Five Simple Steps To A Healthier Life

Five Simple Steps To A Healthier Life

Leeanna McKamey, SNAP-Ed Program Assistant

OSU Extension/Highland County

• Start with a Healthy Breakfast
• Move More.
• Add more fruits, veggies, and whole grains to your meal plan
• Remember to Hydrate
• Try lower calories or fat.

Fruit Salad

Serves 6, 1 cup per serving

Ingredients (Remember you can use a combination of fresh, frozen or canned fruits to cut costs)

2 cups strawberries

1 cup blueberries

1 cup mango chunks

2 medium bananas

2 kiwis

1 (15 ounce) can pineapple chunks in juice

1 Tablespoon of honey (used as a sweetener)

Optional Ingredients:

3 Tablespoons mint leaves

½ cup shredded, toasted coconut

½ cup slivered almonds

Instructions

In Advance:

1. If using frozen, thaw fruit in the refrigerator until no longer hard, but still cool to the touch.

Preparation:

2. Peel and slice bananas and kiwis.
3. If using, rinse and chop mint leaves.
4. Drain canned pineapple, reserving juice.
5. In a large bowl, add bananas, kiwis, pineapple, and fruit. Mix.
6. In a small pot over medium heat, add reserved pineapple juice and honey. Stir and heat until juice forms a sauce, about 5 minutes. Allow sauce to cool for 5-10 minutes.
7. Pour sauce over fruit salad. Mix to coat fruit. If using, mix in mint, coconut, and almonds.

Chef’s Notes

To toast coconut: Heat oven to 300°F. Place coconut shreds on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Bake for 5 minutes or until light brown.

Use leftover fruit in Fruit Smoothies.

 

 

Sweet Potato Fries

Serves 6, 8-10 fries per serving

Ingredients

4 medium sweet potatoes

1½ teaspoons paprika

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

1⁄8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 Tablespoon canola oil

Non-stick cooking spray

 

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 450°F.
2. Scrub and rinse sweet potatoes. Pat dry with a paper or kitchen towel.
3. Leaving skin on, cut sweet potatoes into thick French fry strips, about ½-inch wide or into thin chips.
4. In a large bowl, mix paprika, salt, ground black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Add oil. Blend with a fork until there are no lumps.
5. Add sweet potato strips or chips to the bowl. Toss until they are coated on all sides.
6. Coat baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray. Place sweet potatoes in a single layer on the sheet.
7. Bake for 15 minutes. Turn fries over and bake another 10-15 minutes, or until fries are tender. If making chips, it will take less time.

Chef’s Notes

For easier cleanup, line the baking sheet with a layer of aluminum foil. Coat with non-stick cooking spray before placing the sweet potatoes on the sheet.

For milder flavor, dust the potatoes with 1½ teaspoons of curry powder and ¾ teaspoon of salt in place of the cayenne seasoning.

For the crispiest fries, be sure sweet potatoes do not lie on top of each other on the baking sheet. You may need to cook in two batches