Kelly Sandlin MS, RDN – Teen Kitchen Project Nutrition Services Manager
Hi, I’m Kelly and I am the registered dietitian nutritionist at Teen Kitchen Project.
Here at TKP, we take our fresh fruits and vegetables seriously – but not too seriously! Summer is a time for fun here in Santa Cruz County and we are lucky to be in a region that is famous for some of the finest fresh fruits and vegetables in the world. So, let’s enjoy these delicious and healthful treats while they are at the peak of ripeness and beauty.
Berries grow happily on the Central Coast of California, with mild days and cool nights, that allow for a long harvest period. Around the stunning Monterey Bay, there is a long history of berry farming, and these farms can be found from Davenport in the north to Moss Landing and Salinas in the south.
In Santa Cruz, there was a Superior Court Judge named James Logan who built the famous Brookdale Lodge in our beautiful Santa Cruz Mountains. He was also an amateur botanist. In 1881 he crossed a raspberry with a blackberry and the loganberry was born. All these varieties are grown in our area, and every one of them is delicious and nutritious.
- Blackberry
- Raspberry
- Olallieberry: loganberry + youngberry
- Boysenberry: loganberry + raspberry + blackberry + dewberry
The strawberry is the undisputed queen of local berries. In California about 1.8 billion pounds of fresh strawberries are harvested each year. That’s an amazing 50,000 pounds per acre each season. Santa Cruz County growers are a big part of that enormous number, and they are proud of it. Don’t miss the 2024 Watsonville Strawberry Festival August 2-4!
Berries are full of antioxidants, such as anthocyanins and phytochemicals, phenols and flavonoids that can battle inflammation and have been shown to improve blood sugars in people with diabetes, by slowing down carbohydrate digestion and the absorption of glucose.
While good old fashioned strawberry shortcake is a classic way to enjoy this fruit, there are other options that don’t include quite so much saturated fat and sugar. Let’s try and eat our local berries by including them in healthier treats and desserts. Here is just one idea for a fun summer treat that is healthy and easy to make.
What could be more fun than a build-your-own yogurt parfait bar? This is an easy-to-assemble treat that can be enjoyed anytime. It doesn’t need to be cooked and can be put together in minutes. As a yummy breakfast or light dessert, everyone likes to customize their dish and take pride in their perfect creation. It’s even easy to set up at a picnic on the beach!
To maximize a beautiful presentation, get some clear cups or glasses. Then, simply lay out bowls with sliced strawberries, famous local olallieberries, blueberries, raspberries, or any ripe, juicy fresh summer fruit that is available. Include bowls with nonfat yogurt of your choice, toasted almonds or walnuts, or some bright green pistachios, maybe a bit of granola, or even some dark chocolate chips. Alternate layers of your favorite ingredients with layers of yogurt and you have a tasty treat that is packed with antioxidants and healthy fats.
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