On my run this morning I noticed that several maple trees on my route have been tapped. Our local highschoolers tap the trees, collect the sap and process it into maple syrup (this is called sugaring). This is a real sign that spring is right around the corner!

New Hampshire produces about 90,000 gallons of maple syrup each year. Canada produces 71% of all maple syrup made. Overall, more than 19 million gallons of maple syrup is made each year!

When my kids were little (how many of my sentences start with this phrase?) we would go to a local sugarhouse that served a pancake breakfast on Maple Syrup Weekend. Pancakes were a dollar each and if the snow was still good we’d go sledding on the hill behind the barn.

I often emphasize the importance of knowing how our food is grown or produced and Maple Syrup weekend gets you up close to this sweet treat. Visiting a sugarhouse may get your kiddo interested in how the maple syrup is made and they may just venture to give it a try.

Remember when I wrote last week about National Nutrition Month and how to make learning about nutrition fun? Seeing how maple syrup is produced is one way to do that.

Maple syrup and…..?

We tend to think of maple syrup with pancakes or waffles. But how about a teaspoon in the vinegrette that you’re making for your salad? It pairs well with oatmeal and Cream of Wheat. Drizzle some on roasted veggies such as carrots and sweet potatoes. My favorite way to enjoy maple syrup is by dribbling a small amount on cottage cheese topped with raspberries–yum!

This year New Hampshire’s Maple Syrup Weekend is March 15-16th. Find a NH sugarhouse close to you here or click here for a sugarhouse in Massachusettes.

Let me know if you have a favorite way to enjoy maple syrup.

Reach out at Karen@CoastalFamilyNutrition.com or call the office at 603-674-2479.

Snack Idea: Mug of instant oatmeal with a drizzle of maple syrup

Please feel free to share this with someone who may like to learn more about feeding kiddos!