Fun Ways to Serve Rice EASY, NUTRITIOUS, AND DELICIOUS
Summer is here! We’re already thinking ahead to next year’s menu. Is your team utilizing rice? Rice is a versatile and nutritious ingredient that can be transformed into a variety of fun and delicious meals for your eaters. It’s filling and can be filled with fiber.
dollop of hummus. • Veggie Bowl: For a vegetarian option, combine rice with roasted sweet potatoes, favorite beans or tofu, diced avocados and pico de gallo. Roll Up Easy Burritos Burritos are a fun and easy way to incorporate rice into a handheld meal that students will love. Here are some ideas: • Spanish Rice Burrito: Use Spanish rice as the base and add black beans, shredded cheese, and a touch of salsa. Wrap it all up in a soft tortilla for a tasty and convenient meal • Chicken and Rice Burrito: Combine rice with grilled chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, and a drizzle of ranch dressing. • Breakfast Burrito: For a breakfast option, use rice along with scrambled eggs, bacon, and a sprinkle of cheese. This hearty burrito will keep kids energized throughout the morning Soup Rice can also be used to add texture and nutrition to soups. Try these ideas: • Chicken and Rice Soup: Combine cooked rice with chicken broth, shredded chicken, carrots, and celery. This comforting soup is perfect for chilly days and is packed with nutrients • Vegetable Rice Soup: Use rice as the base and add a variety of vegetables such as tomatoes, zucchini, and corn. • Tomato Rice Soup: For a simple yet flavorful option, combine rice with tomato soup and a touch of basil. This soup is easy to make and loved by kids
Whether it’s used as a base for protein bowls, rolled into burritos, or stirred in soups, rice offers endless possibilities to create meals that are both healthy and enjoyable. The best part? Between great technology now found in rice cookers to fully-cooked options stocked at your distributor, there are easy ways to incorporate it into your menu. Plus, it can be naturally friendly to a variety of different diet restrictions! Rice is more than just a staple food; it has a fascinating history and fun facts. • Rice is grown on every continent except Antarctica • There are over 120,000 varieties of rice, including fragrant basmati, sticky Japanese rice, and even a variety called Black Venus • White rice can last for decades if kept cool, dry, and sealed! • In Japan and Thailand, rice is considered sacred and is a must-have at weddings and ceremonies • Rice can be a good source of fiber, especially brown rice. • About half of the world population eats rice as a staple food Try Protein Bowls Protein bowls are a fantastic way to combine rice with a variety of proteins and vegetables, making them a balanced and nutritious meal. Here are a few ideas that touch on different cuisines: • Chicken Curry Rice Bowl: Start with a base of cooked rice and top it with tender chicken curry and steamed vegetables. • Shwarma Bowl: Use rice as the foundation and add grilled protein, chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, and a
Annelise McAuliffe Soares | Ready Foods Annelise is the Director of Marketing & Brand Stewardship at Ready Foods in Denver, Colorado. Graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Annelise has spent her career making sure food sounds appetizing on paper, looks good in pictures and tastes amazing when you order it. Her day-to-day consists of working at Ready Foods to connect food service operators with ready-to-use kitchen solutions that are delicious, not difficult. Her favorite hot lunch in elementary school was always nacho day.
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