Posted 4 months ago

Eat Well, Live Well – Watermelon & Heirloom Tomato Salad

With the heat of summer upon us, salads are a great way to get the nutrients you need without feeling overly full or heating the house to prepare a meal. Enjoy this video recipe for Watermelon & Heirloom Tomato Salad.

Ingredients

2 organic watermelons, peeled & cut into chunks
8 organic local heirloom tomatoes (various colors and sizes), cut up
24 mint or basil leaves
2 tablespoons red onion, sliced paper-thin
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
Feta cheese, optional
Coarse sea salt, to taste
Pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Arrange the pieces of watermelon and tomato on a serving platter.
2. Sprinkle with mint/basil leaves and red onion.
3. Drizzle with olive oil and vinegar.
4. Finish with salt and pepper.


Brenda Gridley, CSP, RDN

Brenda is originally from Los Angeles, CA where she attended California State University of Los Angeles for her under graduate degree in Nutritional Science. She began her career with Kaiser Permanente in 2004.    Throughout her professional development, she has worked in Cardiology and open heart surgery, Renal/Dialysis, organ transplants and Oncology, including chemotherapy, radiation and head and neck.  Brenda has extensive experience with weight management programs, including Bariatric and finally Eating disorders and mindful eating.  She went on to specialize in the Pediatric population and has maintained her Certification in Pediatric Nutrition since 2011.  Areas she has managed include pediatric and neonatal intensive care units where she was responsible for individualizing therapeutic diets and alternate nutrition support  based on specific metabolic needs, medical conditions, and cultural preferences.

Her passion for nutrition was developed at a young age and reared by her grandmother who always instilled the importance of a healthy diet and active lifestyle.  When her grandmother became ill, Brenda became aware of the impact nutrition plays in disease prevention and maintaining overall mind and body health.  She cared for grandmother until she passed and has made it her goal to help others achieve their full “nutrition potential” with using a culturally sensitive holistic approach.

She is married with two beautiful daughters and in her spare time she enjoys watching movies with her children, experimenting with new recipes, reading mystery novels, running and Yoga.

Please ask your Ironwood Cancer & Research Centers provider for a referral to see our dietary counselors.