Healthy highlights:
Ingredient spotlight: be friends with fennel
Fennel is underused in many kitchens — but it shouldn’t be! With big nutritional benefits and a crisp, delightful aroma that warms your home in the winter, eating more fennel is a great way to support your oral, vision, and overall health. Just a few standout benefits include:
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Fiber to support gut health and help prevent dry mouth.
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Vitamin C to reduce inflammation linked to gum disease and chronic conditions.
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Vitamin A to protect your vision and reduce your risk for age-related eye disorders.
Mouth-friendly recipes:
Tomato and fennel salad
Refreshing and packed with flavor, this winter fennel salad is more than just a side — it also supports your smile with calcium and provides fiber to help you feel full.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon white-wine vinegar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 pound of tomatoes
- 2 cups fennel bulb
- ¼ cup parsley
- ⅓ cup toasted pine nuts
- Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
Directions:
- Cut the tomatoes into wedges.
- Thinly slice the fennel bulb.
- Chop the parsley.
- In a large bowl, whisk the oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper until combined.
- Add tomatoes, fennel, parsley, and pine nuts, then toss to coat.
Roasted fennel with garlic and herbs
Golden and caramelized with a savory mix of garlic and herbs, this roasted fennel dish isn’t just delicious — it’s a flavorful way to nourish your eyes and strengthen your smile.
Ingredients:
- 1 large fennel bulb
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 small garlic cloves, minced
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- ¼ - ½ cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Cut the fennel bulb into 1-inch slices and place them on a baking sheet covered in parchment paper.
- In a bowl, mix the olive oil and garlic, and brush it over the fennel.
- Sprinkle the thyme, salt, and black pepper on top of the fennel.
- Bake in the oven for 20 minutes.
- Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese on top and bake for another 10 minutes.
