In honor of March being National Nutrition Month, we wanted to share with you a blog and recipe written by the Nutrition Manager in our Sacramento residential home! 

March is National Nutrition Month! This year’s theme, “Celebrate a World of Flavors,” invites us to embrace the foods and flavors of our heritage and other world cultures around us.

The food we eat impacts a whole lot more than just our physical health and appearance. It provides fuel and energy to our bodies and minds. It is possible to make healthy food choices and still honor our cultural roots and taste preferences. So, let’s celebrate our diversity by personalizing our plates with foods that bring us satisfaction! 

Here are a few tips you can try implementing when creating a fun, multicultural, and nutritional meal at home: 

  • Eat a variety of nutritious foods from all food groups (fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, and protein). Think about different colors and textures. 
  • Try new flavors and foods from around the world. Perhaps your favorite cuisine when meal planning, choosing foods that highlight your cultural traditions, or even an old family recipe. 
  • Have themed dinners once a week. Try incorporating cultural food items or ethnic ingredients into your meal plan. If a full dinner menu seems intimidating, start with a side dish. 
  • Be curious! Do not be afraid to try something different, and most important: have fun with it! Food is meant to be enjoyed and celebrated! It does not have to be boring or repetitious. Experimenting with flavors, colors, and textures can offer a unique spin on nutritious meals. 

One of my family’s favorite meals is pineapple fried rice. It’s a mix of Asian and tropical flavors that can be prepared in just under 30 minutes by using leftover rice and some frozen vegetables. This recipe pairs great with chicken, fish, shrimp, and BBQ.  

Pineapple Fried Rice

Prep time: 15minutes Cook time: 10 minutes
Serves: 4 – 6 

Ingredients:

2 tbsp vegetable oil 

2 eggs, lightly beaten 

2 garlic cloves, finely minced 

1/2 onion, finely chopped 

1/2 bell peppers, diced  

1/2 cup peas, frozen 

3 cups leftover jasmine (or regular) rice, cooked 

1 1/2 cups pineapple pieces, fresh or canned drained 

1/2 cup green onion, chopped  

 

Sauce:

1 1/2 tbsp soy sauce 

1 tbsp Thai Seasoning 

 

Instructions: 

Heat oil in a wok or large nonstick skillet over high heat. 

Add garlic and onion, cook for 1 minute. 

Add bell peppers, cook for 1 minute. 

Add frozen peas, stir for 30 seconds. 

Add rice and sauce ingredients. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. 

Spread rice and vegetables towards the edge of the pan, making a circle in the middle and add eggs. Using a spatula, scramble the eggs. Once cooked, mix it all together. 

Add pineapple and stir 

Stir green onions and serve! 

Mercy Multiplied exists to provide opportunities for all to experience God’s unconditional love, forgiveness, and life-transforming power. We offer multiple programs and resources online and onsite designed to equip people to live free and stay free in Christ. For more information about the services we offer, click here.

Want more resources? Listen to our MercyTalk Podcast episode, “How one Church is Leaning Into the Mental Health Crisis with Rachael Schmidt and Tyler Kurbat”.  For daily inspiration, follow us @MercyMultiplied on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!