DC Chefs know that the best ingredients are local ones. Their mouth-watering dishes full of seasonal ingredients are the perfect inspiration for a DIY at-home garden. We asked some of the best chefs in Washington, DC what produce stands out in their dishes. Bonus: these ingredients are easy-to-grow and will have your little foodie picking through potting soil in no time. Keep reading for five foods you can grow from seed to plate.

Tomatoes

Jennifer C. via Flickr

Executive Chef Matteo Venini of Lupo Verde uses delicious tomatoes in many of his pizzas and pasta dishes. Tomatoes are easy to grow in containers on the front porch or balcony. Slice them up for a kid-friendly margarita pie on family pizza night. Or, make a mess in the kitchen with your favorite homemade marinara sauce.

Where to Buy: This veteran-owned garden shop serves all of  DC as well as Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church and McLean in VA and Bethesda, Chevy Chase, College Park, Silver Spring and Takoma Park in MD. Due to Covid-19, Old City Garden is only accepting delivery orders (minimum order, $50). 

1325 Rhode Island Ave NE
Brookland
202-412-2489
Online: olde-city-garden.myshopify.com

Spinach

Katrin Gilger via Flickr

Uprising Muffin Company offers pastries with delicious and nutritious ingredients. Spinach is a great hidden veggie in mini muffins for your kiddos, and it is easy to grow at home. Grow the leafy greens in a container, snip off some leaves one week and snip a few more the next. It is a healthy veggie that keeps on giving.

Where to Buy: Home Depot carries a number of spinach seed packs as well as starter vegetable plants. Going to a hardware store to source seeds means it just takes one-stop to gather all you need for raised garden beds. 

901 Rhode Island Ave NE
Brentwood
202-526-8760
Online: homedepot.com

Herbs

Shutterfly via Flickr

Herbs are the perfect and easy at-home garden choice. Last season, Executive Chef Adam Howard of Blue Duck Tavern shared recipes with his weekly community supported agriculture (CSA) pickup. He wanted locals to easily be able to turn their dill or dandelion greens into something yummy. Mason jars are a space-saving way to plant herbs, and your little ones can help take care of the plants as they grow.

Where to Buy: Foliage by Frager's is a boutique garden store with a wide variety of indoor plants. But they also carry seeds perfect for a windowsill garden. You'll find soil, fertilizer and more. Too much to carry? Borrow one of their carts to tote your greens home. 

1115 Pennsylvania Ave
Capitol Hill
202-543-6157

Potatoes

Dirty Dozen- Potatoes
Pixabay via Pexels

Ocean Prime's Executive Chef Leo Harvey is known for epic side dishes featuring the usually dull potato. Find a variety that matures quickly when you plant your spuds at home. Who likes to wait? The kid-friendly options with potatoes are endless. Fry them, mash them, roast them, and your whole crew will eat them up.

Where to Buy: A DC institution since 1933, Johnson's Florist & Garden Centers is a one-stop shop for everything from lawn care to indoor plants. They even offer fresh floral arrangements. Don't forget to pick up potatoes: you'll find a variety of ready-to-grow options here, along with other herbs and vegetable plants. 

10313 Kensington Pkwy. 
Kensington MD 
(301) 946 - 6700

5011 Olney-Laytonsville Rd.
Olney MD 
(301) 987-1940
Online: johnsonsflorists.com

Peas

Jennifer C. via Flickr

Chef Amy Brandwein of Centrolina's restaurant-market hybrid uses seasonally-available ingredients in her creations. She's all about the peas when it comes to yummy side dishes. Littles love those tiny veggies, and they are fun to grow in your backyard. Don't forget to add tall supports to give the little pods room to grow.

Where to Buy: Ginkgo Gardens is a full-service garden center in the heart of DC. You'll find veggie starter kits along with the know-how staffers that can help walk novice gardeners through their first plantings. They can answer questions like which way should your container face for adequate sunlight and how much should you water a starter-plant. 

911 11th St SE
Captitol Hill
202-543-5172
Online: ginkogardens.com

​​​—Angelica Kajiwara and Meghan Yudes Meyers

featured photo: Pexels

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School is out for summer, and for millions of families that means an increase in extracurricular activities. Parents are busy mapping out the logistics of camps, practices, tournaments, and more, so any time savings are usually encouraged and taken.

