As the days get longer and warmer, it’s the perfect time of year to host fun and delicious gatherings with friends and family. I have nutritious recipes and hosting essentials to help you make the most of this sunny season! First start your spread off with a kick of heat with my honey jalapeño hummus poppers.
First start your spread off with a kick of heat with honey jalapeño poppers. These are made with Fresh Cravings Honey Jalapeno Hummus! Fresh Cravings line of hummus is so creamy and delicious and is made with a short list of high quality whole food ingredients including Chilean Extra Virgin Olive Oil chickpeas and savory tahini. It comes in a range of flavors at Walmart including Classic, Roasted Red Pepper, Roasted Garlic and Everything Bagel. To make these honey jalapeno poppers, combine 1 hummus, with ½ cup of shredded chddar, ¼ cup f bacon bit and ¼ cup of chopped chives, spoon into jalapeno halves and bake for 15 min at 400 F.
Next, serve up a protein-packed entree featuring nutrient-dense lean pork. These Korean Pork Lettuce Wraps perfectly highlight the hundreds of unique flavors of pork paired with a savory sweet marinade and pack 29 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber per serving. A recent sensory study showed that pork muscle has more than 110 unique flavor nuances. There are 8 cuts of pork that meet the FDA’s guidelines for lean with 3 being American Heart Association certified including: pork tenderloin, sirloin pork chop and sirloin pork roast. In fact, pork tenderloin is as lean as a skinless chicken breast. This recipe can be made on the grill or in the air fryer which the sensory study actually found led to the most juicy and sweet flavor notes. Start by marinating the pork tenderloin slices with soy sauce and gochujang before air frying at 400 F to an internal temperature of 145 F and serve out of butter lettuce cups with brown rice, cucumber, carrot, sesame seeds and scallions. Pork is a carrier food which means that when pork is on your plate, it helps you and your family add more nutrients (like choline, iron and potassium) by bringing along under-consumed food groups (like vegetables, beans and whole grains) to your eating pattern
It’s not summer without berries! For dessert, serve this super easy gluten-free blueberry crisp. made with betterful blueberries, a Regenerative Organic Certified® blueberry that is pioneering a regenerative approach to growing blueberries that are tastier for us and healthier for the planet. Regenerative agriculture means they embrace responsible and sustainable farming practices to grow better blueberries. Their regenerative practices focus on rebuilding working landscapes, restoring natural resources, and revitalizing rural communities. Make the crisp topping by combining ½ cup gluten free oats, ½ cup blanched almond flour , ½ cup walnuts , 2 tbsp maple syrup and 2 tbsp of oil. Combine the blueberries with maple syrup and lemon juice in a square baking dish, top with the crisp mixture and bake for 30 min at 350 F.
Another key to successful hosting is having delicious and nutritious options readily available for your guests. I recommend Chobani Zero Sugar because this creamy Greek yogurt is a great source of protein, made with only natural ingredients and is naturally 0 sugar, 60 calories and lactose-free. It’s available in 5.3 oz single serve 4-packs, 32 oz. multi serve and 7 oz drinks. Another delicious option to have stocked in your fridge is the La Colombe ready to drink Draft Lattes where One-of-a-kind frothy texture meets real cold brew coffee with the flavor of a classic cafe latte. It’s made with high-quality ingredients, like farm fresh milk, beans roasted and brewed by La Colombe, and only a touch of sugar. It features more froth, 50% less sugar than the typical flavored ready to drink coffee beverages and the same great coffeehouse quality.
And for the healthy hostess this summer, Compost Genie is a stylish and functional kitchen essential that puts a fresh spin on sustainable habits. Compost Genie® comes from the makers of Diaper Genie and is Low-maintenance and ideal for first-time composters. It’s stainless steel, easy to clean, equipped with washable parts and superior odor control with an innovative ventilation system and enclosed carbon filter.
