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Smart starts for a healthy heart

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Improve hydration, skip added sugars with better-for-you beverages

(Family Features) How you start your morning can impact the rest of your day. If you’re looking to incorporate healthier choices into your morning routine, try a concept known as “habit stacking.” Building tiny, healthier habits into routines you already have, like enjoying a morning beverage or breakfast before you check your email instead of jumping right into the day’s tasks, can make it easier to stick to a new habit when it’s built into an existing routine.

If you already enjoy the routine of breakfast to start the day, consider swapping sugary drinks for beverages without added sugars like unsweetened green or black tea. When incorporated as part of an overall healthy diet, unsweetened tea can help support heart health.

If you need help getting started, Lipton, a proud national sponsor of the American Heart Association’s Life is Why campaign, created these easy-to-make, better-for-you tea recipes.

A small handful of ingredients makes a big splash in Green Tea Berry Banana Smoothies, ideal for an on-the-go breakfast. For a little refreshment any time of day, simple Sparkling Green Tea Cranberry Spritzers offer a solution with 0 grams of added sugars while non-alcoholic Green Tea Mojito Mocktails provide natural sweetness with 100% fruit juice.

Choosing beverages with no added sugars can contribute to a healthy heart, according to the American Heart Association, making these recipes perfect for daily habit stacking. Water is needed to keep your body running at its best, and because unsweetened tea is 99.5 % water, it provides a delicious way to help hydrate.

Discover more ways to improve daily routines at Heart.org/eatsmart.

Green Tea Berry Banana Smoothies

Recipe courtesy of the American Heart Association
Servings: 4 (1 1/2 cups per serving)

  • 3 cups water
  • 8 single-serving green tea bags
  • 16 ounces frozen mixed berries (about 3 cups)
  • 2 medium bananas, peeled, cut in half and frozen
  • 1 cup fat-free plain Greek yogurt
  • 2 teaspoons fresh-grated peeled gingerroot (optional)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (optional)
  • 2 teaspoons chia or flax seeds (optional)
  1. In small saucepan over high heat, bring water to boil. Remove pan from heat. Submerge tea bags. Steep 4 minutes. Discard tea bags. Let tea mixture cool 30 minutes. Pour into pitcher. Refrigerate 2 hours, or until chilled.
  2. In food processor or blender, process tea, berries, bananas and yogurt until smooth. Add gingerroot and vanilla, if desired, and process until smooth. Pour into four glasses. Sprinkle with chia seeds, if desired.

Nutritional information per serving (without optional ingredients): 136 calories; 1 g total fat (0 g saturated fat, trans fat, polyunsaturated fat and monounsaturated fat); 3 mg cholesterol; 23 mg sodium; 29 g carbohydrates; 5 g fiber; 18 g total sugars (0 g added sugars); 8 g protein.

Green Tea Mojito Mocktails

Recipe courtesy of the American Heart Association
Servings: 4 (1 1/2 cups per serving)

  • 4 cups water
  • 4 single-serving green tea bags
  • 32-40 sprigs fresh mint, plus additional for garnish, divided
  • 2 cups ice cubes
  • 1 cup 100% white grape juice
  • 1/2 cup fresh lime juice (about 4 medium limes)
  • 1 medium lime, cut into four wedges or lime zest twists (optional)
  1. In small saucepan over high heat, bring water to boil. Remove pan from heat. Submerge tea bags. Steep 4 minutes. Discard tea bags. Let tea mixture cool 30 minutes. Pour into pitcher. Refrigerate 2 hours, or until chilled.
  2. At serving time, add mint leaves to four glasses. Using muddler or wooden spoon, mash mint leaves several times to release juices. Don’t mash into pulp. Add ice.
  3. Stir white grape juice and lime juice into tea mixture. Pour into glasses. Garnish each with lime wedge and mint leaf.

Tip: To get more juice from citrus, before slicing, microwave fruit on high 30 seconds, or until warm. When cool enough to handle, use citrus reamer or handheld juice press to juice citrus.

Nutritional information per serving: 45 calories; 0 g total fat (0 g saturated fat, trans fat, polyunsaturated fat and monounsaturated fat); 0 mg cholesterol; 7 mg sodium; 13 g carbohydrates; 0 g fiber; 10 g total sugars (0 g added sugars); 1 g protein.

