Cooking Up Confidence: Seattle Academy Culinary Club Serves Skills for Life
SAGE Community
If you've ever been to a volleyball game, a string ensemble performance, or a fundraising cocktail hour at Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences (SAAS), chances are you’ve encountered a number of students selling concessions and offering passed hors d’oeuvres. Those are the members of the Culinary Club, mentored by SAGE Food Service Director Mark Franco since he arrived at the school eight years ago. The club starts with the basics: learning about the fundamentals of food safety, navigating the...
Fueling With Fiber: What Is It and Why We Need It?
Nutrition
When it comes to staying energized and focused at school, fiber might not be the first nutrient that comes to mind, but it should be! What Is Fiber? Fiber is a type of carbohydrate that the body can’t fully digest. Unlike sugars and starches, fiber passes through the digestive system and helps keep things running smoothly. It’s found in plant foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, and seeds. Why Fiber Matters It keeps energy levels balanced by slowing digestion...
From Our Dietitians: Immune-Supportive Nutrients and Recipes
Nutrition
Boost your immune system by managing stress; getting plenty of sleep; practicing good hygiene; and — you guessed it — eating a well-balanced diet with protein, carbohydrates, fats, and lots of fruits and vegetables. No single nutrient can protect you from illness, but regularly eating a variety of nutrients boosts your immune system. Look for these immune-supportive nutrients and foods that contain them: Vitamin C: Citrus fruits (like oranges and grapefruit), red and green bell peppers, kiwifruit, broccoli, strawberries, potatoes...
What’s Vegitas?
Vegitas
According to World Animal Foundation, there are approximately 1.5 billion vegetarians around the world, and that number continues to increase. There are many reasons why people are incorporating plant-based dishes into their diets, but possibly the most notable is growing interest in planet health and sustainability. Following a plant-based diet varies from person to person and can range from limiting meat and animal products to avoiding them entirely. Typically, plant-based cuisine highlights fruits and vegetables at the center of...
Celebrating Vegetarian Awareness Month
Nutrition, At Home With SAGE
October is Vegetarian Awareness Month, and, since many of the community members we serve follow vegetarian eating patterns, we want to recognize them! There are many myths surrounding the vegetarian diet, including a plant-based diet can’t meet our nutrient needs. However, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, vegetarian diets (including vegan) that are varied and well thought out are nutritious and balanced and can provide a wealth of health benefits to support overall well-being. A common misconception about...
From Our Kitchen: Gluten-Free Apple Pie
From Our Kitchen
Learn how to make this fall staple at home. You can use any apples, although our chefs recommend tart baking apples like Braeburns or Granny Smiths. If you’d prefer, the gluten-free flour can be swapped easily for regular all-purpose flour. Grab your vanilla ice cream and enjoy! Gluten-Free Apple Pie Yields: 1 pie Ingredients for Crust: 2 ½ cups gluten-free, all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 2 sticks cold, unsalted butter, cut into small pieces ½ cup ice-cold water Crust Preparation:...
From Our Chefs: Top 10 Favorite Ingredients to Use
From Our Chefs
Our chefs have a lot of tools in their toolboxes, including Menu Builder, our web-based tool that helps keep menus varied and balanced, and the Touch of SAGE® app that provides feedback about the community’s likes and dislikes. But perhaps our chefs’ most underrecognized tools are the simple, wholesome ingredients they use every day. They take great care in choosing these ingredients, ensuring they’re fresh, local, and sourced responsibly. We asked our chefs to weigh in on their favorite ingredients...
Rise and Dine! Enjoy a Balanced Breakfast
From Our Kitchen
At SAGE, we know balanced meals are necessary for strong academic and athletic performance. And while we’ve got you covered at lunchtime, eating a nourishing breakfast is the best way to prepare for a successful day ahead, making it arguably the most important meal of the day. A morning meal not only provides your body with energy to start the day but also helps with attention, memory, and creativity. In other words, breakfast sets you up for a productive day...