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Inside Cal Poly

Mark your calendars mustangs! April 22 is “Earth Day” and Cal Poly will be celebrating. For over 50 years Earth Day has taken place to recognize our planet’s beauty and the importance of protecting it. The holiday serves as a reminder to practice clean and sustainable living.



Sustainability is at the forefront of Cal Poly’s values and is held in the highest regard. The university is an&nbsp;<a href="https://afd.calpoly.edu/sustainability/">award-winning</a>&nbsp;leader in sustainable practices as each campus operation is centered around how to make best use of the available resources. All campus planning considers specific guidelines, principles and policies that work towards achieving different sustainability goals.



To kick off the celebration, Campus Dining will be putting on a special dining event with the theme, “<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/881957119320238">Reuse to Restore</a>” that includes a plant-based menu, sustainable cutlery and an earth-friendly dessert. Starting at 11 a.m. and going until 2 p.m. on April 22, campus community members can head down to the outdoor patio at the Vista Grande Dining Complex to check out vendors such as Vitco Produce, CP Farms and Restore Foodware. There will also be a superfood tasting table with trivia and prizes as well as waste sorting demonstrations to spread good, environmentally friendly habits. Not to mention you can pick up your own free giveaways and enter a raffle!



The&nbsp;<a href="https://afd.calpoly.edu/sustainability/student/green-campus">Cal Poly Green Campus Team</a>&nbsp;will also take part in Earth Day through a&nbsp;<a href="https://afd.calpoly.edu/sustainability/student/green-campus">virtual campaign</a>. This will include posting a cohesive list of the many ways everyone can participate in environmental activism each day of Earth Week. The Green Campus Team&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/cpgreencampus/">Facebook</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/cpgreencampus/?hl=en">Instagram</a>&nbsp;accounts will also promote the events that all sustainability clubs are putting on during Earth Week. The theme of this campaign is “Start where you are” to encourage students to practice environmentalism from wherever they are during the week. There will be yet another opportunity for students to be entered into a raffle if they participate in any environmental activism action items from the comprehensive list or attend a club event. The prizes are all donated by local, sustainable businesses!



Please come join us for some good food, trivia and fun prizes this Earth Day!

Sun setting behind mountain overlooking a city with scattered trees and buildings.

Earth Day Celebration at Cal Poly

Fall is quickly approaching. The Indian Summer that lingers over the Central Coast each September may incite some doubts to that fact, but worry not, fall is on its way. And to celebrate its arrival Campus Dining is featuring the food that everyone patiently awaits each autumn. Nope, not the pumpkin spiced flavoring that will soon adorn everything from lattes to lettuce, we speak of the humble apple.



These brightly appointed orbs of delicious sustenance are chock a block with dietary fiber and antioxidants. These two elements alone have been found in multiple studies to help lower cholesterol, which is good for your heart, and even prevents the growth of cancer cells.



Apples are naturally dense, and even though they contain less than 100 calories, and are free of fat, cholesterol and sodium, they help to fill you up. This lends itself to healthy weight loss, making them the perfect snack.



They are full of dietary fiber- 5 grams in one medium-size fruit and contain an antioxidant called Quercetin, which is believed to protect brain cells from damaging radicals.



Apples are also good for maintaining healthy skin. Packed with vitamin C and vitamin B, apples promote skin health by speeding up skin cell production and fighting acne and skin irritation. Granny Smith and Red Delicious are especially nutritious due to their high collagen and elastin levels. However, all apple varieties have nutrients to give you healthful, glowy skin.



We asked Executive Chef Rensford Abrigo for a couple quick and easy, dorm-friendly recipes and without hesitation he dropped these two recipes on us.



Baked Apples



Preheat oven to 375.



Start with six apples of your choosing and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWIQZ0m75To">core</a>&nbsp;them. (Rensford suggests Granny Smith or Golden Delicious)



Put those bad boys in an oven-safe dish, like a casserole dish and add ½ table spoon of melted butter to each core. Put the top of the apple back on.



Bake for 25–30 minutes



While the apples bake mix together 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and ½ tablespoon of cinnamon



Remove the apples when they are tender and sprinkle with the cinnamon/sugar mixture.



Share with friends and act like your grandma taught you to cook.



Chef tip: adjust brown sugar and cinnamon up to sweeten, down to lessen the sweetness.



Apple Turnover



Start with six apples, slice em or dice em. (Rensford suggests Granny Smith or Golden Delicious)



In a deep pan, melt ½ tablespoon of butter on the stovetop and add 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and ½ tablespoon of cinnamon



Add the apple pieces and cook on low heat, stirring occasionally, until soft and the entire floor has come out to investigate the delicious aroma.



Either eat warm right then and there or save and put on a bagel or waffle or sandwich.



Chef tip: To thicken mix 1 tablespoon of corn starch with one tablespoon of water and add to the apple/cinnamon while cooking.

