Island Health

14 Island Health magazine Zucchini Fritters Makes about 25 servings The Food Rx program in Port Alberni is an example of a 'Hospital to Community' food security program. It is an interdisciplinary and cross-sector partnership to deliver local healthy food to patients deemed at high risk for food insecurity upon discharge from health services. The Food Rx boxes are locally grown, harvested or processed. The program adopts the local Nuu-Chah-Nulth ideology of hishuk'ish tsawalk (everything is one), ensuring not to address food security in silos, but rather as a holistic and cyclical endeavour. This community-based program is building demand for a future where food is valued as fundamental to health and healing, and local, sustainable and traditional foods are valued as central to healthcare. This program supports a shift to create awareness of the interconnections between the food system and health system, and the health of people and planet. INGREDIENTS: 3 medium zucchini, shredded 2 large eggs ½ cup crumbled feta cheese ¼ cup diced onion ⅓ cup fresh mint leaves, chopped 1 tsp ground cumin ½ tsp salt ½ tsp black pepper 1 ¼ cup whole wheat or white flour olive oil for cooking DIRECTIONS: 1. Squeeze out and discard as much liquid from the shredded zucchini as you can. 2. In a large bowl, combine eggs, feta, mint, onion, cumin, salt and pepper. 3. Add zucchini and flour, and mix well. 4. In a large non-stick skillet, heat oil over medium-low heat. 5. Use a ¼ cup measure to scoop and drop batter into the hot pan. 6. Repeat to make as many patties as will fit in the skillet, about 4 at a time. 7. Gently flatten the patties and cook until golden brown and crispy on both sides, about 3-5 minutes per side. Make sure they are cooked all the way through. 8. Serve with your favourite dip. Recipe adapted from nigella.com

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