Thanks to what seems like the hottest summer ever, it seems everyone is looking forward to this cooler weather and the bounty of produce that will be harvested in British Columbia this fall. The grocery store is filling with a variety of beautifully fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables. Walking through each aisle of the produce department, it’s so exciting to see local fare including many varieties of apples and pears, bright purple beets, huge heads of cauliflower, sweet corn, many colors of peppers and so much more.

Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables is essential to an overall healthy lifestyle, as these foods provide the body with the nutrients necessary for optimal health. All fruits and vegetables are a source of fibre, vitamins and minerals, and contain antioxidants.

During this transition in weather, why not enjoy the bounty of the season while preserving any ounce of warm weather there is left. Throw all this produce on the backyard grill to bring out the flavor with the char and caramelization of a flame. Slice cauliflower lengthwise into ‘steaks’, slice peppers into quarters, and remove the husks from corn. Simply drizzle or brush vegetables with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper, and your favorite herbs and spices. Place directly on the grill or on skewers. Cook, turning every few minutes until charred on all sides. The grilling possibilities also extend to fruits. Sprinkle apple or pear wedges with cinnamon and place directly on the grill. There really is no vegetable or fruit that cannot be grilled, get creative!

Grilling can help with batch cooking for packed lunches and dinners on busy weeknights. Add leftover grilled cauliflower florets to fresh greens and sprinkle with chopped walnuts or pumpkin seeds. Drizzle with balsamic vinaigrette for a side salad with dinner. Prepare an extra few cobs of corn, a pepper and some chicken breasts on the grill with supper to use in the Chicken Confetti Salad below. Stir in some quinoa or couscous prepared the night before and this is a complete meal that can be eaten cold right out of the lunchbox.

The whole meal doesn’t need to be prepared on the grill if there is not enough room for everything. Throw some bean burgers or pork chops on the grill and prepare an apple slaw in the meantime. Extra proteins can be re-vamped the next day for a tossed salad or warm skillet. My favourite apple varieties for a fresh slaw is a Gala or Pazazz, as they are crunchy and so sweet. Purple cabbage adds a bite, beautiful pop of color and is rich in antioxidants.

At Hakam’s Your Independent Grocer, when you see ‘Local’ on the shelf tag, which means the produce was grown within 150 kilometers of your local store. The short transportation time required to ship within this geographical region means that the produce is fresh and excellent quality when it reaches your fridge (and the grill) at home.

Chicken Confetti Salad

Ingredients:
1 lb (500 g) PC Blue Menu Air Chilled Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
2 tbsp (25 mL) chopped fresh coriander
1/4 tsp (1 mL) each salt & freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup (125 mL) PC Salsa Ranch Dressing
2 tbsp (25 mL) PC Splendido Cold-Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 sweet red pepper diced
1 large celery stalk diced
1 small red onion diced
2 cups (500 mL) PC Frozen Peaches & Cream Corn thawed
Instructions:
1. Preheat barbecue to medium-high.
2. Brush chicken breasts with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place on greased grill. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes per side or until cooked through. Meanwhile, in large bowl, toss together corn, red pepper, celery, onion, dressing and coriander.
3. Divide corn salad among four plates; top with chicken breasts.

Makes 4 servings
Per serving: 424 calories, fat 20 g, sodium 525 mg, carbohydrate 23 g, fibre 3.5 g, protein 38 g

Recipe source: pc.ca

Whitney is a Registered Dietitian with Hakam’s Your Independent Grocer. She is part of a network of more than 90 dietitians who provide services like one-on-one consultations, assisted shopping, school tours and recipe ideas at locations across the country. To book an appointment, please visit bookadietitian.ca.

With the arrival of Fall comes the excitement of a fresh routine and new activities, but it can also mean the stress of the impending flu season. This year, be mindful of including plenty of immune-boosting foods in your diet and learn which other lifestyle factors can help prevent the flu. These steps not only help us minimize our own odds of getting the flu, but in turn keep us from spreading it to others.

Let’s do what we can this year to make small lifestyle changes that will go a long way in helping us stay ahead of the flu:

1. Get your half plate of fruits and veggies. We know that eating plenty of fruits and vegetables is beneficial for so many different reasons, but did you know that the antioxidants in fruits and vegetables are very important for our immune system as well? Vitamin C is just one form of antioxidant in fruits and vegetables that has a protective effect. Aim to try new fruits and vegetables regularly to ensure you are getting a wide variety.

2. Don’t forget protein foods. Many common food sources of protein like fish, beef, oysters, eggs, beans and nuts and seeds are also rich in zinc. Both protein and zinc are important nutrients for our immune health. Aim to include a source of protein at each meal and snack.

3. Welcome probiotics. Did you know that probiotics in food can help us strengthen our immune system? Look for yogurt and kefir with added probiotics to make sure you have a strong population of friendly bacteria in your gut. We can also get probiotics from supplements. It is best to talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are considering taking a supplement.

4. Remember to rest. No foods act as a substitute for proper rest! This includes getting a good night’s sleep and making sure you are finding ways to manage your stress. Rest gives our body the chance to recuperate and fight off potential invaders.

5. Get your flu shot. Regardless of our food and lifestyle choices, getting the flu shot is something we should all be doing yearly. The more people who get the flu shot, the less likely it is to be widespread and affect the most vulnerable of people. The flu shot is available at Your Independent Grocer stores where there is an in-store pharmacy.

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Whitney is a registered dietitian with Hakam’s Your Independent Grocer. She is part of a network of more than 70 dietitians who provide services like one-on-one consultations, assisted shopping, school tours and recipe ideas at locations across the country. Email, call or text Whitney at [email protected] or (604) 347-6028 with your nutrition questions!