End of Summer Recipe - Italian Organic Tomato Salad - Basil, Scallions, Olive Oil

Post by Italian American Girl.

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Authentic Italian Organic Zucchini Soup - Calabrese Style

I shared this picture on Facebook and the response was overwhelming, this is my mother's zucchini soup that  she makes all year round. To stick to the authenticity of my blog, I post things about my everyday Italian American life, so this is the real deal.  The soup is a combination of the actual organic zucchini, crushed tomato, boiled potato, garlic,  and onion.  So simple, yet complex in flavor.  I have to say, I can't believe my mother was so willing to give me the ingredients, usually it's TOP SECRET.   Enjoy! 

Recipe:

Add 1 quart of water to pot to boil:

• 1 pound of zucchini cubed (organic or regular- I prefer organic)  
• 1 small onion cubed
• 1 clove of garlic (the whole thing - don't be cheap) 
• 2 medium cut tomato or San Marzano from the jar/can (whatever works for you ) 
• 1 medium sized potato cubed
• 3 leaves of basil 
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil (don't use low grade- olive oil can make or break a meal) 
• 1 teaspoon of salt

Combine all ingredients in the boiling water, cook about 20 to 25 minutes to tender.   Serve and enjoy!

This is a regular meal I grew up on, ever wonder why Italians are so healthy?

8 Health Benefits of Zucchini

** As a side note, this ingredient list had to be deciphered from an ancient Calabrese coded recipe.. LOL**

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Organic Foods and Why Italians Are Ahead of the Health Game.

Here in the states, we are plagued by bad health caused by stress, work, and most importantly bad food. The food standards in the United States are probably the worst in the world. (my opinion)-OK..maybe not the world but you get the idea. The reality of a healthy lunch here is packed full of preservatives and fillers. Where is the fresh food and why is it so hard to buy? Meaning why is it so expensive to be healthy in the United States?

There is no real education in the school systems for children to understand that fresh food is what they should be eating and not prepackaged or frozen junk served at lunch. Some schools here in the states have taken initiative to bring in lunch from outside healthy vendors but this runs into an expense and not many parents are able to budget for expensive lunches per week, per year.

In Italy, many schools bring in and serve organic foods, not all do but a lot participate. This was actually a mandated law by the Italian government in an effort to help keep and educate their children, their future on remaining healthy, I say kudos to this plan.

In the United States we are brainwashed to believe that cutting fat and calories via a label that says so, makes you healthy. When in fact, its not the fat or label, its the actual basics of the fresh food you consume, lifestyle and exercise. We have all fallen victim to the Internet, as I sit here and write this article, but I make it a point to exercise daily and eat healthy. Our children are growing into these machines and not understanding that exercise and organic foods are the keys to healthy living. I will say, Wii has put in an effort to create an interactive exercising program but I don't think that's enough.

We need education on the basics of food consumption, higher FDA standards on our incoming food supplies and less preservatives in everything. When you get sick you immediately run to a doctor hoping for a pill that will help you, instead why don't we say, "what am I doing wrong, and how can I improve my health?" In the USA, we are trained to believe that going to a doctor and requesting pills is the way to maintaining health, in my opinion its NOT. Be proactive in what you consume, research organic foods, consult with your doctor about coming up with a healthy plan for you.

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