Finding ways to prepare meals and snacks ahead of time presents a potential shortcut for hectic lifest‌yles, but healthy fare can sometimes seem burdensome or out of reach in favor of processed alternatives, which are often cheaper. It’s tempting to grab a box of prepackaged, processed snacks off the grocery shelf, but a little planning can actually help you save money in the long run—not to mention the real-life health benefits you can reap from eating fresh, high-quality food.

How We Got Here

The prevalence of processed foods in our pantries has been a shift many decades in the making, and many factors have combined to create it. Daily trips to the market for fresh produce have become weekly errands. To improve the sustainability of processed products, we’ve needed to produce foods that can survive the journey from factory to distribution warehouse to store shelf, where foods will sit for even more time.

To remain edible during the long wait from creation to consumption, processed foods are infused with preservatives such as sugar, sodium, and fat. Science has found that the downside is steep, and it’s well-known that eating too much of these nutrients can increase health risks. In generations past, we simply didn’t eat these types of foods like we do today, and we’re really feeling the detrimental impact in ourselves, our families, and our communities.

These are reasons enough to limit our consumption of processed foods, but they’re still staples in our kitchen and on the go, especially with our overloaded lifestyles. We all do so much. Whether as individuals or as families, schedules are packed morning, noon, and night. Trying to find the time to create nutrient-rich foods and snacks can seem like a barrier to the pace of life.

Budgets are also a factor in choosing processed foods. Inexpensive food is hard to pass up when looking at a lengthy grocery list. Processed foods are also easily accessible and on virtually every corner at retail and grocery stores, convenience stores, and pharmacies. Understanding how to access and create healthy meals and snacks that are affordable is a critical component to overcoming this challenge. Natural ingredients can be delicious, and once you include them in your cooking and lifestyle, the energy and enrichment you gain often outweigh hard-to-resist processed foods.

Quick and Better-for-You Alternatives

One easy way to combat the adverse effects of processed foods is by focusing on simple, fresh, nutritious options that won’t monopolize your time or break the bank. Knowing where to start can help get the ball rolling, so here are a few ideas that we like to share from our honey farm:

Berries. No doubt one of the most versatile foods, berries are rich in antioxidants, fiber, and vitamin C. Toss a handful of blueberries over your cereal, whip up a bowl of balsamic strawberry salsa or mix together a variety of berries with a dollop of honey, and you’ve just added a kick of vitamins to a snack, dessert, or meal.

Yogurt. Most people turn to coffee for a midday pick-me-up. But what if I told you there’s a better option? Natural yogurt contains calcium, protein, and probiotics, which help boost energy. Throw in some berries, and the added fiber keeps those engines running even longer. Just make sure to read the labels, as some brands are loaded with added sugar.

Grapefruit. Sure, grapefruit may be seen as grandma’s meal of choice for breakfast—but the wise lady was onto something. For one, it’s packed with vitamins A and C. It’s also loaded with water. Grapefruit helps the body ward off many illnesses and aids in hydration. Instead of sprinkling grapefruit with sugar, try drizzling it with honey to boost its sweetness.

Smoothies. You’ve probably heard the saying “never drink your calories,” but I’d like to add a caveat: smoothies. Unlike juices, smoothies contain fiber to help fill you up. And you’ve got a vitamin-packed, grab-and-go snack if you choose nutrient-rich ingredients like dark, leafy greens; berries; squash; or protein powder.

Bagels. While not all bagels are healthy, those of the whole-grain variety can provide you with nearly one-third of your recommended daily intake of fiber. You can build an even better version by topping your bagel with nut butter, bananas, and a bit of honey for a truly delicious energy-boosting snack or meal.

Convenience will always be a big thing with food choice, and each one of these alternatives to processed foods provides that—plus many of the vital nutrients your body needs. As with anything in life, it’s all in the preparation. If you plan ahead and add healthier food options in your kitchen, you’ll find yourself gravitating away from those easy-to-choose processed foods.

Making these changes don’t have to be extreme shifts in your lifestyle. It doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing commitment. Start small! Find easy recipes for meals at home and on the go through a blog that you enjoy or an influencer who connects to your cooking preferences and lifestyle. Begin to make easy substitutions and slowly make changes that will be lasting in your house.

