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Have you ever wondered what the labeling on your food means? What is the difference between “natural” and “organic”? What does “fresh” mean? It is important to understand what the labelings on your food mean, so that you are fully informed when purchasing a food product. Prices might also rise when buying a product with particular labeling, that is why we need to understand exactly what we are paying for. 

The term “natural” generally means that a product has nothing artificial or synthetic added to it, although no legal definition exists. The Food and Drug Administration considers products labeled as natural to be free of artificial ingredients. 

“Organic” labeled foods are any product that contains a minimum of 95% organic ingredients, excluding salt and water. There are different types of organic labeling. There are also products labeled as “made with organic”, “100% organic”, and “USDA certified organic”. 

The term “made with organic” means that a product contains at least 70% organic ingredients, excluding salt and water. “100% organic” means a product contains 100% organic ingredients, excluding salt and water. 

“USDA certified organic” means that all products are grown and processed using strict guidelines, and there are no genetically modified organisms included. USDA certified organic produce does not allow farmers to use any synthetic fertilizers or pesticides on their products. USDA certified organic meat are animals that were fed 100% organic feed and forage, and were not given any antibiotics or hormones. The animals also must be raised in living conditions that reflect their natural behavior. USDA certified organic packaged foods must contain no artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors; ingredients are organic with a few exceptions, such as baking soda, pectin, etcetera. 

The term “fresh” means that food is unprocessed and has not been frozen or subjected to any form of thermal processing or any other form of preservation. This definition still allows for wax coatings, post harvest use of approved pesticides, application of mild chlorine wash, and treatment with ionizing radiation. Fish can be labeled as “fresh frozen” or “frozen fresh” meaning that the product was frozen very quickly while fresh.

Some products are also labeled as “locally made”. This means the product was produced and processed within a particular area or within a specified number of miles.   

With so many different labels out there, it is key to understand what each of them mean. Next time you go to the store, make sure that you pay attention to each label, and buy what fits to your needs! 

Check out https://dinnertonight.tamu.edu/?s= for recipes that can include different labeled ingredients!

With spring right around the corner, fruit is about to be back in season and eating grapefruit provides a great source of nutrients, while still tasting sweet! 

Grapefruit makes up a large portion of the citrus industry in Texas. Since most of Texas typically offers a warm climate, fertile soils and lots of sun,  grapefruit thrives in these environments. Grapefruit production in Texas in 2019-2020, was up two percent from the 2018 season, boxing around 6.20 million boxes. 

Do you know why we named this fruit “grapefruit”? It is because grapefruit grows in clusters like grapes. Grapefruits are typically not grown from seeds, but from grafting. This is due to disease and low fruit production. Grafting is where two or more plants are joined and grown as a single plant. Grapefruit trees usually take three years before they begin to produce a sufficient amount of fruit. Grapefruit trees can produce large amounts of fruit; a 10-year-old tree might produce 250 pounds of grapefruit!

Current dietary recommendations encourage us to eat one to two cups (depending on age, sex and level of phyiscal activity) of fruit each day as part of a healthy diet.  A medium grapefruit accounts for one cup of fruit, while offering a tasty source of vitamin C, vitamin A,  and  potassium – all for less than 130 calories!

Eating grapefruit is an easy, yet tasty way to receive loads of nutrients!  They make a tasty snack and can be added to salads, entrees and desserts.

Visit https://dinnertonight.tamu.edu/ for recipes including grapefruit:

Grapefruit Salad and Vinaigrette

Pan-Roasted Grouper with Carolina Gold Rice Salad

February is America’s heart healthy month, so what’s a better snack than pecans? Pecans are considered heart healthy according to the American Heart Association®. A serving of pecans has eight grams of protein, which is about 16 percent of the Daily 

Climate restraints only allow for pecan production in the south of the  United States. Georgia, New Mexico and Texas are the top producing states for pecan production in America.  The United States produced 302 million pounds of pecans in 2020, which is up 18 percent from 2019. In 2020, $399 million was the value of the pecan crop, which was  down 15 percent from 2019. 

It only makes sense that Texas would be one of the top producing pecan states, since the pecan tree is Texas’ state tree. Texas’ climate is typically warm, which is ideal for pecan trees. South Texas, and the warmer areas of Texas, typically have more pecan trees than the panhandle and parts of North Texas that get colder.

There are a few different methods for harvesting pecans, but the most common and easiest way is by using trunk shakers. Trunk shakers are machines that shake the pecans out of the tree and onto the ground. It is important to pick pecans up off of the ground as quickly as possible, so that ants and other insects do not destroy the pecans. After the pecans are picked up, they are then cleaned and bagged. 

Pecans are actually a very healthy food source that can be prepared in many different ways. Pecans contain protein, and they are rich in unsaturated fats. They are a great snack or a tasty addition to salads, side dishes, and desserts. For individuals who are watching their caloric intake, however, snack sensibly, since an ounce of pecans contains about 170 calories. Pecans play a big role in Texas and in many Texans homes. 

For recipes including pecans, check out https://dinnertonight.tamu.edu/!

Parmesan Celery Salad

Cranberry Crunch Salad

Are you looking for a low fat, low calorie side to add to your meal? Try summer squash! Summer squash includes several varieties: yellow crookneck or straightneck, patty pan, and zucchini. These seasonal vegetables provide a source of vitamins A and C as well as the mineral potassium. Potassium can help promote healthy blood pressure levels. 

According to USDA, it is recommended that we consume two to three cups of vegetables each day depending on gender, age, and physical activity. A cup of cooked squash can put you on the right track towards meeting those recommendations.  

Summer squash is a popular warm season plant that can grow efficiently in any area of Texas. They take up a lot of space, because they are prolific producers. This means that they are bigger plants, which gives you more to consume. Since summer squash are bigger plants, you can make them your “main dish” in a meal. An example of a main dish is zucchini or squash boats. These are made by cutting the vegetable in half and hollowing it out, then filling it with something such as chicken. Summer squash can also be used as a great side in any meal by slicing them into thin, circular pieces and baking or grilling them.

If you are looking to add a new vegetable to your diet that improves your health, try summer squash!

Visit https://dinnertonight.tamu.edu/ for recipes including summer squash!

Quick Zucchini Beef Boats Recipe

Chicken and Summer Veggies Grilling Pocket