Viva Fiesta!
By: Analisse Rodriguez, UTSA Dietetic Student
In honor of the month of Fiesta, a Fiesta Food Tasting Event was presented to the Grace Place clients. Vince, the production manager at Meals on Wheels, ordered and supplied the ingredients for today’s event. All food was prepared at Meals on Wheels prior to the presentation. With the help of Oscar and Josh, kitchen staff from Meals on Wheels prepared delicious Fiesta-inspired dishes. Special thanks to them because without them and Vince, none of this would have been possible!
The distribution of food was administered by Grace Place staff members and Rhaizza Velasquez, the Registered Dietitian at Meals on Wheels. After each food was tested, each participant was able to note if they liked or disliked the food. Once the taste testing was done, the participants played nutrition bingo. Below are the foods with the listed ingredients from the event. Unfortunately, not all exact measurements are listed because the food is prepared in bulk.
Enjoy some yummy Fiesta-inspired food and Happy Fiesta!
Infused Water
Ingredients
- 2 containers of strawberries (sliced)
- 2 ½ cucumbers
- Water
Preparation
- Water was filled to ¾ of the container.
- Next, 2 ½ whole cucumbers and 2 containers of strawberries were rinsed, sliced, and then placed into the water.
- Finally, the infused water was left alone till the presentation.
* For a stronger flavor, let the water sit overnight (with cucumbers and strawberries) and enjoy the next day.
Comments
More than half of the participants enjoyed the infused water, and many commented that it tasted refreshing. This was inspired by Aguas Frescas, which are popular around this time of year.
Black Bean and Corn Salsa
Ingredients
- Black beans
- Corn
- Tomatoes
- Green bell peppers
- Red onion
- Whole wheat mini crackers for tasting
Preparation
- All ingredients were prepared separately. The black beans and corn were provided in cans, so Oscar and Josh heated them to the appropriate temperatures.
- The tomatoes, green bell peppers, and red onion were rinsed, diced, and separated individually.
- Once all items were prepped, I mixed the items together. Measurements vary, but most of the salsa was black beans and tomatoes.
- The corn, green bell peppers, and onion were added in lesser amounts.
Comments
Many of the clients enjoyed the taste and commented on how colorful the salsa looked. I also noted that some participants did not like the onions in the salsa. The onions can easily be substituted with another bell pepper, avocado, or diced cucumbers!
Mini Street Tacos
Ingredients
- Corn tortilla
- Grilled Chicken
- Diced purple onion
- Diced red bell pepper
- Chopped cilantro
- Queso fresco
- Lime (squeezed over)
Preparation
The add-ons (diced onion, red bell pepper, and chopped cilantro) were rinsed and prepared first. Once the add-ons were prepared, Oscar and Josh began to cook the chicken to the appropriate temperature. As the chicken finished cooking, the mini corn tortillas were placed in warmers to heat up. The tacos were put together by placing two strips of baked chicken on the corn tortilla, followed by the addition of diced onion, red bell pepper, cilantro, and queso fresco.
Comments
Many of the clients enjoyed tasting the mini street tacos. I noted that this was their favorite food to taste test. This dish was inspired by the mini street tacos commonly sold at stands during Fiesta.
Confetti Yogurt
Ingredients
- Vanilla Greek yogurt
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
Preparation
- First, the strawberries and blueberries were rinsed.
- Once rinsed, the strawberries were halved.
- After the fruit was prepped, one container of Greek yogurt was placed in a bowl.
- Fruit was then added to the bowl and mixed.
- The confetti yogurt was left in the fridge until the presentation.
Comments:
About half of the participants liked the yogurt, and half did not. I received a couple of positive comments about the fruit that was in the yogurt, but some participants did not enjoy the consistency of the yogurt. Unfortunately, there was not enough time to freeze the yogurt and treat it as a “paleta,” which is a popsicle, but I would highly encourage others to try it at home for a refreshing snack!
Once the taste testing was complete, everyone had a great time playing Nutrition Bingo!
