GO B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

EASY BANANA BREAD RECIPE

(makes one loaf)

4 bananas, mashed

1 1/2 cups flour  (try mixing half whole wheat or almond flour too!)

1/4 cup butter or nut butter

1/4 cup applesauce

3/4 cup sugar

2 eggs, beaten or 1 egg & 2 egg whites

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl, combine bananas, applesauce and softened butter. Add eggs, vanilla and mix. Add sugar and baking soda. Add flour and mix well. Pour mixture into a greased loaf pan and bake for an hour or until toothpick comes clean.

10 WAYS TO USE RIPE BANANAS 

Banana bread, banana muffins, banana chips, banana with cereal, frozen banana pop, banana smoothie, chocolate covered banana, banana milkshake, banana with cereal, peanut butter & banana sandwich

GET READY FOR MARCH - NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH!

National Nutrition Month^® is a nutrition education campaign created annually in March by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The campaign focuses on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. In addition, National Nutrition Month^® promotes the Academy and its members to the public and the media as the most valuable and credible source of timely, scientifically-based food and nutrition information.

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day, also celebrated in March, increases awareness of registered dietitian nutritionists as the indispensable providers of food and nutrition services and recognizes RDNs for their commitment to helping people enjoy healthy lives.

2017 NNM Theme

"Put Your Best Fork Forward" is the theme for NNM 2017 which serves as a reminder that each one of us holds the tool to make healthier food choices. Making small changes during National Nutrition Month® and over time, helps improve health now and into the future. As nutrition experts, Academy members can help guide the public on gradually shifting toward healthier eating styles by promoting NNM activities and messages during March. Be sure to visit the Academy's National Nutrition Month® website during the upcoming months for new and updated resources to help make the NNM 2017 celebration an infinite success! For more information on NNM and promotional resources, visit www.eatright.org.

 · Create a "nutrition question of the day" contest. Suggested prizes: NNM pens, pencils, magnets, buttons or cooking items from the NNM catalog.

· Vote for your favorite fruits and vegetables: Offer a selection of fruits and vegetables cut into bite-size pieces. Ask participants to vote for their favorite vegetable and fruit. Post a tally board to record votes.

· Spend some time reading labels and comparing information in the Nutrition Facts panels.

· Start a school vegetable garden by planting seeds indoors or in the ground.

· Take a field trip to a farmers market or a local farm.

· Develop a lesson plan that explains the science behind ingredients needed for baking.

· Assign a school group project that involves each group researching one of the food groups, allowing each                child to explain a food from that food group and what nutrition it provides.

· Develop a school project that involves kids drawing and creating a meal based on MyPlate, using the Choose MyPlate Coloring Page.

· Organize a sports nutrition education session after school or during gym class.

· Highlight ethnic and cultural food traditions by having an international event with NNM posters or banners, table tents and balloons.

FOR MORE IDEAS, VISIT www.eatright.org.    Courtesy of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

HOLIDAY TREAT

Dark Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn

Put ¼ cup popcorn kernels in a brown bag and microwave for 2-3 minutes. Melt one full size Hershey’s dark chocolate bar in microwave for 45 seconds to 1 minute and then stir. Repeat until melted. Drizzle over popcorn and top with ¼ cup crushed candy cane. Enjoy!

Serving size 1 cup - 80 kcal, 2.4g fat, 1.6g sat fat

New Hampshire Farmers Markets

Make New Hampshire Farmers Markets part of your weekly shopping routine! Farmers markets are a great way to purchase seasonal, fresh, and affordable food items as well as support your local community. Starting in June, many farmers markets will be in full swing.  Here are some tips for shopping at a farmers market:

1. Purchase fresh produce for snacks or meals.

2. Visit all the stands. Many farmers will be selling the same produce, find the best quality and price by visiting each of them.

3. Talk to the farmer. They might have ideas on food preparation/ storage.

4. Bring your children. Introduce your children to healthy food choices.

5. Beware of the sweets. Farmers markets often are filled with baked goods including homemade cookies and donuts… but that doesn’t make them healthy choices!


Plus, as an added bonus many farmers markets participate in Double the Value of SNAP/EBT fruit and vegetable purchases. This means $5.00 SNAP/EBT will purchase $10.00!

For more information on Manchester Farmer’s Markets visit: http://manchesternhfarmersmarket.com

HEALTHIER CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE DOUGH DIP

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups chickpeas or white beans (1 can, drained and rinsed very well)

1/8 tsp salt

1/8 tsp baking soda

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1/4 cup nut butter of choice (If you use peanut butter, it will have a slight peanut butter cookie dough taste)

up to 1/4 cup milk of choice, only if needed

¾  cup brown sugar

1/3 cup chocolate chips

2 to 3 tbsp oats (Ground flax will also work)

Instructions

Add all ingredients (except for chocolate chips) to a good food processor, and process until very smooth. Then mix in the chocolate chips. If made correctly and blended long enough, this should have the exact texture of real cookie dough!

Sweetener Notes: You can get away with less sugar– some people will be perfectly fine with just 3 tbsp for the whole recipe!

This can be served with graham crackers (with no hydrogenated fat), but fresh fruit (especially green apple slices) also works or try it by the spoonful.

Taken from chocolatecoveredkatie.com