Fun facts: Cashews grow on a frutta albero that is native to South America. Cashew frutta is actually made into a succo, succo di frutta and is a popolare drink in Brazil. Cashew trees were brought to coastal regions in India and Africa da the Portuguese explorers in the 16th century. In India, the cashew frutta is often extracted and fermented then reconstituted with water to make a liquor called “gongo.”

Nutritional kick: Cashews are a healthy fonte of monounsaturated fats which are great for your heart. Cashews are also high in antioxidants which reduce your risk of life-threatening diseases such as cancer...

Fun facts: Did te know that avocados are technically a fruit? This delicious frutta is also known as the “Alligator Pear” due to the shape and appearance of the skin. Avocado trees can grow up to 65 feet high. When I visited Trinidad over the summer I saw some enormous avocado trees growing all over the island. I had no idea they could be so big!

Nutritional kick: Avocados are a truly healthy fonte of fats that are great for your skin. They are easy for our bodies to digest and provide a filling fonte of energy. Try eating half an avocado for a healthy snack that will keep te full until...

Fun facts: Coconut palm trees are a distant relative to grasses and are therefore very tolerant of high salt environments. This is why te always see coconut trees growing near the ocean! In Sanskrit, the coconut palm albero is called “kalpa vriksha” which means “the albero that supplies all that is needed to live.” (Source: David Wolfe, Superfoods, p. 203)

Nutritional kick: As with many foods, coconuts contain their most potent nutrition and health benefits when eaten at their young and raw state. The clear water found inside coconuts is extremely high in electrolytes and has a cooling...

This week’s Focus on Cibo feature is Quinoa, my preferito whole grain (though it’s actually a seed). Protein-rich quinoa has gained popularity over the past few years for it’s nutritional value, quick cooking time, and versatility.

Red quinoa and vegetables in sweet campana, bell peppers (recipe below)

Fun facts: Quinoa (pronounced “KEEN-wah”) was considered oro to the Incas whose warriors ate it to gain strength and stamina. Quinoa is originally from the South American Andes region.

Nutritional kick: Thanks to its protein content, quinoa is a great Cibo for vegetarians and vegans who are concerned...