Indulge in a refreshing and hydrating Spinach Cucumber Smoothie that combines the crispness of cucumbers with the nutritional benefits of spinach. This vibrant green smoothie is perfect for a quick breakfast or a revitalizing snack, offering a delightful balance of flavors and health benefits.
Enhance your smoothie with Village Farms’ Luscious Seedless Long English® cucumbers. Known for their thin skin and seedless nature, these cucumbers provide a mild, crisp flavor that blends seamlessly into smoothies. Grown sustainably in Village Farms’ greenhouses, they ensure consistent quality and freshness year-round.
Blend the Base: In a high-speed blender, combine the baby spinach, chopped cucumber, frozen banana slices, and hemp seeds.
Add Liquid and Flavor: Pour in the coconut water or plant-based milk, followed by the freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice.
Sweeten (Optional): Add pure maple syrup or honey if additional sweetness is desired.
Blend Until Smooth: Start blending on a low setting, gradually increasing to high, until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
Adjust Consistency: If the smoothie is too thick, add more liquid in small increments until the desired consistency is reached.
Serve Immediately: Pour into glasses and enjoy promptly to take advantage of its fresh flavors and nutritional benefits.
Enjoy Your Smoothie
Savor this Spinach Cucumber Smoothie as a revitalizing start to your day or a midday energy boost. Pair it with a handful of nuts or a light salad featuring Village Farms’ Heavenly Villagio Marzano® tomatoes for a complete, healthful meal.
Holidays are special occasions filled with family, gratitude, and delicious food. They’re also great opportunities to introduce young children to cooking, helping them learn about healthy eating while having fun. Getting kids involved in meal preparation not only makes them feel included but also sets the foundation for healthy eating habits that can last a lifetime.
When family and friends come together, what better way to involve the little ones than by letting them help prepare the meal? Not only does this teach them valuable kitchen skills, but it also instills a sense of responsibility and creativity in cooking. Plus, making healthy food choices is crucial for young children, as it supports their growth, development, and energy levels. When kids have fun in the kitchen, they’re more likely to enjoy and appreciate the healthy foods they help create.
Involving kids in cooking helps them see where their food comes from and understand the importance of healthy choices. Fresh vegetables like tomatoes, bell peppers, and cucumbers are packed with essential vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants that support growth, immunity, and brain development. When kids participate in cooking, they’re more likely to try new foods, eat healthier, and enjoy the meal they helped prepare.
Below are three simple recipes that kids will love to help with, each featuring one of these nutritious vegetables: tomatoes, bell peppers, or cucumbers. These dishes are both healthy and fun for kids to make—perfect for any holiday gathering or family celebration!
Stuffed Bell Pepper Boats
These colorful bell pepper boats are easy to make, nutritious, and perfect for little hands! They’re filled with a delicious mix of veggies, cheese, and light seasoning – a fun appetizer or side dish for Thanksgiving.
Ingredients:
2 Village Farms’ Sweet Bells® bell peppers, halved and seeds removed
Help kids wash the bell peppers and tomatoes. Then, let them scoop out the seeds from the bell peppers.
In a bowl, mix the diced tomatoes, cucumber, cheese, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Spoon the mixture into the bell pepper halves, filling each one.
Place the stuffed bell peppers on a baking sheet and bake for 10–12 minutes until the cheese is melted.
Let the kids garnish each boat with a sprinkle of basil or parsley!
Cucumber and Tomato “Gobble” Skewers
These fun, turkey-inspired veggie skewers are perfect as a snack or appetizer. Kids can get creative with building their turkey skewers and learning about colors, textures, and shapes along the way!
Set up an assembly line of cucumber rounds, tomatoes, and bell pepper squares.
Show the kids how to create “turkey feathers” by threading a tomato, cucumber slice, and piece of bell pepper onto a toothpick or skewer.
Arrange the skewers in a fan shape to resemble turkey feathers on a plate.
Place a small bowl of hummus or ranch in the center as a “turkey body” for dipping.
Let kids assemble their own “gobble” skewers and dip away!
Tomato and Mozzarella Thanksgiving Bites
These delicious, bite-sized treats are as tasty as they are festive. Made with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, and a hint of basil, they’re an easy-to-make snack that brings bright colors to your Thanksgiving table.
12 mini mozzarella balls (or cubes of mozzarella cheese)
Fresh basil leaves
Balsamic glaze for drizzling (optional)
Toothpicks
Instructions:
Help kids wash the tomatoes.
