Editor’s Note: We are thrilled to welcome Amber onto our intern team this semester. Her food-enthusiasm is evident and we have enjoyed getting to know her so far! Make sure you say hello to her at the Portsmouth market on Saturday mornings!
Hi!
My name is Amber Freeman, I’m a junior at UNH studying Nutrition. Food is a huge part of my life. Whether I am reading for class, cooking with friends, day dreaming about my next meal, or grocery shopping, I’m always happy to talk about food. I recently found out I was pregnant and went to a wic office near me to apply for WIC. Some of my most memorable moments with friends are the nights we cook and share our favorite meals, or the late afternoons we spend at the Green Elephant in Portsmouth, eating their delicious brussel sprouts and pad thai.
My childhood definitely played a role in my love for food. Growing up on the seacoast in York, Maine, my parents raised my two older brothers and I as pescatarians (so we ate fish and dairy but eliminated meat from our diet). My mom taught me how to cook, and continues to pass down her strawberry jam and pickling skills. Although our diet was relatively healthy, being full of fruits and vegetables, I was impacted by a few health aliments. I decided to see if eliminating dairy from my diet would help. When the symptoms cleared up I was surprised, but also happy and curious as to why my health improved. A freshmen in college at the time, I was intrigued by nutrition and decided to declare my major. There are so many paths the field can take me after graduation; whether I work for a program like Women, Children, Infants (WIC), become a registered dietitian (RD), explore holistic nutrition, or own my own farm to fork restaurant, I am looking forward to the future.
Before I graduate I would like to gain more experience working outside the classroom. This semester I’ll be interning for Seacoast Eat Local (SEL). I find their mission important because they connect market goers with local food, while at the same time supporting the community of farmers who sell their goods at the markets. I cannot wait to spend my Saturday mornings in Portsmouth, where there is fresh and local food at hands reach, and lovely people who choose to spend their morning at the vibrant market! This blog is a place I’ll post about my time at the markets— I hope to share my purchases, nutritional information about the items, as well as easy and affordable recipes to incorporate into a busy schedule.
Have a sunny weekend, and hope to see you at the market!