh ingredients will always make a simple salad stand out!
Love this salad, so simple yet full of delicious flavor! YUM!
Yes, it doesn’t have to be complicated to be full of flavor.
I recognize this salad!!! Looks super yummy 🙂 We’re headed to the farmers’ market this morning. Must make this today!
Enjoy!