Dietitian Product Spotlight: Hy-Vee Select Frozen Chopped Herbs

This product is one of my favorites! It’s healthy, tasty and saves a lot of time in the kitchen. There are four flavorful options to choose from including cilantro, parsley, garlic and basil. These herbs can be used to flavor fish, meats, vegetables, pastas, dips, etc.  The possibilities are endless. 

Here are 5 reasons to use herbs:

1. Heart-healthy flavor boost. Herbs are naturally salt-free.
2. Ready-to-use convenience. No washing, peeling, or chopping required.
3. Provides antioxidants. May help lower LDL cholesterol and protect against cell damage.
4. Very versatile. Use to liven up soups, stews, sauces, stir-fries or any favorite recipe. 

I like using the cilantro in the recipe below: 

Avocado Yogurt Dip 

Serves 8 (2 tablespoons each).

All you need:

1 ripe avocado, peeled and pitted

1/2 cup nonfat plain yogurt

1/3 cup packed fresh cilantro leaves or
Hy-Vee Select frozen chopped cilantro

2 tbsp chopped onion

1 tbsp lime juice

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper

Hot sauce to taste, optional

All you do:

1. Place avocado, yogurt, cilantro, onion, lime juice, salt and pepper in a food processor. Process until smooth. Season with hot sauce, if desired.

 Nutrition Facts per serving: 51 calories, 4g fat, 1g saturated fat, 0mg cholesterol, 87 mg sodium, 4g carbohydrates, 2g fiber, 1g sugars, 1g protein. 

Source: www.eatingwell.com.

Hope you enjoy!

-Dietitian Natalie

Dietitian Pick of the Month: One Step Shredded Wheat Cereal

Try this month’s dietitian pick of the month! This month’s dietitian pick is Hy-Vee’s One Step^TM Shredded Wheat Cereal. If you caught the dietitian tip of the week last week on Facebook you heard me talk about the One Step^TM products at Hy-Vee. These are great products and when you purchase them, they help give back to the community you live in and the environment!

One Step^TM Shredded Wheat Cereal is great for the environment because it’s packaged in a 100% recycled cardboard box. Another reason I love this product is because a portion of the proceeds will help those struggling with food insecurities right here in the Midwest! To date, 256,000 meals have been packaged and shipped to nearby food banks.

Not only does One Step^TM Shredded Wheat cereal help people in need, it can also benefit your own health! This product contains only one ingredient: whole wheat! This means that there are no added sugars or preservatives, which is a huge bonus!  For a quick and balanced breakfast, have a bowl of One Step^TM Shredded Wheat cereal with milk and a serving of fruit (about the size of a tennis ball).  If eating plain wheat isn’t really your thing then try the One Step^TM Shredded Wheat parfait below!

One Step^TM Shredded Wheat Parfait

All you need:

1 (5.3 oz) container Siggi’s non-fat raspberry yogurt

2/3 cup crushed Hy-Vee One Step^TM shredded wheat cereal

¼ cup fresh raspberries

1 tbsp sliced almonds

All you do:

1.      Spoon about half of the yogurt into the bottom of a parfait glass or other tall glass. Cover with 1/3 cup crushed shredded wheat cereal. Repeat layers of yogurt and shredded wheat.

2.     Top with fresh raspberries and sliced almonds.

Nutrition Facts per serving: 280 calories, 3.5g fat, 0g saturated fat, 0mg cholesterol, 65mg sodium, 46g carbohydrates, 18g sugar, 7g fiber, 19g protein

Daily values: 0% vitamin A, 15% vitamin C, 20% calcium, 60% iron.

-Dietitian Amanda

Nurtrition Bars...which one to choose?

There are many options on the shelves when it comes to this topic. For general healthful eating, a good rule of thumb is to choose a bar that fits the following criteria:

• Around 200 calories
• At least 3 grams of fiber
• At least 5 grams of protein 
• Less than 10 grams of sugar

Many KIND bars and Quest bars fit these recommendations.

I also like to point out the ingredient list when recommending nutrition bars. The examples below have a shorter list as many of the ingredients are made from whole foods. These are also healthful choices. 

When in doubt, ask, e-mail, or call your West Lakes Hy-Vee Dietitians! 

-Dietitian Natalie