Welcome our new Dietitian! Allison Haynes, RD, LDN. Allison is the only outpatient Dietitian in Jackson! We are honored to have her! Call today to schedule your appointment with her!
Make an Impact on Your Heart Health This February
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and you can already see the cards, candy, and giant stuffed teddy bears all around! While you’re sharing your love this month for those that are near, don’t forget to show your heart some love as well. February is American Heart Health Month so it’s a perfect time to try out some changes in your lifestyle to reduce your risk for heart disease. Here are five ways you can make an impact on your heart health using food this month!
1)
Increase fruit and vegetable intake
2)
Make half of your grains whole grain
3)
Try eating “meatless” one day a week
4)
Experiment with new spices and cut out the salt when cooking
5)
Read the labels on packaged foods to reduce fat and sodium intake
Are you looking to stay in and cook for Valentine’s day? Impress your date with this heart healthy and delicious Ratatouille recipe! It goes great with a side of whole grain pasta, toasted French bread, or if you are feeling adventurous, you can try quinoa!
Ratatouille (Confit Byaldi)
Ingredients:
4 Roma tomatoes
1 Eggplant
2 large Zucchini
2 yellow squash
1 yellow onion
1 can tomato sauce- your preference. Try for < 300mg sodium/serving
Fresh basil or slightly dried basil
Olive oil
*Optional- minced garlic, thyme, red chili flakes.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Pour tomato sauce into a baking dish so that it at least covers the bottom of the dish, but is no more than half an inch deep. Sprinkle basil, minced garlic, thyme, and red chili flakes over the sauce as desired.
Thinly slice tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, onion, and squash using a knife or a mandolin. Ideally the thickness of each item is the same to promote even cooking as well as to make it more aesthetically pleasing. The eggplant slices may need to be cut into quarters so they are appropriately sized.
Layer the tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, onion, and squash in any order. After the pan is full, drizzle olive oil and sprinkle basil over the top. Cover with parchment paper and place in the oven for ~1 hour.
The sauce should be bubbling and vegetables will be tender when it is done.
Enjoy!
Want to make even more of an impact on your heart health? Get moving, stop smoking, and reach out to your local LIFT dietitian, Allison Haynes, to find what works best for you!
