Having grown up in Oregon, a state famous for its prodigious berry selection, I learned early on that the best thing you can do with a berry is to (drum roll) just. eat. it. However, that would make this blog post rather uninspiring, so…

Most folks showcase berries’ goodness in muffins, cobbler and pie, but I’ll be honest with you — I don’t really do a whole lot of baking with fresh summer berries. Peak-season berries are pretty much perfection as they are and, honestly, the last thing I’m thinking about doing on an 80°-plus day is turning on my oven.

Besides, baking is just NOT my strong point (you could do serious damage with good aim and one of my cakes), so I’m always interested in tips that don’t require careful measurement and a gentle touch. (More…)

School’s out for summer! For some of us, the change in schedules means more family meals at home. Parents may be looking for new ideas that are healthy and easy to prepare; it certainly was a hot topic among parents last week at a nutrition workshop I hosted, so it’s been on my mind a lot lately!

I’ve gathered some of my favorite ideas to share from MyPlate, USDA, American Dietetic Association, and some of my own from my days teaching nutrition after-school programs in NYC elementary schools. Most of these kid-friendly ideas work just as well for adults looking for simple, healthy solutions. (More…)

Yes, I’m still talking about bean dips… I can’t help it.

Picnic season is upon us and bean dips make an excellent addition to the blanket — they’re easy to make, are best served at room temperature and can be taken pretty much anywhere since they don’t rely on mayonnaise for a rich, creamy texture.

Even better? These two tasty dips easily double as spreads for al fresco sandwich-making. The white bean dip is fantastic on crusty sourdough with marinated artichokes and roasted peppers; the green pea dip is divine with ham on pumpernickel. (More…)

Where do you find the richest, juiciest, meatiest burgers in New York City?

Those in the know seek out Pat LaFrieda & Son, where they’ve been cutting and grinding top-quality meats for more than 90 years.

We wanted burger tips from the best in the business, so we tracked down Pat LaFrieda himself to learn about his approach. (More…)

Four out of five Americans will be enjoying meals hot off an outdoor grill this summer. This can be good news and bad news for the health-conscious eater.

Bad news, part 1:
A round-up of typical BBQ foods like burgers, steaks, sausages, creamy deli salads, and calorie-rich drinks (e.g. sodas, lemonade, beers, mixed drinks) can quickly add up to more than an entire day’s worth (if not multiple days’ worth) of calories, fat and sodium in one sitting. (More…)

Ask 7 different food fanatics what the best way to make a burger is… and you might come up with 14 different answers. At least that’s what happened to us!

In honor of Burger Week at the FreshDirect blog, we asked some of our on-site experts to tell us: “How do you top your burger?”

Read on for their tantalizing ideas. Then tell us about YOUR ideal burger at the FreshDirect Facebook Wall. (More…)

It’s Burger Week at The FreshDirect Feed, and we’ll be celebrating America’s favorite sandwich all week long.

To kick off the party, we’ve selected five tantalizing recipe options from our One-Click Recipes section.

Though the word “burger” typically conjures a vision of beef patties sizzling on a grill or in a skillet, there are nearly endless possibilities for what goes between the buns.

From tuna burgers and lamb patties to burgers topped with blue cheese and pineapple relish, these five recipe selections show off a few inventive twists on the classic cookout favorite. (More…)

Last week, a mighty pyramid was toppled by the humble dinner plate.

For nearly a century (since 1916), the USDA has provided nutrition and food guidance to Americans, and the food guide pyramid has been a big part of that for the better part of the last 20 years.

After fiddling around with flow-charts, food wheels, brochures, and pyramids, USDA nutrition guidance looks to be coming back to the dinner table. (More…)

When you’re a cheese wiz — like our cheese and specialty foods buyer, Ken Blanchette — late spring and early summer mean a delicious seasonal flavor shift for many fresh cheeses.

But you don’t have to be an expert to get excited about fresh spring cheeses!

Read on to learn about Ken’s early-summer cheese favorites (both local treats and imports), score two affordable wines for perfect spring-cheese pairings and learn a little more about why eating seasonal cheese is so exciting. (More…)

Summertime means it’s time to get out the grill.

If you keep charring to a minimum (and therefore, the harmful chemicals formed in the charring process), grilling is one of the healthiest ways to prepare meals. For delicious, seasonal meals that also nourish the body for good health, Go Fish!

Get seafood on the grill for a meal that tastes great and is good for you, your friends and your family. (More…)