NATIONAL FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLE MONTH

May 31, 2026May 11, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 12 Comments

Add color to your meals during National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month in June. As the peak season for many early garden crops find their way into markets, it’s an excellent time to take advantage of these freshly picked fruits and vegetables.

Find farmers market near you — Find a Farmers Market Near You

Berries and salad items come to mind first, but don’t hesitate to try exotic produce, too. As we head into a season where more variety is available, our family gets to enjoy the benefits of early summer’s bounty in vibrant color.

From zucchini and tomatoes, leafy greens, onions, and avocado, each provides added fiber, protein, and vital nutrients. Whether we eat them as a snack, on a salad or in smooth, it’s important to have five servings of fruit and vegetables per day.

Cucumber, Tomato Salad — Cucumber, Tomato Sald

Red, Blue, and Cheesecake Salad — Red, Blue and Cheesecake Salad

No-Fail Fresca Sangria — No – Fail Fresca Sangria

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HOW TO OBSERVE

Skip the canned and frozen aisle and check out the delicious fresh fruits and vegetables coming into the grocery, farmers markets, and even your garden every day in June. Maybe visit a pick-your-own-fruit-and-vegetable farm and bring home the fruits of your labor. Savor the goodness of these delicious foods and use #FreshFruitAndVegetableMonth to share on social media.

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NATIONAL WALNUT DAY

May 16, 2026May 6, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 5 Comments

May 17th recognizes a “nutty” holiday. Each year on this day, it is National Walnut Day.

Rounded, single-seeded stone fruits of the walnut tree, walnuts are a high-density source of nutrients, particularly proteins and essential fatty acids. Like other tree nuts, walnuts must be processed and stored properly.

Grown for their seeds, the Persian or English Walnut and the Black Walnut are the two most common major species of walnuts.

English Walnut
– originated in Persia
– commercially produced
Black Walnut
– native to eastern North America
– high flavor
– hard shell and poor hulling characteristics prevent its commercial growth for nut production.

The husk of the walnut, which is peeled away from the shell at harvest, and contain juice which will readily stain anything it comes in contact with. The husk juice has been used as a cloth dye.

The United States is the world’s largest exporter of walnuts.

Ninety-nine percent of the nation’s commercial English walnuts are produced in the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys of California.

150 Special Walnut Recipes: From The Walnut Cookbook To The Table#NationalWalnutDay — 150 Special Walnut Recipes: From The Walnut Cookbook To The Table

365 Creative Walnut Recipes: The Best Walnut Cookbook on Earth#NationalWalnutDay — 150 Special Walnut Recipes: From The Walnut Cookbook To The Table

HISTORY

Created to promote the consumption of walnuts, the first National Walnut Day was proclaimed in June 1949 by the Walnut Marketing Board.

On March 3, 1958, a Senate Resolution was introduced by William F. Knowland and signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on the first National Walnut Day, May 17, 1958.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Enjoy some walnuts today. Try them plain or in a favorite recipe. Great on salads,, and baking. We use Black Walnuts in Bourbon Balls every year. Use #NationalWalnutDay to post on social media.

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NATIONAL ASPARAGUS MONTH

April 30, 2026April 3, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 12 Comments

May is National Asparagus Month. These delicious spears of the lily family can be enjoyed from breakfast to a bedtime snack.

Fresh from the garden, the thin stalks taste like sweetpea but sautéd the vegetable enhances the flavor of meats, potatoes or other garden veggies.

Asparagus bakes and grills well, too. Added to a souffle, wrapped in bacon, or tossed into a salad, this vegetable is a powerhouse in the kitchen.

It’s also packed with potassium which helps to lower blood pressure and risk of stroke.

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HOW TO OBSERVE

Enjoy some delicious asparagus. It’s an excellent time to plant some, too. This perennial plant comes back year after year. Use #NationalAsparagusMonth to share on social media.

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National Mediterranean Diet Month

April 30, 2026April 24, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 9 Comments

When it comes to flavor and health in one package, National Mediterranean Diet Month in May has us covered. From fresh herbs and vegetables to succulent seafood and wine, this cuisine satisfies.

One way to get the best out of a Mediterranean diet is to indulge in the whole grains, fresh fruits, and vegetables along with the healthy oils our bodies need. Olive and canola oils are rich in good cholesterol. Add fish and chicken to the menu and limit red meat to only a couple times a month and we’re well on our way to enjoying a Mediterranean lifestyle. Finish it off with a glass of red wine occasionally and plenty of exercise.

Oldways founded National Mediterranean Diet Month in 2008.

We actually combine Keto, Mediterranean and Carb Counted to get a healthy diet of flavors, and a lot of the dishes can be altered to this style of eating. It keeps things so flavorful you probably won’t even realize you’re on a diet….

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HOW TO OBSERVE

Are you looking for a flavorful, easy to follow diet? The Mediterranean diet meets the guidelines for the food pyramid. Give it a try during May and you might find it a lifestyle changer. Use #MediterraneanDietMonth to share on social media.

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NATIONAL SPINACH DAY

March 25, 2026March 3, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 2 Comments

On March 26th each year, National Spinach Day reminds us of the health benefits packed into this leafy green vegetable. Not only are there so many delicious ways that you can enjoy spinach, but it is also incredibly good for you!

An annual plant, spinach grows natively in central and southwestern Asia. Thought to have originated in ancient Persia, Arab traders carried spinach into India and then later introduced into ancient China. There it was known as “Persian vegetable.” The earliest available record of the spinach plant was found in Chinese, saying that the spinach plant was introduced into China via Nepal.

Spinach Recipes (Superfoods Cookbook)#NationalSpinachDay — Spinach Recipes (Superfoods Cookbook)

365 Delicious Spinach Recipes: Unlocking Appetizing Recipes in The Best Spinach Cookbook#NationalSpinachDay — Spinach Recipes (Superfoods Cookbook)

During her reign as queen of France, Catherine de Medici enjoyed spinach so much, it was served at every meal. To this day, dishes made with spinach are known as “Florentine” reflecting Catherine’s birth in Florence.

Spinach is:

eaten raw or cooked and is available fresh, frozen or canned.
one of the best sources of iron.
an excellent source of calcium, folic acid, fiber, protein, calcium and vitamins A, C and K.
loaded with cancer-fighting antioxidants
believed to help improve cardiovascular and gastrointestinal health.

Types of spinach:

Savoy: dark green color with curly leaves; usually sold in fresh bunches.
Flat or Smooth Leaf: broad, smooth leaves; mostly grown for canned and frozen spinach as well as soups, baby food and processed foods.
Semi-savoy: a hybrid variety with crinkly leaves: is sold fresh and processed.

Following China, the United States produces the world’s second-largest crop of spinach.
California, Arizona, and New Jersey are the top spinach-producing states in the United States.

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalSpinachDay

Many of us enjoy spinach that celebrating is easy! Shake up your vegetable routine and mix up your greens. Experiment with some spinach.

Fresh spinach salad
Spinach pizza
Spinach dip
Cream spinach
Spinach lasagna
Add spinach to scrambled eggs

You can also plant some spinach in your spring garden. Not only will you reap the benefits of a lush green salad, but spinach doesn’t require much space.