Let them place one tomato, one mozzarella ball, and one basil leaf on each toothpick.
Arrange the bites on a platter and, if desired, drizzle lightly with balsamic glaze.
Enjoy these little bites as a snack or appetizer!
Why Healthy Eating Matters for Young Children
Introducing kids to fresh, healthy ingredients like tomatoes, cucumbers, and bell peppers supports their physical growth, boosts their immune system, and helps them develop lifelong healthy eating habits. These vegetables are loaded with vitamins like A, C, and K, as well as essential minerals that support brain development and keep their energy up.
Thanksgiving is the perfect time to teach kids the value of sharing, helping, and making healthy choices – all in a way that’s both educational and fun. With these recipes, your children will feel proud of their contributions to the meal, while learning the joy of healthy eating.
Why Healthy Eating is Important for Kids
Eating healthy is crucial for children as it provides the necessary nutrients for their growing bodies. A balanced diet helps to enhance their cognitive function, maintain energy levels, and support a robust immune system. Introducing children to a variety of vegetables at a young age encourages healthy eating habits that can last a lifetime.
Making Cooking Fun
Involving kids in meal preparation can make the experience enjoyable and educational. Let them wash vegetables, mix ingredients, and even choose how to present the food. This hands-on approach not only teaches them about healthy eating but also fosters a love for cooking that can lead to lifelong culinary skills.
Encourage your children to take part in Thanksgiving preparations this year, and you might just create some delicious family memories along with healthy dishes!
After a long day at school, kids often come home hungry and in need of a tasty, nutritious snack. Incorporating fresh, greenhouse-grown produce can turn simple snacks into delicious and healthy treats. Most Kids have full schedules and need quick nutritional fuel for after school activities. Village Farms’ tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers are perfect for this task. Their crisp, sweet flavors are sure to please even the pickiest eaters. Here are four easy-to-make recipes that kids will love, and you’ll appreciate their simplicity and nutritional value. And all have an average prep time of 15 minutes or less!
Satisfying Tomato and Cucumber Sandwich – serving size 1
Nothing says Summer like a Fresh tomato and cucumber sandwich. But just because summer is coming to an end does not mean you can’t enjoy the Garden Fresh Flavor® all year long. With Village Farms greenhouse grown varieties you have summer on a plate all year long. This easy to prepare sandwich is a great snack packed with nutrients such as Vitamin A & C, plus Calcium, Iron, Potassium, and Protein.
Ingredients:
1 Village Farms® greenhouse-grown Luscious Seedless® Long English cucumber
1 Village Farms® greenhouse-grown tomato try Delectable TOV®, Juicy Beefsteak®, Sensational Sara®, Exquisite Heirloom® or Sinfully Sweet Campari® tomatoes. Each of these varieties are excellent slicers for sandwiches.
2 slices whole grain bread
2 tablespoons hummus
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
Prepare the Veggies: Wash the cucumber and tomato. Slice the cucumber into thin rounds (about 8 slices) and the whole tomato into slightly thicker slices.
Assemble the Sandwich: Spread a thin layer of hummus on each slice of bread. If using, sprinkle fresh dill over the hummus.
Layer the Veggies: Place cucumber slices on one of the bread slices and tomato slices on the other one. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
Combine and Serve: Top each slices veggie sides down to make one sandwich. Cut into quarters or fun shapes with cookie cutters for added appeal.
Healthy Stuffed Bell Pepper – serving size 2
This Healthy Stuffed Bell Pepper recipe is perfect for quick and nutritious after-school snacking for kids. The colorful Village Farms® Sweet Bell® peppers are not only visually appealing but also packed with vitamins and fiber. Stuffing them with protein-rich cottage cheese provides a satisfying and healthy bite, while a sprinkle of fresh parsley and optional grated cheese adds a burst of flavor that kids will love. Easy to prepare and ready to chill in the refrigerator, this snack offers a fun, delicious, and wholesome option that fits seamlessly into busy afternoons.
Ingredients:
1 Village Farms® greenhouse-grown Sweet Bell® peppers (red, yellow, or orange)
1 cup Cottage Cheese
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon grated cheese cheddar or parmesan (optional)
Instructions:
Prepare the Pepper: Wash the Sweet Bell pepper and slice them in half lengthwise, removing the seeds and membranes.
Stuff the Pepper: Spoon cottage into each pepper half. For added flavor, sprinkle with chopped parsley and grated cheese if desired.
