Podcast Episode 105: A Year of Fruits and Vegetables with Andrea Mathis, MA, RDN
September 15, 2021
September is National Fruit and Veggies Month, and if that wasn’t enough, the UN General Assembly designated 2021 as the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables. There’s no excuse not to elevate your fruit and veggie game! Who’s with me? That’s why on today’s show, we’re talking about fresh new ways to add more fresh, frozen, canned, and dried fruits and vegetables to your family’s table every season and all year long. My guest is Andrea Mathis, MS, RDN from Beautiful Eats and Things, and together, we’re turning our passion for produce into real-world recipes for you and your family.
Andrea Mathis is an Alabama-based registered dietitian nutritionist and the owner of two blogs: Beautiful Eats and Things and Little Eats and Things. She’s the mom of two little boys and the author of The Complete Book of Smoothies, which is filled with gorgeous and nutritious recipes that bring fruits and veggies to the center of the plate (and glass!) in easy and delicious ways.
Nine out of 10 Americans don’t consume the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables each day (see MyPlate for info on how much YOU need based on your age, gender, and activity level), but we plan to change that statistic thanks t0 today’s show!
[Tweet “On this week’s Liz’s Healthy Table #podcast, a year of fruit and veggie inspiration for your family with Andrea Mathis, MA, RDN @BeautifulEandT #NFVM2021 #HaveAPlant”]
The Complete Book of Smoothies
Check out Andrea’s cookbook over on Amazon.
Winter Produce Ideas: Brussels sprouts and winter squash
Arugula, Apple, Brussels Sprouts Salad with Lemon Shallot Vinaigrette from Liz
Cheesy Chicken and Brussels Sprouts Pasta Bake from Andrea
Acorn Squash with BBQ Beef and Pomegranate Arils from Liz
Cinnamon Roasted Butternut Squash from Andrea
Spring Produce Ideas: Asparagus and Radishes
Asparagus Salad with Eggs and Prosciutto from Liz
Crispy Baked Parmesan Asparagus Fries from Andrea
Roasted radishes from Liz
Sautéed radishes from Andrea
Summer Produce Ideas: Corn and Peaches
BBQ Peach and Chicken Naan Pizzas from Liz
Spiced Grilled Peaches from Andrea
Chicken and Fresh Corn Salad from Liz
Lightened-Up Spicy Mexican Street Corn from Andrea
Fall Produce Ideas: Kale and Pumpkin
Wild Rice and Kale Salad from Liz
Kale, Mango, Pineapple Ginger Smoothie from Andrea
Pumpkin Maple Pancakes from Liz
Mini Sausage and Rice Stuffed Pumpkins from Andrea
Show Highlights:
- Andrea’s life in Birmingham, Alabama, with two little boys, two blogs, and a lifelong love of cooking
- Andrea’s cookbook, The Complete Book of Smoothies: 115 Healthy Recipes to Nourish, Heal, and Energize
- Andrea’s #1 tip to get picky eaters to try new fruits and veggies: pair the new food with something already familiar
- Why people need to know that all forms of fruits and veggies count: fresh, canned, dried, 100% juice, and frozen
- How Andrea Mathis uses “smoothie packs,” which are prepped fruits and veggies frozen in serving-size freezer bags for smoothies
- Liz is an Ambassador in Action for the Produce for Better Health Foundation.
- Andrea and Liz share seasonal fruit and veggie faves:
- Winter
- Brussels sprouts, roasted or sliced thin in salads or casseroles
- Winter squash, baked as a bowl to be filled or roasted with cinnamon and brown sugar
- Spring
- Asparagus, roasted or blanched and sliced in salads or dredged in egg and flour to be air-fried as “fries”
- Radishes, roasted or sautéed with onion and garlic
- Summer
- Corn on the cob, eaten whole or added as kernels to other dishes or buttered and spiced with flavorful seasonings and wrapped in foil to be baked in the oven
- Peaches, sliced thin and added to BBQ chicken pizzas or grilled and spiced
- Fall
- Kale, in a salad or added to smoothies
- Pumpkin, canned pumpkin to be added in muffins, breads, pancakes, smoothies, chili, enchiladas, etc. or roasted and stuffed mini-pumpkins
- Winter
Resources:
Andrea’s cookbook The Complete Book of Smoothies: 115 Healthy Recipes to Nourish, Heal, and Energize
Where to find Andrea:
TikTok @beautifuleatsandthings
