God's Bounty in the Garden
By Sue Noriega, RD
God
has blessed us this growing season with the right balance of sun and
rain. Starting in mid to late July, gardeners and consumers will
reap the benefits of fresh tomatoes, bell peppers, zucchini, corn and
other vegetables. Besides the wonderful taste, these veggies
are good sources of vitamins, minerals, fiber, anti-oxidants, and phytochemicals.
Tomatoes are an excellent source of the cancer-fighting phytochemical,
lycopene. The lycopene content in processed tomatoes (canned or cooked)
is higher than lycopene from uncooked tomatoes. Tomato seeds and plants
that claim to be higher in lycopene can now be found in seed catalogs
and gardening centers.
Tomatoes
are best when vine-ripened and deeply colored. They should feel
heavy for their size. Unripe tomatoes can be ripened in a paper
bag at room temperature. Do not refrigerate fresh whole tomatoes
to retain the best taste and texture, but do refrigerate cut tomatoes.
Let’s
not forget the fruits that are bountiful in summer: berries, peaches,
plums, melons! Honeydew and cantaloupe are high in vitamin C.
Canteloupes are an excellent source of potassium. Yellow peaches
and cantaloupe are good sources of carotenes. Watermelons contain
some potassium, carotenes, and lycopene. Blueberries and raspberries
provide vitamin C and anthocyanin, another cancer-fighting phytochemical.
All the above are good sources of fiber.
How
to pick a melon: Pick canteloupe with a clean, smooth rind that
gives slightly when you press on the end where the stem was removed
and does not have soft spots or dark bruises. If the melon has
“netting” on the outside, it shouldn’t be green. When you
want a ripe one, sniff the stem end, it should smell sweet and flower-like.
It should feel heavy for it’s size. All you need to pick a honeydew
is your nose. Ripe honeydew should have a rose-like fragrance.
Watermelon is the most difficult to pick. The best way to pick
a sweet, ripe watermelon is to cut it open and try it. By
the way, did you know that watermelons are in the same family with cucumbers
and squash?
God’s
Garden
Plant
three rows of Squash:
- Squash gossip
- Squash criticism
- Squash indifference
Plant seven rows of Peas:
- Prayer
- Promptness
- Perseverance
- Politeness
- Preparedness
- Purity
- Patience
Plant seven heads of Lettuce:
- Let us be unselfish
and loyal
- Let us be faithful
to duty
- Let us search the
scriptures
- Let us not be weary
in well doing
- Let us be obedient
in all things
- Let us be truthful
- Let us love one
another
No garden is
complete without Turnips:
- Turn up for church
- Turn up for meetings,
in prayer, and Bible study
- Turn up with a smile,
even when things are difficult
- Turn up with determination
to do your best in God’s service for Jesus Christ
