Jam on it

Being a beginning runner, I am not totally certain what I should be eating. Well, I know I shouldn't be eating crap, but of the good whole foods I am not sure what's what quite yet. Team for Kids training will lend a hand in this area for sure. So I thought I'd post a little about food and eating here once a week, as I learn and try new things.

Last week I finally got around to making freezer jam for the first time. I am astounded at just how easy it is (and cheap!). It took me less than 10 minutes. I had Ball brand quilted freezer jars left over from last fall's foray into canning, but you don't even need them. You can use smaller throw away Gladware-type containers...just something with a lid that's freezer safe (Ball also makes BPA-free plastic freezer jars).

Basically, you need the equivalent of 4 cups of fruit. I used 2.5 plastic containers of strawberries from my local grocery (what are those-pints?) + a package of pectin (could be labeled as "freezer jam pectin" or just as "pectin"--basically it's a thickening agent that's found naturally in fruits and veggies that your puree needs to be more jam-like), and 1.5 cups of refined sugar, or in my case 1 to 1.5 cups of agave (I'm such a sugar addict that I've been trying to move away from good ol' white sugar toward a greater consumption of agave, which has a low glycemic index so you don't get that sudden high and then that long drawn out sleepy feeling afterwards).

Puree your fruit either with your food processor or a potato smasher-thingy. Mix in the package of pectin and the sugar or agave. Let sit on the counter and thicken for about 30 mins. Then pop one in your fridge and the rest in the freezer. The one in the fridge will last 3 weeks (though ours lasted just one because we ate it up so quickly). The others will last in the freezer until you eat them up or give them away. They make perfect little gifts.

I have to add that this was the best tasting strawberry jam I'd ever had. It tasted totally different than store bought jam...super fresh and super strawberry-eee. I've eaten so much processed food in my life that eating the real deal is often so surprising. And I really feel great feeding it to my daughter, knowing that there's nothing funky in it.

A smear of agave sweetened freezer jam on whole grain bread (instead of this) is a great pre-run snack. I found the following quote in an article on whole grains in Runner's World:

"Before a long race or run, you want to take in carbs such as whole grains and whole fruits because they will offer slow-burning energy. "It's almost like you're running with an IV slowly dripping sugar into your blood stream," says Dr. Agatston. "If you have Frosted Flakes for breakfast before a long run instead of unprocessed oatmeal, your blood sugar shoots up, then down, and you don't have a reservoir of energy."

Check out the Ball website for more freezer jam recipes.