Volantino

Have you ever wondered how much your food choices weigh on the health of the planet? It is an important question that everyone should ask themselves: in fact, the planet in which we live needs our care and, even through food, we can take a small step which, together with that of millions of people, can build a great path! The production of food and, consequently, the frequency that we buy it at and eat it leaves a mark, a real footprint on the planet. To reduce this footprint, we can follow the rules of the Mediterranean Diet, changing the frequency that we eat some foods at compared to others. The production of plant origin food, including cereals, for the same amount of produced food, leaves a lower environmental footprint than animal production. Since grains are a basic food in our diet, they are produced in large quantities. This means that, in absolute terms, the environmental footprint left by grains is significant to the health of the planet we live on. It is, therefore, important to adopt correct agronomic practices aimed at limiting the environmental footprint of these productions! How? For example, by paying attention to the species and varieties of crops that are more resistant to pests or that need less water and practicing crop rotation: these strategies are successful, not only to reduce environmental impacts, but also to improve the production and quality of the grains themselves. GRAINS AND ENVIRONMENT process used is able to enhance the aromatic properties of the food. When we talk about grains , the cooking process has a key role since heat modifies and uniquely defines the aroma of the grain itself: think, for example, of bread in the oven, a grain of corn that becomes popcorn or simply boiled rice. Before cooking, oats have herbaceous, fruity and malt aromas; but when cooked in boiling water, the aromatic profile is enriched with other compounds that give a hint of hazelnut and nuts. Why is steam cooking used for vegetables ? Compared to classic boiling, steam gently cooks peas and carrots without dispersing the aromatic molecules, allowing a perfect combination with the oats that our vegetables share an average of 60% of the aromas with. The Strawberry may seem a like simple decoration, but it actually plays a much more important role. The strawberry-dairy product combination is very common on our tables, especially at the end of a meal: cheesecake, smoothies, ice cream, etc. In our recipe, the strawberry plays a food bridging role, allowing oats, vegetables and cheese to successfully coexist. Finally, the cheese gives the strong flavour that completes the dish. THE HAPPY UNIVERSE OF GRAINS LET’S EAT WELL 83