Healthy eating recipes that use the best produce of Texas

The variety of fresh fruits and vegetables in Texas makes for healthy and flavorful meals

Texas has a long list of local produce, whether seasonal or year round. Make the most of the best of the Lone Star State’s fruits and vegetables. Use them in the following healthy and flavorful dishes:

Grilled chicken and nectarine salad
Dig into this fresh and zesty dish. Sweet nectarines boost your immune system while lettuce gives you vitamins A, C, and E. Sweet nectarines are in season from June to September while lettuce is available in Texas all year round. Grill a boneless chicken breast and toss it into a bowl of lettuce along with other salad greens, goat cheese, pecans, and sweet nectarines.

Corn chowder
Turn corn into this hearty and healthy meal. Corn has minimal calories, not too much sugar, and loads of fiber. Corn is also a seasonal produce in Texas, harvested from late May to August. Stir in fresh, frozen, or canned corn, skim milk, carrots, olive oil, flour, and garlic cloves in a pot to make this hearty, comforting dish.

Shrimp and okra hush puppies
Put a spin on your standard hush puppies by adding chopped okra. Okra is loaded with minerals and vitamins such as vitamin B, calcium, folic acid, and potassium. In Texas, okra is available in the late summer and early fall. Use a self-rising yellow cornmeal mix, self-rising flour, shrimp, chopped okra, eggs, and canola oil and deep fry.

Creamy garlic mashed cauliflower
Change up your mashed potatoes and use cauliflower instead. It’s also a healthier alternative than the starchy potatoes. Known for being one of the healthiest foods, cauliflower improves your digestion, balances your hormones, and fights inflammation. Cauliflower is a seasonal produce in Texas, available from October to May. In a food processor, add the cauliflower, garlic cloves, kosher salt, olive oil, and parmesan cheese.

Baked zucchini fries
Step away from fatty fries and turn to this healthier alternative. Zucchini is available in Texas from May to October. It is also is high in vitamin B, vitamin C, and potassium. To make baked zucchini fries, combine sliced zucchini rounds, bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, and eggs, and bake in the oven.

Sweet potato dip
Even your get-togethers can have a healthy twist to them. Instead of the usual dips, serve one made of sweet potatoes. They’re a good source of fiber, potassium, and vitamin C. Sweet potatoes are also available all year round in Texas, which lets you make this dip whether it’s Thanksgiving or the 4th of July. Puree sweet potato, butter, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, and chili powder and serve with crackers or pita bread.

Creamy pumpkin pasta
Pumpkin makes a surprisingly delicious sauce for pasta dishes. Pumpkins are good for the heart, with loads of potassium, fiber, and vitamin C. Pumpkins are also available in Texas throughout October until springtime. In a large pot, add pumpkin puree, garlic, onions, parsley, and stir until cooked. Turn off heat and toss in cooked linguini pasta.

Blueberry beet smoothies
Start your day right with a healthy blueberry beet smoothie. Blueberries are high in fiber and beets are high in potassium and vitamin C. Blueberries are in season from May to July while beets are available from November through February. However, you can get packaged beets or frozen blueberries from grocery stores. To make blueberry beet smoothies, add blueberries, beets, bananas, and milk in a blender and blend until smooth.

The variety of fresh fruits and vegetables in Texas are as bountiful as the great state itself. Buy your produce in season to get the most of their flavorful goodness and turn them into healthy, mouthwatering meals.

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