This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of American Heart Association for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.
I am taking a bit of inspiration from the American Heart Association today and their Pinterest page, which is full of great heart-healthy recipes and tips for families. I was reading an article about buying seasonal produce, and it reminded me to take a look and see what actually is in season in May. May is a great time to buy fresh avocado (which we use a ton of), asparagus, spinach, blueberries, grapefruits, and oranges. Take a look at this chart from the American Heart Association’s Pinterest page.
I’ve already printed out a copy to keep posted on my fridge to remind me to try and eat seasonally. Fruits and vegetables that are in season are not only fresher and healthier, but they cost a lot less too. Buying seasonal produce also helps support local farmers and has a reduced environmental impact. Score! One of my goals this spring and summer is to try and frequent the amazing Farmer’s Markets we have in my area. I think that it will be a great way to show the kids where their food comes from and hopefully get them excited about trying some new things. Every time I’ve been to a farmer’s market, or even just a roadside vegetable stand, I find that the produce tastes sooo much better than when purchased in the store (and especially if it’s in season).
The American Heart Association recommends getting at least 4.5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily to maintain optimum health and to help you reduce risk for heart disease and stroke. One way we try to meet this goal is to serve fruits and vegetables at every meal…every day. Bonus points from my kids if I manage to get all the colors of the rainbow on the plate! My kids prefer their veggies raw, so I cut up tons of peppers, carrots, cucumbers, heirloom tomatoes, and anything else I have on hand. My kids love to dip everything so I usually serve hummus with the veggies for added protein. Here’s a great homemade hummus recipe I recently tried from the American Heart Association’s Pinterest page.
The American Heart Association is very committed to promoting healthy eating as one way to help prevent heart disease. They know that moms often are the ones making the decisions about what their families eat. We all want to be healthy and raise healthy kids…. check out their Life Is Why website and Pinterest boards for lots of great recipes and inspiration. I find that including my kids in food preparations and cooking makes them much more interested in trying new things and getting excited about eating healthy. I’ve included a link to a few recipes I can’t wait to try cooking with my kids. They all feature produce that is in season right now. I’ve challenged myself to eat seasonally this spring and summer, I think you should too! Enjoy!
Spring Greens with Salmon and Apricot-Ginger Vinaigrette
Chicken Salad with Orange Vinaigrette
Moroccan Chicken with Brown Rice and Lemon Sauteed Spinach
Why do you want to eat a more healthy diet? Your family is a great reason, check out the Life is Why page to create your own “Why” like this to share!
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