Sparkling Green Tea Cranberry Spritzers

Recipe courtesy of the American Heart Association
Servings: 4 (1 1/2 cups per serving)

  • 4 cups water
  • 4 single-serving green tea bags
  • 1 cup 100% cranberry juice or 100% cranberry-pomegranate juice
  • 2 cups ice cubes
  • 1/2 cup seltzer (flavored or plain) or low-sodium club soda, chilled
  • 4 orange slices or lime wedges (optional)
  1. In small saucepan over high heat, bring water to boil. Remove pan from heat. Submerge tea bags. Steep 4 minutes. Discard tea bags. Let tea mixture cool 30 minutes. Pour into pitcher. Stir in cranberry juice. Refrigerate 2 hours, or until chilled.
  2. At serving time, put ice cubes in four glasses. Pour tea mixture into glasses. Top each serving with seltzer. Garnish with orange slices.

Tip: To create cranberry-flavored ice cubes, fill ice cube tray with 100% cranberry juice and freeze.

Nutritional information per serving: 32 calories: 0 g total fat (0 g saturated fat, trans fat, polyunsaturated fat and monounsaturated fat); 0 mg cholesterol; 4 mg sodium; 8 mg carbohydrates; 0 g fiber; 8 g total sugars (0 g added sugars); 1 g protein.


SOURCE:
American Heart Association

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Easy, creamy spring goodness

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(Family Features) For a soup that smells as divine as it tastes, warm up your home with the fresh scents and flavors of Creamy Asparagus Soup. Pair with chicken salad croissants for a simple weeknight meal without the hassle then visit Culinary.net to discover more spring soup solutions.

Creamy Asparagus Soup

Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy
Servings: 4-6

  • 2 asparagus bundles
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 3 cups broth of choice, divided
  • 4 ounces cream cheese
  • 1 cup Parmesan cheese
  • 2 teaspoons celery salt
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • salt, to taste
  • pepper, to taste
  • chicken salad croissants, for serving
  1. Chop asparagus into bite-size pieces. In large pot, place asparagus, butter, onion powder, garlic powder and 1 cup broth. Cook over medium heat until asparagus gets tender.
  2. Transfer to blender with 1 cup broth and blend until smooth. Transfer back to pot and, over medium heat, mix in cream cheese, remaining broth and Parmesan cheese. Add celery salt and Italian seasoning. Cook while stirring, blending seasonings in well, then add heavy cream.
  3. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve with chicken salad croissants.


SOURCE:
Culinary.net

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Springtime twist on classic chicken soup

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(Family Features) Chasing away those final cool days in the spring can be done in a cinch: just turn classic chicken noodle soup into a fresh, lemony meal. This Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup calls to mind those classic brothy soups from when you were a kid but with a flavorful spring twist. Serve with fresh cucumber sandwiches for a veggie-forward meal and find more soup inspiration at Culinary.net.

Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup

Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy
Servings: 4-6

  • 2 carrots
  • 2 celery stalks
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 2 cups cooked, chopped chicken
  • 1/3 cup lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons lemon pepper
  • 6 cups broth
  • 1 cup orzo
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon thyme
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • salt, to taste
  • pepper, to taste
  • cucumber sandwiches, for serving
  1. Chop carrots and celery. In pot, saute with butter.
  2. In bowl, mix chicken with lemon juice and lemon pepper then set aside.
  3. After carrots and celery are tender, add broth and orzo to pot. Then add garlic powder, onion powder, thyme and sugar. Simmer 10 minutes then add chicken and cream; simmer about 5 minutes.
  4. Add salt and pepper, to taste. Serve with cucumber sandwiches.


SOURCE:

Culinary.net

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Enjoy a light summer lunch

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(Family Features) Watermelon, strawberries, corn and green beans get all the fresh produce love in the summer, but don’t forget broccoli as a warm-weather staple. Instead of dunking in dressing or smothering with melted cheese, go for a lighter dish with this Broccoli Salad – an ideal light lunch or simple summer side. Visit Culinary.net to find more veggie-inspired salad ideas.

Broccoli Salad

Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy
Servings: 4-6

  • 2 medium heads broccoli
  • 2 apples
  • lemon juice
  • 1 carrot
  • 1 cup blueberries
  • 1 cup dried cranberries
  • 1 cup sunflower seeds
  • 1 cup pecans
  • 1 package (2 1/2 ounces) real bacon pieces

Dressing:

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
  1. Coarsely chop broccoli and place in large bowl. Coarsely chop apples and brush with lemon juice to prevent browning; add to bowl. Shred carrot and add to bowl with blueberries, cranberries, sunflower seeds, pecans and bacon.
  2. To make dressing: Mix mayonnaise, milk, apple cider vinegar, sugar and poppy seeds. Pour over broccoli salad and mix well.


SOURCE:
Culinary.net

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