February Harvest of the Month – Tangerines

Our Harvest of the Month for February is tangerines and they are delicious. While considered a member of the mandarine orange family, they have a long history and are believed to have originated in China. In fact, this fruit has been grown in China and Japan for over 3,000 years!  Its name comes from the location where they were first shipped to in Europe –Tangier, Morocco. Be sure to try our tasty menu items featuring tangerines that will be served throughout our CHI cafeterias this month.

Try These Delicious Recipes

Sweet and Sour Tangerine Chicken (Click for PDF)

Apple Avocado Salad with Tangerine Dressing (Click for PDF)

Refreshing Tangerine Dessert (Click for PDF)

How to Buy, Store and Prepare

How to Buy and Store: When purchasing tangerines, look for ones that are firm to the touch and are deep orange in color. Avoid fruit that has a brownish coloring or soft spots. Store them in the refrigerator for up to two weeks to maintain freshness.

How to Prepare: There are many recipes available that include tangerines since they are great additions to fruit salads, entrée salads and glazes. They can also easily be used as a garnishing for grilled meats and seafood, as well as incorporated into muffins and cakes.

Tangerines are not only tasty, they offer many health benefits too.

Click to view recipe PDF.

Nutrition and Health Benefits

Tangerines (1 medium):

Calories: 47 Saturated Fat: 0g
Total Fat: 0g Monounsaturated Fat: 0g
Total Carbohydrate: 12g Vitamin A: 11%
Fiber: 2g Vitamin B6: 6%
Protein: 1g Vitamin C: 39%

Like many other citrus fruits, tangerines are an  excellent source of Vitamin C, which is known to play a role in wound healing and cancer prevention. They are also a valuable source of Vitamin A, another anti-oxidant, and fiber which aids cardiac health.

Making it Kid-Friendly

Most kids will enjoy the sweet, tart taste of tangerines. They will also have fun helping to peel the cute fruit and adding them to fruit cups, yogurt parfaits, pudding or smoothies.

Fun Facts

Check out these fun facts about tangerines provided by Heather Lochmann, MS, RD, LD and Nancy Ricker, RD, LD, Clinical Dietitans at Saint Joseph Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky:

  • The top producer of tangerines in the United States is Florida.
  • Tangerines are also known as the “Christmas Orange” because they were frequently stuffed in children’s stockings.
  • There are many varieties of tangerines including the following: Fairchild, Fallglo, Honey, Robinson and Sunburst.

Your health is about more than routine trips to your doctor – it’s about the small everyday choices you make. Those small choices can add up and make a big difference on your overall health. For more information on how to redeem your wellness rewards, visit onespiritblog.com/wellness