If you slip up one day, week or month, don’t consider it a failure. This is a lifetime journey, and you can expect bumps along the way. Just give yourself a little grace and get back to those healthy choices when you can. This summer, power those activities and long days through natural food and see the difference it can make in yourself and your family.

Nathan Sheets, the CEO and chief steward of Nature Nate’s Honey Co., embarked on a mission to nourish lives by creating high-quality products for a higher purpose. Nathan has also turned his entrepreneurial spirit to contributing to communities in need through a “give to grow” business. 

If the winter chill has you dreaming about rosé for days, you can make those dreams come true without having to wait until summer. Now you can spice up your leafy greens with the new Trader Joe’s rosé wine salad dressing.

The new Trader Joe’s Organic Rosé Vinaigrette will have you ready for flip flops and beach days. According to Trader Joe’s, the new dressing is made with a blend of red wine and rosé wine vinegars, and is “light, tangy and slightly floral, with notes of herbs and garlic.” It also contains garlic, basil, oregano, agave syrup and organic sunflower oil.

photo: Courtesy of Trader Joe’s

The new vinaigrette is part of a trio of new flavors, including an organic Balsamic and Fig and a yummy-looking Toasted Sesame. The dressings are available at Trader Joe’s locations nationwide for $3.49 each.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

 

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Starting the New Year off on a health kick? We’ve got your back with our list of the city’s best juice bars. The totally slurp-worthy selections at these local juice shops masterfully blend fruits and veggies into creative concoctions that will delight even the most discerning taste-buds. Scroll on to find a friendly neighborhood juice bar near you to order up nutrient-dense, sippable fixes your whole family will love.

OH! Juice Cafe

OH! Juice Cafe via Yelp

Whether you choose to belly up to the bar at the newish Oh! Juice Cafe' in Encinitas for a juice tasting or get your order delivered to your home (think: modern milk-man) Oh! Juice makes it uber-easy for you and yours to get your daily dose of organic, locally sourced, cold-pressed juice. The lush juice flavors rotate seasonally. Currently in the rotation are tasty, healthy elixirs including Cookies 'N Protein and Berry Exotic.

90 N Coast Hwy. 101, Ste. 212
Encinitas, CA 92024
760-487-1896
Online: ohjuicecleanse.com

Beaming Cafe

Beaming Cafe

Beaming Cafe's flagship location in Del Mar opened its doors in 2012. The long line of customers waiting to get inside was a surefire sign of things to come. The popular local hot-spot now has 8 locations throughout San Diego and Los Angeles. The self proclaimed “Organic Superfood Cafe” is raising the bar on the traditional juice cafe experience. In addition to their robust menu of healthy entrees, tasty salads and gluten and dairy free baked goods, they offer potent juices the likes of 'Get Preggy' and 'Knocked Up' geared specifically for expectant moms and women trying to conceive. All of this and they cater to the younger set with kid-friendly smoothie flavors including Berry Delish and Mint Chip. And before you leave, don't forget to try the Banana Chocolate Chip bread — the ultimate "healthy" treat. 

Multiple Locations
Online: beamingcafe.com

Choice Juicery

Choice Juicery

Aren't we always telling our kids to make smart choices? Well, choosing Choice Juicery is leading by example! The menu is full of organically awesome ingredients that also happen to be gluten-free, dairy free and 100% plant based. All of the smoothies come as a bowl as well, which means they can be topped with granola, fresh fruit or any number of "superfoods" like chia seeds, goji berries or coconut flakes. With flavors like Orange Dreamsicle, Superhero and PB&J your little health nut will soon be choosing smoothies over ice cream any day.

Multiple Locations: Carlsbad, Little Italy, Del Sur, Solana Beach
Online: choicejuicery.com

Greens Please

Ben T. via Yelp

The name says it all! Greens Please in Poway is all about the good stuff... or is it the stuff that's good for you? Either way, all of their blends include 6 types of powerfully healing, dark, leafy greens, chia seed, flax seed, kelp and alkalized water. We swear our immune system is getting stronger with each and every sip. The abundance of antioxidants and nutrients are transfixed into a delightfully yummy drink like the Green-Ya-Colada. We're not exactly sure how they do it - but we're so happy they do!

