Hello friends! We invite everyone down to our next delicious Pathfinder Produce market, which will be on Thursday, April 12 from 1 to 5 p.m. at our Edmeston location at Pathfinder Village Commons. Come on down for all the great fresh fruits and veggies we have on sale … our friendly staff will be looking for you!
We are also pleased with the reception to our Pathfinder Produce ordering page: http://pathfindervillage.org/our-village/pathfinder-produce. The market order site opens each Friday, usually by mid-morning, and you can order for delivery at either the Edmeston or Morris locations. The ordering is open through the following Wednesday at noon; patrons then pick-up their pre-selected purchases at Thursday market (Edmeston, 1-5 p.m.; Morris UMC,
3-6 p.m.). Talk about convenience!
3-6 p.m.). Talk about convenience!
This past week, our “pop-up” market at the Living Healthier Expo at the Foothills Performing Arts Center was very well received and allowed Pathfinder Village to share how our fresh fruit and veggie market is making a difference in area communities. We met many new folks who really enjoyed our FRESH display and who asked lots of great questions about all our high-quality services for people who have Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities.
One thing that has been so successful about Pathfinder Produce is that it puts people with different abilities front-and-center as they support positive change and contribute to others. In this case, our Adult Day Service members really shine in their roles in our market operations each week. Plus, they really enjoy the social aspects of the shopping experience, serving friends and neighbors as they select their purchases, weigh fresh items, and ring up and bag items.
Pathfinder Produce and our other Village programs accentuate the positive, and tie into the diverse strengths of our community members. We love it when residents and students serve as role models outside of the Pathfinder community too. We learned that during a recent visit with his family, Pathfinder's Casey B., his older brother Craig, and his mom, Kathy, participated in a 5k race in Charlotte NC, called 3-2-1 Dash for Down Syndrome.
Casey and Kathy completed their 5k walks in 1:03. Brother Craig, who participates in many 5k events, completed his run in 25 minutes! Pathfinder Village sends its congratulations out to their Carolina Nor’Easter Team. We’re proud of Casey’s advocacy, and we’re also looking forward to his participation in our fifth annual SPLASH PATH on May 19. Splash Path is an inclusive event and is one way that we can all make a difference, no matter our athletic ability, fitness level, or age.
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This week, my colleague Jared O., has hit upon a new Eating Well recipe (below) to share with our Pathfinder Produce friends. Jared, a recent graduate of Otsego Academy, our post-secondary education program, enjoys shopping and preparing foods as part of his independent lifestyle.
This dish, Loaded Mediterranean Chicken-Quinoa Salad, sounds like a winner! Jared selected this because it is gluten-free, and combines two foods he really enjoys, avocados and feta cheese.
“Yes I’ve had quinoa before; I enjoyed it and it is gluten-free,” said Jared. “In the recipe, I would use carrots and beets as my root vegetables.”
Over the past few years, there has been renewed interest in quinoa and other heritage grains. As people are looking to discover new tastes, they’ve also become aware of how entrenched corn and wheat mono-cultures have become in farming and food production today. Environmental experts, as well as nutritionists, are voicing concerns over how one-crop systems can take their toll on the land and our health.
Heritage grains are being re-examined too, as more people are being diagnosed with celiac disease, an autoimmune response to gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. Typically people with celiac disease look to staples like rice, corn, and oats to round-out their diets, but the greater availability of ancient grains is also offering some delicious opportunities for those with gluten sensitivities.
If anyone tries this recipe, please send us a message and let us know how you enjoyed it!
Loaded Mediterranean Chicken-Quinoa Salad
· ¾ cup shredded cooked chicken breast
· ½ cup cooked quinoa
· 1 cup roasted root vegetables
· 1-2 tablespoons vinaigrette
· ¼ avocado, sliced
· 1 tablespoon crumbled feta cheese
· 1 tablespoon sunflower seeds
Until next time, eat well and be well,
Jared (and Lori)
