042017 SWB DIGITAL EDITION

Earth Day is April 22, so why not
take time to celebrate Mother Nature
by trying some fun, new recipes? From
green smoothies to tempting yet healthy
You can celebrate Earth Day at the
12th annual Central Florida Earth
Day. The event will be held on the
east side of downtown Orlando’s
Lake Eola Park, located at 512 E.
Washington St., on April 22 from
10 a.m.-6 p.m. The free family- and
dog-friendly festival, presented by
Vegetarians of Central Florida, includes
children’s activities, guest
speakers, vendor exhibits, arts and
crafts, live entertainment and more.
Local vegan and vegetarian restaurants
will be on hand selling everything
from earth-friendly sloppy
Joes to spring rolls. The alcohol- and
smoke-free event is a great opportunity
to learn more about vegan and/
or vegetarian lifestyles and enjoy free
samples. For a detailed schedule, visit
www.cfearthday.org or visit Central
Florida Earth Day’s Facebook page.
FOODIE FOR
desserts, there are plenty of ways to
please your taste buds and the planet.
Veggie Lovers
Incorporating more vegetarian or
vegan recipes into your diet is a sure
way to reduce your carbon footprint.
Try going meatless one or two days
a week or using smaller portions of
meat to flavor your meals. Buying local
seasonal products will add a flavor-boost
to meals and leave less of
an impact on the planet. Experiment
with beans, legumes and soy-based
meat substitutes, or try a new vegetarian-friendly
restaurant in your neighborhood.
Incorporating fresh herbs,
roasted or grilled vegetables, and
high-quality flavorful oils into your
www.SouthwestOrlandoBulletin.com x April 20 - May 3, 2017 x 5
THOUGHT
Happy Earth Day!
Feed Your Soul With Planet-Friendly Dishes
by Kirsten Harrington
cooking is a great way to enhance
recipes without meat.
Fun for Kids
Children love any excuse to celebrate,
so why not have an Earth Day dinner party
or prepare a special after-school snack
together? Set up a do-it-yourself salad bar
with mixed greens and let children top
off their creations with cubes of cheese,
sliced meat, sugar snap peas, baby carrots
and corn, dried cranberries and nuts,
sprouts, mandarin oranges and crunchy
roasted edamame or granola. Assemble
some “trees” using broccoli florets and
pretzel tree trunks, or create veggie “flowers”
with sliced cucumbers, carrots or radish
“petals” and celery “stems.” Making
ants on a log (celery sticks topped with
peanut butter and raisins) or simple trail
mix are easy ways to celebrate, too.
Go Green!
Filled with fiber, vitamins and other nutrients,
adding greens like Swiss chard, collard
and mustard greens, and other leafy
greens to your diet is an easy way to celebrate
the bounty of the season and add a
boost to your health. “Green” can easily be
added to pasta dishes and salads, quickly
stir-fried with olive oil and garlic, or added
to smoothies. Use Earth Day as an excuse
to try a new vegetable. Who knows? You
might find a new family favorite.
The following are a couple of recipes
to get you inspired:
Chocolate Coconut Clusters
Ingredients:
1/2 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/4 cup maple syrup
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