Eat Red Foods for Heart Health!
Since it is the month of February and we are thinking about love and hearts I thought I would share some information on the healthy benefits of eating RED foods from Tina Miller, MS RD. Tina is our Meijer dietitian in east Michigan and she is very knowledgeable about the health benefits of natural foods.
The antioxidant pigments (anthocyanins) that provide the natural red color in fruits and vegetables may be instrumental in reducing heart disease risk. These compounds help decrease inflammation associated with atherosclerosis, and may even help reduce total cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Try these delicious ideas to add more red into your diet:
Tart Dried Cherries or Dried Cranberries
• Toss into your morning oatmeal with sliced almonds
• Sprinkle on salads
• Mix with whole almonds for a healthful, satisfying snack
Red Bell Peppers
• Slice up and serve as a quick snack with hummus
• Saute and add to omelets and casseroles
Tomatoes
• Add slices to a grilled sandwich with 2% cheese
• Include canned, diced tomatoes to soups, stews and chili
Red Grapes
• An easy snack or pack a bunch with lunch
• Add to chicken salad
Enjoy a serving of red food every day and have a happy, healthy heart month!
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Nikki
I always had an interest in food and nutrition and attended Central Michigan University to earn a Bachelors Degree in Dietetics. Several years later, I went back to college to obtain my Masters degree in Human Nutrition from Andrews University. I have been a Registered Dietitian for 27 years and have spent the last 20 years working with Supermarkets. I discovered years ago that grocery stores were a great place to reach consumers and help them obtain accurate nutrition information. I also realized that busy families are looking for quick, affordable, and healthy ideas for meals. In my position as Healthy Living Manager at Meijer I spend a lot of time working with food manufacturers and commodity groups to search out and create easy recipes that can become part of family-pleasing menus. Although my two daughters are now grown and married, my husband and I continue to enjoy cooking together and creating new recipes with nutritious ingredients. I hope my information provides you and your family with easy ideas to live a healthy life!