Couscous and asparagus salad

Couscous and asparagus salad

Sometimes young people are hesitant to try new things. This couscous and asparagus salad was a great success with the seven young missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who recently had dinner with me in my apartment in Pristina, Kosovo.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz whole wheat couscous
• 1 lb thin asparagus spears, tough ends trimmed
• 3 medium tomatoes, cut to bite size
• 1/4 cup red onion, minced
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 1-2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, minced
• salt to taste
• fresh cracked pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add asparagus and cook until tender, about 3 minutes.
2. Remove with a large slotted spoon and rinse in a colander in the sink under cold water to stop it from cooking.
3. Add the couscous to the boiling water and cook according to package directions.
4. Chop the asparagus into small 1/2 inch pieces.
5. Drain the couscous and rinse under cold water, place in a large bowl.
6. Add the chopped asparagus, tomatoes, red onion, lemon juice, olive oil, parsley, salt and pepper to the bowl.
7. Taste for salt and pepper and serve room temperature or chilled.

Nutrition Information

Yield: 5 servings, Serving Size: a little over 1 cup

• Amount Per Serving:
• Weight Watcher Points: 5
• Calories: 170 calories
• Total Fat: 4g
• Saturated Fat: g
• Cholesterol: 0mg
• Sodium: 10mg
• Carbohydrates: 30g
• Fiber: 5g
• Sugar: 0g
• Protein: 6.5g

Ready-to-Eat Organic Products

EARTHBOUND FARM LAUNCHES NEW, READY-TO-EAT ORGANIC PRODUCTS:

CULINARY-INSPIRED SALAD KITS AND KALE CAESAR POWERMEAL® BOWL

SAN JUAN BAUTISTA, Calif. – (July 2015) – Earthbound Farm, the nation's leading grower of organic produce, launched several new, certified organic, ready-to-eat products just in time for summer celebrations and outdoor adventures. Three new organic salad kits – Kale Caesar, Sun-Washed Mediterranean and Garden Party – take familiar salad flavors with premium ingredients and give them a fresh, delicious and all-organic twist; and the organic Kale Caesar PowerMeal Bowl is the fourth and newest flavor in the popular line of plant-based, single-serve bowls.

"Quick, convenient and simple meals should not be boring! Food boredom can lead to overeating or wanting a treat after the meal," said Ashley Koff, Registered Dietitian for Earthbound Farm. "The new Earthbound Farm organic Salad Kits are anything but boring – they are a perfect marriage of convenient, delicious and nutritious – the three things I look for in meals and snacks. Their new organic Kale Caesar PowerMeal Bowl is packed with a variety of important nutrients from plants that anyone can quickly assemble for a tasty main meal. It's perfect for a lunch on the go, an outdoor adventure or a picnic." 

Developed with Earthbound Farm's Executive Chef Sarah LaCasse, the one-of-a-kind, all-organic "Classic Salads for the Modern Palate" offer bold flavors with tender leafy greens, gourmet dressings and premium toppings that make it easy to round out any meal with a delicious, nutritious salad.

• Organic Kale Caesar Salad Kit (Rich & Spicy) includes tender baby kale, crunchy red and green cabbage and sweet shredded carrots packaged together with roasted sunflower seeds, flavorful aged Parmesan cheese, crunchy multi-grain croutons and a spicy lite Caesar dressing.
• Organic Sun-Washed Mediterranean Salad Kit (Savory & Tangy) is composed of earthy spinach, peppery arugula and bitter radicchio packaged together with chewy sun-dried tomatoes, crunchy roasted chickpeas, tangy feta cheese and a Greek dressing with sun-dried tomatoes and kalamata olives.
• Organic Garden Party Salad Kit (Festive & Fruit Forward) includes spring mix and Asian greens together with chewy, mildly tart dried wild blueberries and cranberries, zesty feta cheese and a slightly sweet raspberry-balsamic vinaigrette.

The only all-organic salad bowl kits on the market, the new Kale Caesar PowerMeal Bowl expands the line with a contemporary twist on the traditional Caesar Salad. This best-in-class bowl is complete with hearty and nutrient-dense baby kale, red and green cabbage and sweet shredded carrots packaged together with roasted sunflower seeds, tangy aged Parmesan cheese, crunchy multi grain croutons and a spicy lite Caesar dressing.
Like all Earthbound Farm products, the Salad Kits and PowerMeal Bowls include produce grown in accordance with the company's industry-leading food safety and organic integrity programs, and all items are certified organic.

