Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Encourages Participation in “National Sneak Zucchini on Your Neighbor’s Porch Day”

What:  Zucchinis are commonly of the most bountiful plants for farmers and home gardeners alike, so it’s no surprise that growers of this fruit variety often have some to spare during harvest time each August. In fact, each plant produces six to 10 pounds of fruit on average. That’s why, National Sneak Zucchini on Your Neighbor’s Porch Day comes at the perfect time every year to provide growers with the best excuse to share their overabundance of squash.

The annual food holiday encourages healthy eating, community produce sharing, and helps gardeners prevent crop waste, which all align with Blue Cross’ overall mission to create a healthier Michigan. Aside from being delicious, zucchinis offer a variety of nutrients including more potassium than a banana, high water content to support hydration, fiber for healthy digestion, vitamins A and C, manganese and folate, just to name a few.

Zucchinis are also surprisingly versatile when it comes to how they can be prepared. The fruit can be eaten a variety of ways and is so easy to incorporate into almost any dish for added nutrition, especially kids’ meals. Recipes for the following recommended zucchini dishes are included below:

For the best way to sneak zucchini on a neighbor’s porch or to find more easy recipes, visit http://www.ahealthiermichigan.org/sneakzucchini.

When: National Sneak Zucchini on Your Neighbor’s Porch Day-Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Who: Grace Derocha, registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator and health coach at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, is available for interviews about the health benefits of zucchinis and creative ways to use excess produce.

Why: Created by Pennsylvanian farmers, Tom and Ruth Roy, National Sneak Zucchini on Your Neighbor’s Porch Day is held annually on August 8 to help prevent food waste by sharing excess zucchini with friends and family. This way, everyone can enjoy the natural goodness of homegrown squash in a variety of recipes. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is proud to support an initiative that not only encourages the consumption of healthy fruits, but also the sharing of fresh, seasonal crops.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit mutual insurance company, is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. BCBSM provides and administers health benefits to more than 4.5 million members residing in Michigan in addition to employees of Michigan-headquartered companies who reside outside the state. For more company information, visit bcbsm.com and MiBluesPerspectives.com.