Posted at: 05/08/2012 2:40 PM

Print Story  Email to a Friend

Give Mom the Gift of Health

Jen Haugen represents Hy-Vee as a nutrition expert promoting healthy eating throughout the community.  Jen is a registered dietitian and a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Help mom to health this Mother’s Day – that really is the gift that keeps on giving!  As mothers, we tend to take more care of others than we do ourselves in some cases, but there is one way that can help all mothers to health this Mother’s Day.

Strawberry Bruschetta
Serves 4.
Active Time: 15 minutes | Total: 15 minutes

All you need
4 thick slices Hy-Vee Baking Stone whole-wheat bread
6 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
2 teaspoons lemon juice
3 cups sliced or diced hulled strawberries
4 tablespoons mascarpone (Italian cream cheese)

All you do
1. Toast bread in a toaster.
2. Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over high heat. Add sugar, lemon zest and lemon juice and cook, stirring, until the sugar melts and the mixture begins to bubble, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add strawberries and stir until juices begin to exude and the berries are heated through, 30 seconds to 1 minute more.
3. Spread 1 tablespoon mascarpone on each piece of toast. Top with the warm berries.
To make ahead: Prepare the sauce (Step 2), cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 1 month. To reheat, microwave on HIGH for about 1 minute (defrost first, if necessary).

Nutrition facts per serving: 202 calories; 5g fat (2g sat, 0g mono); 9mg cholesterol; 38g carbohydrate; 19g added sugars; 5g protein; 4g fiber; 137mg sodium; 238mg potassium.

Nutrition bonus: Vitamin C (109% daily value).
Source: adapted from Eating Well, Inc.
Key Messages

 

  • There are 5 reasons gardening can help mom this Mother’s Day:
  • Stress-Relief: Researchers found that just 30 minutes of gardening fought stress even better than other leisure activities.
  • Me-Time: Trade your IPhone for I-Time!  Gardening can enhance your mood and make you feel happier – it’s therapeutic.
  • Brain Health: Researchers found a 36-47% lower risk for dementia in 60-70 year olds who gardened regularly for years.
  • Eat Healthy: When you plant fruits and vegetables, you will more likely eat more of them!  Eating meals that are filled with fruits and vegetables contributes to a healthier life.  We see how gardening with kids enhances their intake, it will for adults too.
  • Get Active: Gardening allows you to stretch your body and provides a regular time to get outside as you continue to need to tend to your garden – purposeful exercise.
  • Give the gift that keeps on giving – a gardening basket full of things that will help mom to health.  Think about trying a hanging basket of strawberries or herbs in addition to beautiful flowers.  Or what about edible flowers?  Pansy petals have a mild flavor and can be added to salads.

 



Today's Most Read Stories