Red apples, one sliced in half, with text promoting apples as this month's superfood at Cal Poly dining.

Good to the core

One of the most underrated superfoods has to be the humble tomato. Mixed into salsa, thrown into salad, or poured into pasta sauce, tomatoes tend to fly under the radar when used in different meals. However, this superfood holds incredible health properties you won’t want to miss out on.



While most people think of it as a vegetable, tomatoes are actually categorized as fruits. These fruits contain high levels of beta-carotene, an antioxidant that supports the immune system and helps maintain healthy skin and tissue lining. One medium-size tomato contains 50% of the recommended daily dose of vitamin C and no saturated fats!



The pigment that gives them their deep red color is called lycopene. This antioxidant attacks radicals which, if allowed to build up, can cause cell damage and trigger cancer. The amount of lycopene in a tomato varies according to the variety, but the deep red tomatoes are the best- they contain 50 mg of lycopene per kilogram. Cooking the tomatoes can help concentrate the lycopene.



Tomatoes also contribute to a healthy heart. The high vitamin C levels enable oxygen to be transported around the body and to the heart more efficiently. The highest concentration of vitamin C is found in the jelly-like coating around the seeds so shy away from scrapping them out when cooking.



Tomatoes are one of the easiest and most rewarding fruit to grow in your garden. However, if you’re like most people who grow tomatoes, you know the struggle of having waaayyyyyy too many tomatoes on your hands. Not to worry, here are 28 things to do with too many tomatoes:



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Red tomatoes scattered around the text "Healthy from my head tomatoes" and "August Superfood" on a white background.

Healthy from My Head Tomatoes

July’s superfood is just peachy. Stone fruits, such as cherries, nectarines, and peaches, get their name from their pit, or stone, found in the middle of the fruit. Whether you’re relaxing by the beach or running to work, this fruit has all the essential vitamins and minerals to have you feeling radiant. Packed with vitamin C and full of fiber, stone fruits provide key nutrients for a healthy mind and body.



Natural cherries, not to be confused with maraschino cherries, contain vitamin c, antioxidants, and melatonin. Because of their melatonin content, cherries are a natural way to help regulate sleep cycles and to ensure adults get their full seven to nine hours. After hitting the gym or climbing Bishop Peak, the antioxidants in cherries are great for healing over worked muscles. Eat them by the handful or toss them into a smoothie!



Nectarines, the less fuzzy cousins of peaches, may be one of the most refreshing fruits of the summer. High in beta-carotene, an antioxidant used by the body to produce vitamin A, nectarines are great for promoting skin, teeth, and bone health. Nectarines can be eaten sliced up as a snack or tossed into a salad.



Need some inspiration?&nbsp;<a href="https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/06/24/magazine/stone-fruit-recipes.html">Here&nbsp;</a>are a dozen different ways to serve a stone fruit. Many people don’t know that mangoes and green almonds, the younger non-processed version of almonds, are also considered stone fruit. Both fruits can add a sweet, tangy flavor to any smoothie.

Bowl of plums, peach half, bunch of cherries, with text "Healthy with a cherry on top, this month's superfood.

Healthy With a Cherry On Top

Coming in all shapes, sizes, colors and delicious flavors, berries are an obvious choice for this month’s superfood. These fruits can be found in an assortment of dishes, ranging from smoothies and salads, all the way to cakes and desserts. Whether it is blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, or several of the other berry food groups, you are choosing not only delicious food, but a very healthy one at that.



Raspberries are among the healthiest options! Although they are used to decorate certain cakes and desserts, they can also serve as an incredible source of vitamins. They contain vitamins C and K, as well as manganese and antioxidant polyphenols known as ellagitannins which help to reduce stress. Black raspberries also serve to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol, improving heart health and diminishing the chance of heart failure.



Strawberries are one of the most commonly consumed berries on the planet! They are nutrient rich, and can provide more vitamin C in one single berry than any other on the planet. These sweet and delightful fruits can not only lower your chances of heart disease, but they also vastly improve your blood sugar levels, helping to fight diabetes. In fact, studies have shown that people who consistently eat strawberries have a lower chance of obtaining type two diabetes by over 18%.



Arguably the most healthy and beneficial berry on earth, is the blueberry. To go along with their delicious tartness, these fruits contain vitamins C and K, fiber, manganese, antioxidant polyphenols and many other forms of healthy nutrients. They help to fight diabetes and heart disease like many other berries; what makes them unique, is their ability to slow down cognitive decline. This means that as you age, your brain health does not diminish. Consume more blueberries and stay sharp!