Chill and Serve: Arrange the stuffed pepper half on a platter and chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Fun Tomato and Cucumber Skewers – serving size 1
These Mini Veggie Skewers are the ultimate after-school snack, combining fun and nutrition in every bite. Picture crisp Village Farms® Scrumptious Mini® cucumbers and burstingly, (yes, burstingly!), sweet cherry tomatoes, all threaded onto skewers and drizzled with a zesty olive oil-balsamic glaze. The addition of creamy mozzarella or burrata cheese balls takes these skewers from simple to sensational. They’re not just a treat for the taste buds but also a visual delight, perfect for keeping kids engaged and excited about healthy eating. Whether served cold or grilled for a warm option, these skewers make snacking both easy and irresistible.
Ingredients:
3 Village Farms® greenhouse-grown Scrumptious Mini® cucumbers
1 cup (about 10 tomatoes) Village Farms® greenhouse-grown Heavenly Villagio Marzano®, Cherry no. 9® or Lip Smackn’ Grape® tomatoes
1/4 cup mozzarella or burrata cheese balls
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste
2 Wooden skewers (soaked in water to prevent burning)
Instructions:
Prepare the Veggies: Wash the cucumber and tomatoes. Slice the cucumber into bite-sized rounds.
Assemble the Skewers: Thread cucumber slices and cherry tomatoes onto the skewers, alternating between the two.
Dress the Skewers: In a small bowl, mix olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Brush or drizzle the mixture over the skewers. Season with salt and pepper.
Serve: Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese just before serving. These skewers can be served as is or lightly grilled for a warm option.
Zesty Pepper and Tomato Salsa with Tortilla Chips – serving size 1
This vibrant and zesty Fresh Veggie Salsa is an exciting after-school snack that kids will love. Featuring Village Farms® Sweet Bell® peppers and juicy Sensational Sara® or Sinfully Sweet Campari® tomatoes, this salsa bursts with flavor and freshness. The crisp bell pepper and tangy red onion add crunch, while a splash of lime juice and a sprinkle of fresh cilantro bring it all together with a delightful kick. Served with tortilla chips for dipping, this salsa not only satisfies snack cravings but also introduces kids to a tasty way to enjoy their veggies. It’s a fun, colorful, and healthy option that makes after-school snacking both enjoyable and nutritious.
Ingredients:
1 Village Farms® greenhouse-grown Sweet Bell® bell pepper (red, yellow, or orange)
3 or 4 Village Farms® greenhouse-grown tomato Sensational Sara®(use 3) or Sinfully Sweet Campari® (use 4) tomatoes
1/2 red onion
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
Salt and pepper to taste
Tortilla chips for dipping
Instructions:
Prepare the Veggies: Wash and dice the bell pepper and tomato. Peel and finely chop the red onion.
Mix the Salsa: In a bowl, combine the diced bell pepper, tomato, and red onion. Add lime juice and chopped cilantro. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Serve: Serve the salsa with tortilla chips on the side. This refreshing salsa is perfect for dipping and can also be used as a topping for other dishes.
Creative and Healthy Eating Possibilities Abound!
With Village Farms’ greenhouse-grown tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers, these after-school snacks are not only delicious but also packed with vitamins and minerals. These recipes are designed to be simple enough for kids to help prepare, making snack time both fun and nutritious. Enjoy these fresh and easy snacks that will keep your kids satisfied and happy after a busy day!
Start off by prepping all of your produce: slice peppers, carrot and cucumbers into thin strips, cut cabbage into small shreds, etc. Set aside.
Assemble your rolls: fill a shallow dish with warm water and dip rice paper into dish, spinning and allowing paper to get completely wet but not for too long (this will cause wraps to get too soft; you want it to be mold-able but still slightly stiff). Remove wrapper from water and set down on counter you are using.
Now, lay your filling ingredients in the middle of your wrapper (in a line going up and down) and then fold the sides of the wrapper over the filling and roll it up!
Repeat until all filling and wrappers are used.
For sauce: simply combine all of the sauce ingredients together in a small mixing bowl. If the consistency is too thick, add in a little more sesame oil and stir up.
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Recipe and photography created exclusively for Village Farms by Lunches + Littles Read- Back to School Made Easy
Transfer to a food processor or blender and purée while pouring in the remaining olive oil.
Once the mixture is smooth, add garlic, chickpeas, and sesame seeds, and continue to purée.
Add salt, pepper, cumin, parsley, lemon juice, and zest, and purée once more briefly—just enough to rough chop the parsley and combine the final seasonings.
