Hola Amigos! I am happy to see you here again.
The last time we met, I told you about how we practice being kind to the planet at Melita’s Table. Today, I am going to share about the loving ingredients on our menu. These are not just loving for our customers, but for the earth too.
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to eat healthy and be kind to the earth.
When I cook in my kitchen at home, I use ingredients that are easy to prepare. Onions are the base for so many good dishes, however, chopping them is never something that my eyes enjoy! Do you like to chop onions? They taste delicious but make my eyes water so much.
Now, I can make anything taste delicious, but if it is gentle on the planet as well, all the better.
I love the challenge of keeping meals interesting, bold, and flavorful, and these ingredients ensure my dishes never get boring. When food gets boring, you can always just add another chili pepper – the spice of life!
Take a look at these ingredients we use at Melita’s Table – they are sustainable and help us be kind to the earth.
My Favorite Sustainable Ingredients
Beans
Beans are very nutritious and tasty. They are full of protein and easy on the planet. You can cook dried beans on the stove but it will take a long time. Sometimes, the finer things in life are worth the wait.
- Beans are a good source of: protein, fiber, B-vitamins, iron, folate, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and zinc
Lentils
Lentils are a dream food. They go with any meal and tread lightly on the earth. A popular way to cook lentils is to simmer them with some tomatoes and a lot of garlic. The more garlic, the better!
- Lentils are a good source of: protein, fiber, B-vitamins, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc
Mushrooms
Mushrooms are a superfood! Did you know there are more than 10,000 kinds? That’s loco! I use mushrooms because they are so healthy and earth-friendly.
- Mushrooms are a good source of: low calorie protein, fiber, B-vitamins, Vitamin C, folate, selenium, potassium, copper, iron, and phosphorus
Jackfruit
To me, jackfruit is a “miracle” food. It tastes incredible when I cook it with the right spices. Also, the consistency is “meaty,” which my grandchildren like a lot. I like to eat our Jack Asada on nachos and burritos with lots of spices!
- Jackfruit is a good source of: protein, fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, riboflavin, magnesium, potassium, copper, and manganese
Tomatoes
A fresh summer tomato is hard to beat, especially in my famous pico de gallo. They taste good and have lots of vitamins to keep us super healthy. They have a deep root system that absorbs water from deep in the ground, so they don’t need as much water as other vegetables.
- Tomatoes are a good source of: fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, lycopene, potassium, and folate
Oranges
Have you ever had a juicy orange you didn’t love? The sweet and sour citrus flavor is incredible! They take less water to grow than some other fruits, so they have less impact on the earth. Plus, my abuelita always told me that if I ate them, it would help me stay healthy – and she was right!
- Oranges are a good source of: fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, calcium, and potassium
Potatoes
Potatoes not only taste great but they are also good for you! Plus, they are very earth-friendly and require much less water to grow than some similar foods. They also produce natural pesticides and fungicides, so they don’t need to use chemicals to help them grow. Amazing!
- Potatoes are a good source of: Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, potassium, and manganese
Am I making you hungry now? Go eat some food from Melita’s Table. It tastes good and feels good.
Until next time my friends,
Melita
