Cinnamon is the January Harvest of the Month
Cinnamon is the perfect spice for January because it adds warmth and flavor to many dishes – including soups, sweet potatoes, oatmeal, a variety of baked goods, applesauce, acorn squash and chili. Cinnamon has anti-inflammatory properties and is rich in manganese. Add a pinch of cinnamon to your next meal for a healthy way to ramp up the flavor.
During the month of January, you may find cinnamon used more abundantly in a variety of recipes from our cafeterias.
Did You Know?
- Cinnamon comes from the bark of the cinnamon tree, which can grow up to 60 feet.
- Cinnamon is native to India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.
- Cinnamon sticks are also called quills.
- One research study showed that cinnamon oil can eliminate larvae of the yellow fever mosquito. It’s believed that cinnamon oil can eliminate other types of mosquito larvae as well, though more research is needed.
Try These Delicious Recipes
Cinnamon Apples
Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats
Coconut Cinnamon Popcorn
How to Buy & Store: For a milder flavor and a few more health benefits, purchase ceylon cinnamon. For a stronger and spicier flavor, purchase cassia cinnamon (the most common type of cinnamon sold in stores and used in food). Store cinnamon sticks in an airtight container in a dark, cool area; the sticks can retain their flavor for about four years when stored this way. Store ground cinnamon in it’s original container or packaging in a dark, cool area; ground cinnamon can retain its flavor for about a year when stored this way.
Making it Kid-Friendly: Most kids enjoy the taste of cinnamon in baked goods and sprinkled in their meals. Invite your child to bake cinnamon-themed meals and snacks such as cinnamon apple chips, cinnamon muffins, cinnamon oatmeal, rice with cinnamon and pancakes with cinnamon and fruit.
Nutrition and Health Benefits: This low-calorie and fat-free spice packs a lot of great benefits. Cinnamon has anti-inflammatory properties and is rich in antioxidants and manganese. Manganese is a mineral that is essential for a healthy nervous system and a variety of important bodily functions such as enzyme and antioxidant production, as well as carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Studies have shown that cinnamon can help lower LDL cholesterol and blood sugar.
| Calories: 6 kcal | Protein: 0.1g |
| Total Fat: 0g | Fiber: 1.4g |
| Sugar: 0.1g | Calcium: 26mg |
| Iron: 0.2mg | Sodium: 0.3mg |
| Total Carbohydrate: 2g | Vitamin D: 0mcg |
| Potassium: 11mg | Vitamin K: 0.8mcg |
| Magnesium: 1.56mg | Manganese: 0.5mg |
Serving Size: 1 tsp ground cinnamon (2.6g)