Berries are an extremely versatile food group, and can be implemented in different types of plates. Berry pie, blueberry pancakes, berry muffins, are mouthwatering options that may sound unhealthy, but are greatly improved by the ingredients contained within the fruit. Put some berries on top of your morning yogurt, or blend up some berries and make a smoothie. Acai berries are very often used in the creation of acai-bowls, topped with bananas, nuts, blueberries and raspberries. There is also an assortment of savory dishes that involve berries as well. Adding cranberries to a chicken salad filled with almonds, celery, and red onions is a great way to spice up your sandwich. Mix up some bacon, chicken, and strawberries with spinach and dressing to create an amazing salad like none other. Many chefs believe that salmon tastes better with a little sugar, and blackberry jam mixed with white wine creates an excellent glaze for this mouth-watering dish.



Get your day started right by getting the vitamins and nutrients you need, and add some delicious berries to your diet today!



Fun Facts:



A strawberry plant can reproduce berries in just two days!



Ever seen the small hairs on the outside of a berry? Those are known as ‘styles’, and are meant to protect the skin of the berry.



On earth, there are over 200 different types of raspberries!



Strawberries include natural salicylates, which are an active ingredient in aspirin. These berries can cure headaches!

Berry Healthful, this month's superfood with a white bowl filled with strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries.

Healthy and Sweet. The Berry Best

Fall is quickly approaching. The Indian Summer that lingers over the Central Coast each September may incite some doubts to that fact, but worry not, fall is on its way. And to celebrate its arrival Campus Dining is featuring the food that everyone patiently awaits each autumn. Nope, not the pumpkin spiced flavoring that will soon adorn everything from lattes to lettuce, we speak of the humble apple.



These brightly appointed orbs of delicious sustenance are chock a block with dietary fiber and antioxidants. These two elements alone have been found in multiple studies to help lower cholesterol, which is good for your heart, and even prevents the growth of cancer cells.



Apples are naturally dense, and even though they contain less than 100 calories, and are free of fat, cholesterol and sodium, they help to fill you up. This lends itself to healthy weight loss, making them the perfect snack.



They are full of dietary fiber- 5 grams in one medium-size fruit and contain an antioxidant called Quercetin, which is believed to protect brain cells from damaging radicals.



Apples are also good for maintaining healthy skin. Packed with vitamin C and vitamin B, apples promote skin health by speeding up skin cell production and fighting acne and skin irritation. Granny Smith and Red Delicious are especially nutritious due to their high collagen and elastin levels. However, all apple varieties have nutrients to give you healthful, glowy skin.



We asked Executive Chef Rensford Abrigo for a couple quick and easy, dorm-friendly recipes and without hesitation he dropped these two recipes on us.



Baked Apples



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Preheat oven to 375.</li>



<li>Start with six apples of your choosing and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWIQZ0m75To">core</a> them. (Rensford suggests Granny Smith or Golden Delicious)</li>



<li>Put those bad boys in an oven-safe dish, like a casserole dish and add ½ table spoon of melted butter to each core. Put the top of the apple back on.</li>



<li>Bake for 25–30 minutes</li>



<li>While the apples bake mix together 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and ½ tablespoon of cinnamon</li>



<li>Remove the apples when they are tender and sprinkle with the cinnamon/sugar mixture.</li>
</ol>



Share with friends and act like your grandma taught you to cook.



Chef tip: adjust brown sugar and cinnamon up to sweeten, down to lessen the sweetness.



Apple Turnover



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Start with six apples, slice em or dice em. (Rensford suggests Granny Smith or Golden Delicious)</li>



<li>In a deep pan, melt ½ tablespoon of butter on the stovetop and add 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and ½ tablespoon of cinnamon</li>



<li>Add the apple pieces and cook on low heat, stirring occasionally, until soft and the entire floor has come out to investigate the delicious aroma.</li>
</ol>



Either eat warm right then and there or save and put on a bagel or waffle or sandwich.



Chef tip: To thicken mix 1 tablespoon of corn starch with one tablespoon of water and add to the apple/cinnamon while cooking.

Three red apples, one cut in half, with text "Good for you to the core. This month's superfood: Find apples at salad bars across campus.

Good for you to the core

Kale chips, arugula salad, sautéed spinach: leafy greens that have risen in popularity and reached star status as restaurant favorites, home-made smoothie regulars, and obligatory #healthyhabits posts on your Instagram feed.



Leafy greens are in. And no wonder they’re a SuperFood. These greens support our health conscious culture and serve as some of the very best foods to fuel your body with.



Take classic romaine lettuce: a common leafy green for salads, recognized by its light green color and crunchy bite. Romaine is loaded with folic acid, a form of vitamin B, along with potassium and vitamin C. Vitamin B has been found to correlate with increased male fertility and better moods. Vitamin C helps regulate blood pressure in women.



Another leafy green, prominent in a variety of dishes including salads, pastas and quiches, is spinach. This green is a bit darker in color and has high levels of potassium which regulates blood pressure and muscle functioning.