Earthbound Farm's Classic Salad Kits for the Modern Palate (9-10 oz. bags) are available now with a SRP of $4.99-$5.99. Each kit offers two and a half to three servings, compared to other salad kits offering only two servings per package.

Earthbound Farm's PowerMeal Bowls (4.93 – 5.58 oz. clamshells made from recycled plastic bottles) are shipping now with a suggested retail price (SRP) of $4.99. All bowls range from 200-300 calories with 5-10 grams of protein per bowl.

For product coupons in addition to tips and recipes for happier, healthier living, sign up for Organic Bound, Earthbound Farm's web-based magazine and newsletter.

About Earthbound Farm
Earthbound Farm, based in San Juan Bautista, Calif., is a leading organic food company bringing the benefits of fresh, flavorful and healthy organic foods to as many people as possible. From its signature Spring Mix to its fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables, herbs and snacks, Earthbound offers an array of tasty and nutritious food with the goal of making a healthy difference in the way America eats. Whether fresh, frozen, dried or packaged, for 30 years Earthbound has specialized in growing food from the soil organically, fostering the health and harmony of the ecosystem. Earthbound Farm is a WhiteWave Foods company. For more information, visit www.ebfarm.com and follow @earthboundfarm on Twitter.

Los Angeles children authentically EATalian

Major Health and Economical Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet (IACCW)

In the height of the childhood obesity epidemic, IACCW is partnered with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) for a campaign called Authentically EATalian to bring gardens and cooking classes with prominent LA-based chef into the most underserved elementary schools in Los Angeles, to educate students and their parents on how to benefit from the Mediterranean diet while having low household income.

Adopted by many celebrity women to slow the aging process, the Mediterranean Diet can also help decrease the risk of mental illnesses. For example, Omega-3, B-vitamins and Vitamin C, all commonly found in Mediterranean food, contribute to mental and cardiovascular health as well as decreasing chances of Alzheimer's disease, depression and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder.

"Authentically EATalian"

PROJECT OVERVIEW

"Authentically EATalian" is a multifaceted, bi-coastal initiative launched by the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce West in Los Angeles, with the support of the Italian Ministry of Economic Development and Assocamerestero - the Association of Italian Chambers of Commerce in the world. Today there are 76 Chambers in 50 countries with 140 offices and over 24.000 member companies. The Italian Chambers of Commerce Abroad carry out a wide range of activities facilitating the access of Italian companies to the respective markets and promoting the establishment of strategic business relations. Inspired by the Let's Move campaign launched by First Lady Michelle Obama, "Authentically EATalian" aims at giving children and their families a new perspective on food, helping them make better choices, one meal at a time.

OBJECTIVE: promoting Italian food and lifestyle while helping fight childhood / adult obesity in the US through nutrition education based on the Mediterranean diet principles, fitness and family fun activities.

THE ISSUE: Over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled. Today, almost one in every three children in the States is obese or overweight. The numbers are even higher in African American and Hispanic communities, where nearly 40% of the children are overweight or obese. Putting a STOP to this ever escalating epidemic is crucial. If not, one third of all children born today in America will suffer from diabetes at some point in their lives. Many others may face chronic obesity-related health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer and asthma.

  

TARGET: grade school children from selected LA School District's public schools, families and fitness enthusiasts.

About Italy American Chamber of Commerce (IACCW):

Founded in 1987, The Italy-American Chamber of Commerce West (IACCW) is a nonprofit organization that connects entrepreneurs, schools, families and epicureans with authentic Italian culture to boost trade relations, healthy living and success with consumer-driven businesses.

About Chef Nicola Chessa:

Chessa joined restaurateur Piero Selvaggio's award-winning Valentino Restaurant Group in 2003. He trained in Las Vegas as a sous chef under James Beard award-winning Chef Luciano Pellegrini, at Valentino Las Vegas inside The Venetian-Resort-Hotel-Casino and after a short time was named Executive Chef at Giorgio Ristorante, where he still oversees kitchen operations and menu.

About Dr. Dena Herman:

Dr. Herman received her doctorate and master's degrees in public health from UCLA and her master's in nutrition sciences from Friedrich-Wilhelms University of Bonn, Germany.  She has expertise in both pediatric and life course nutrition.  Dr. Herman teaches in the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and the David Geffen School of Medicine.