12202 Poway Rd. #100
​(Corner of Oak Knoll Rd.)
Poway, CA 92064
858-842-1001
Online: greensplease.com

Juice Wave

Juice Wave via Yelp

This fun-loving company started by Arleigh Rose is a local treasure. Their mission is to "refresh and nourish the soul by using the best quality ingredients fresh from local farms." Visit Juice Wave in Mission Beach for the bohemian vibe and to give your taste buds a real treat. Kids go crazy for the 'Strawberry Fields Forever' blend and you'll love the bursting with veggies 'Dirt Rich' concoction. If you need an extra jolt of caffeine with your fix, the Bump and Grind is for you! There's something for everyone at The Juice Wave.

3733 Mission Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92109
858-488-0800
Online: juicewavesd.com

Juice Alchemy

Juice Alchemy via Yelp

Juice Alchemy caters to both your desire to cleanse and your urge to satiate your sweet tooth. Run by San Diego natives who support local farmers and the community, you'll find a stellar collection of juices formulated to make you thrive on the menu from 'Sunshine' and 'Super Juice' to 'Hangover' and 'The Detox.' They'll even whip up a customized juice or smoothie for you if you have an idea of what you'd like. Additionally, they offer, "if you are feeling down or under the weather let us know because we have a juice for that!"

3156 5th Ave.
San Diego, CA 92103
619-546-6260
Online: www.thejuicealchemy.com

Northside Shack

Ashton Z. via Yelp

We love that the woman behind Northside Shack is a mom of three who followed her passion for food to open this quaint and welcoming cafe where kids and families can also get a healthy meal. In addition to serving up a vibrant seasonal menu of juices like 'Cactus' which includes cactus, organic aloe vera juice and mint in its ingredients, 'Green Candy' which combines organic apple juice with a host of healthy additions like parsley and turmeric and 'Cold/Flu Buster' with an impressive list of hydrating and immune boosting properties like ginger and coconut water, Northside Shack has also been proclaimed "home of the world's best acai bowls." Turn your juice bar outing into a meal by pairing your beverage with an antioxidant rich organic acai bowl. Be sure to order your little sidekick the 'Grom Blend' which boasts blueberries, grapes, kale, banana, almond milk and agave.

1255 Rosecrans St.
Point Loma, CA 92106
619-738-8233
Online: northsideshack.wordpress.com

––Aimee Della Bitta & Beth Shea

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This is not your grandma’s Seder. No way. With kosher for Passover sushi and lasagna, you’re about to celebrate the holiday in a totally new way. Yeah, yeah, you have to trade your crusty rustic Italian bread for the yeast-free version. And hey, you don’t have to wander the desert without the ability to let the dough rise. But now New Jersey-based Kayco has something to make your Passover Seder… um, different?

What’s on the table for your Seder? Well, there’s the matzah. And there’s also a shank bone, egg, bitter herbs, saltwater, mortar-esque charoset and leafy greens. And of course, sushi and lasagna. Wait… sushi AND lasagna? Yep.

photo: PRNewsfoto/Kayco

Even though sushi and lasagna are far from a Passover tradition of the old, these meals might just be something that your family will enjoy. Kayco’s riced cauliflower may not be what your kiddos expect. But making kosher sushi with mom is something that they don’t exactly get to do every day.

Oh, you say the kids aren’t into sushi? That’s okay. Kayco’s lasagna and fusilli are a few other kosher items that no one will expect to see on the Passover Seder table.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BgjYlGHBLtO/?taken-by=kosherdotcom

Along with their totally tasty new offerings, Kayco is partnering with Kosher.com to feature new kosher (of course) recipes. Cookbook author (of Perfect for Pesach) and Kosher.com celebrity chef, Naomi Nachman, said (in a press release), “Many of this year’s new Passover products allow us to push culinary limits and create holiday menus that are both contemporary and gourmet.”