Other greens include arugula- peppery and full of calcium, kale- bitter and loaded with the powerful antioxidant lutein, and swiss chard- the one with those colored veins, contains the most vitamin K of all greens.



Don’t like salad? Check out&nbsp;<a href="http://www.cookinglight.com/food/in-season/leafy-greens-recipes#berry-beet-green-smoothie2">these</a>&nbsp;suggestions for incorporating leafy greens into your diet!



Tired of the same ole greens? Try these&nbsp;<a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/leafy-green-vegetables">13 healthy leafy green vegetables</a>&nbsp;to change up your meals!



Fun Facts:



You can get an entire serving of fruits and vegetables in just a half cup of spinach!



In general, the darker the leafy green color, the more fiber, vitamins and minerals.



Kale contains a plant nutrient known as sulforaphane, which has been found to aid in cancer prevention.

Leafy greens like kale and Swiss chard with text: "Lettuce Celebrate Leafy Greens! April Superfood" on white background.

Lettuce Talk

Add a little kick to your diet as we zoom through the shortest month of the year. Peppers are the inspiration for Campus Dining’s creative menu. These feisty fruits come in all colors, heat levels, shapes and sizes.



Aside from the fact that snacking on chili peppers may leave you in tears and reaching for more water (which never hurts!) these spicy fruits are full of fiber, vitamins and potassium. Made of nearly 90 percent water and low in calories and fat; chili peppers add flavor and nutritious value to soups, meat, stir-fries, sandwiches, and practically anything else. True to the notion “ the smaller the hotter”, peppers generally increase in heat the smaller they are in size, so watch out for those little ones when choosing which to sample.



Fortunately, peppers don’t need to be limited to only spice-lovers. One mild chili pepper, the poblano, are the base of the popular Mexican dish, chile relleno, where they are roasted, filled with cheese, and fried … talk about a loaded pepper!



Snack tip: soak up some vitamin C and add a&nbsp;<a href="https://kalynskitchen.com/southwestern-ranch-dip-for-bell-pepper/">healthy chip to your dip</a>&nbsp;with bell peppers.



These festive fruits are great for your body with their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits. Bell peppers are great for adding a crunch to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/tri-pepper-salad">salads</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/mixed-pepper-pasta">pasta</a>, and are a perfect snack for your&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eazypeazymealz.com/buffalo-chicken-stuffed-mini-bell-peppers/">Super Bowl festivities</a>.



A single red bell pepper contains twice as much vitamin C as one orange!



Research shows that while baking or boiling fruits and veggies can reduce their amount of vitamin C by 34 percent, microwaving can help retain up to 90 percent.



Some evidence points towards chili peppers being an aid in weight loss!

Assorted red, green, and yellow chiles with text: "chillin' with Chiles, February Superfood, Cal Poly Campus Dining.

Chillin’ With Chiles

Famously known for it’s canned jelly form, cranberries make a delicious addition to your diet as well as your Thanksgiving meal. This super-fruit is packed with nutrients, ranging from vitamin C and fiber to powerful antioxidants, outranking nearly every fruit and vegetable — including strawberries, spinach, broccoli, red grapes, apples, raspberries, and cherries.



Cranberry phytochemicals, found in antioxidants, protect your DNA from high oxidative stress and free radical damage. The rich, red color of the berry is what alerts us to the presence of the powerful antioxidants that repair and support your DNA. Similarly, cranberries are also a source of picatechins, quercitin and ursolic acid, all of which are potent cancer fighting agents.



Compared to cranberry cocktail juice or jellied sauce, frozen, dried, or freshly juiced cranberries tend to be less sugary and a more health conscious way to incorporate the fruit into your diet. Fresher’s always better! After purchasing the fruit, cranberries can be stored in a tightly-sealed plastic bag in the refrigerator and will last up to two months. Also known as bounce berries, a good, ripe cranberry will bounce when put to the test. These small air pockets in the berry also cause them to float in water, where the majority of them are grown. While storing them, make sure to remove any soft cranberries, for if one begins to soften and decay so will the others. Here are a few ideas to add these antioxidant powerhouses to your diet:



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Add dried cranberries to your cereal, salads, grains, yoghurt, applesauce, hot tea, and even chicken or meat dishes</li>



<li>Sneak cranberries into muffins or other baked goods for additional color and flavor</li>



<li>Drink 100% fruit juice that includes cranberries</li>
</ol>



Want more? Here are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/articles/50-things-to-make-with-cranberries">50 things to make from cranberries</a>. From chutneys to salads, there’s something for everyone.



To get into the holiday spirit, here’s a recipe for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/christmas-cranberries/">Christmas Cranberries</a>&nbsp;that will be sure to be a family favorite!

Red cranberries scattered on a white background with text "Yes, you cranberry! December Superfood.

Tag: Superfood