What’s your favorite family Passover recipe? Share your top pick with us in the comments below.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Raw Pixels via Unsplash

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The next time you pull out the bin of art supplies only to discover none of the lids made it back onto the markers, don’t panic. You can create simple art supplies with next-to-nothing. From fingerpaints to homemade chalk, scroll down for our six supplies that are just as fun to make as they are to use.

photo: christomopher via flickr

1. Edible Finger Paint

A non-toxic finger paint you can make at home? This easy-peasy art supply can create hours of entertainment for mere pennies. Plus, even babies can do it because of the “edible” quality (we say edible in the “don’t panic if it goes in their mouth” sense). Did we mention it has a yummy scent? Click here to learn more.


photo: Amber Guetebier

2. Homemade Playdough

This easy, make-at-home playdough requires just four ingredients and no equipment or cooking, making it fun for kids of all ages, including toddlers. The salty dough deters eating and you can choose any kind of dye, or no dye at all. We like to use gel food coloring because a little goes a long way. Here’s how to make your own in just a few steps.

photo: Gordon via flickr

3. DIY Chalk

Before venturing out to the sidewalk, take the morning to create your own chalk. This easy-to-follow tutorial from Ray Pajar of Get Crafty Crafty shows you how to get the kids involved in making chalk in only a few easy steps. Watch the how-to here.

photo: nsmithtmz via flickr

4. Instant Watercolors

It doesn’t get easier than making your own watercolor paints. All you need is food coloring and a few drops of water. Make a palate using an ice cube tray. The ice cube tray works great because that’s about the right amount of water. Teach the kids about color mixing, too, by creating purple (red + blue), green (yellow + blue), etc.

photo: Emily Cox via flickr

5. Reuse Old Makeup

Okay, moms, no matter what the fashion mags are telling you, the ’90s called and it wants its blue eyeshadow back. When you think your kids are old enough (i.e. they are not going to eat the art supplies or think they can use your “good” makeup for these projects) try letting them play around with eyeshadow pigments, the remains of your favorite lipstick and the nub of eyeliner. Again, use common sense: a kid that can’t keep it on the table might end up painting the wall with lipstick so make sure they are ready for this. But just in case, here are 19 stain-removing hacks that might come in handy.

photo: Mum in the Madhouse

6. Food for Thought

You can create a variety of natural dye using food supplies. Berries, beets and onion skins (boiled) can create shades of red and purple, carrots can create orange and leafy greens like kale can create shades of green. Try making a potato stamp with these instructions. The end of a stalk of celery makes a perfect rose stamp, too, like the one here designed by Jen from Mum In the Madhouse.

What’s your favorite easy at-home art supply? Tell us your tips in the comments below! 

—Amber Guetebier & Gem Platte

They hop all around and take tiny bites of food so your kids are pretty much halfway to being bunnies already. With a few tips from us, your little snugglers will soon embrace that inner bunny. Hop on down to see how to do it.

photo: cartersbebemom via pixabay

1. Bunnies are ridiculously soft to the touch so dress up by wearing your most comfortable outfit. For those who take crafting seriously, make ears out of construction paper and a headband like the ones here. If you want to avoid a mess, holding up two fingers on each hand to your head works too. Just don’t forget to give those fingers a little wiggle.

2. Hop time! Crouch down into a squat and keep those legs together as you make tiny jumps across the room. Some bunnies leap bounds and others have a lighter spring in their step. It’s all up to you!

3. “Eat like a rabbit.” This phrase doesn’t just refer to speedy nibbling. It’s also a great way to convince your kiddo to eat their veggies. After all you are what you eat right? Carrots, celery, spinach—a bunny’s diet is 75% leafy greens and 25% fruit. In human terms, this means your veggie portion for the day should be 75% vegetables and 25% fruit.

4. Do everything quietly. While this action can be a blessing in disguise, we all know parents fear of prolonged silence, so here’s a quick list of noises bunnies are known to make: grunting, honking, teeth purring (grinding), sneezing and sighing. All your pal has to do is turn the volume low when they make these noises.

5. Be affectionate. Have you ever seen bunnies at the pet store? It’s a cuddle fest! Bunnies love to share, kiss and cuddle so this is a great way to get siblings to be loving. We’ll even suggest snuggling up and taking a nap with your little one.

Are you planning on becoming a bunny today? Tell us your tricks and tips in the Comments below!

 

Daily
Today Is National #EatYourVegetables Day
Everyone romaine calm.
1

What better way to play with your food than a round of
Farmer’s Market Bingo?

2

Check out these books for a surefire way to get them asking
for more veggies, please.

3
Whip up a batch of this pasta with spinach pesto and watch them devour their leafy greens.
Today’s photo challenge theme: favorite zoo photo. Take a photo and share with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Don’t forget to tag #Happy100SanDiegoZoo.

{ Today’s ideas brought to you by Farmers  }