Nutritional Boost
Summer 2022 Recipes!

Tropical Tradition Smoothie
Serves 2 | Calories per serving: 200
1 1/2 cups low-fat milk or soymilk
½ cup frozen pineapple pieces (or fresh)
½ cup frozen mango pieces (or fresh)
1 fresh banana
Place all ingredients in a blender, stirring when necessary until smooth, and enjoy a healthy summer treat!

Pasta & Bean Summer Salad
Serves 2 | Calories per serving: 250
1 16 oz. can low-sodium chick peas (rinsed)
1 Tbsp. dried basil (or ¼ cup chopped fresh)
½ cup corn (canned or fresh)
1 cucumber (peeled & chopped)
1 onion (peeled & chopped)
1 pepper (chopped)
½ cup light Italian dressing
1 box whole-wheat elbow pasta
1 Tbsp. olive oil
Salt to taste
Cook pasta and set aside.
In a large bowl toss the pasta, basil, vegetables, beans, olive oil and salad dressing together gently. Chill in fridge before enjoying!

Savory Summer Shrimp with Rice
Serves 4 | Calories per serving: 320
2 tsp. honey
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 Tbsp. chopped garlic
1 cup chopped summer squash
1 cup chopped zucchini
12 oz. medium shrimp
6 oz. brown rice
Combine all ingredients together except rice. Top the rice with the shrimp & veggie mixture, toss and enjoy!

Try these easy Recipe Substitutions to make your meals even healthier!

Egg Whites
… Instead of whole Eggs (2 Whites per Whole Egg)

Low-Fat Cottage Cheese
… Instead of Ricotta Cheese

Cocoa Powder
3 Tbsp. Cocoa Powder + 1 Tbsp. Canola Oil… Instead of 1 ounce of Chocolate

Low Fat Milk
Fat-Free Milk or Soy Milk… Instead of Whole Milk

Applesauce
… Instead of Butter/Oil For Baked Goods

100% Whole Wheat Pasta
100% Whole Wheat/Grain Pasta, Bread & Crackers… Instead of White Pasta, Bread & Crackers…

Mashed Cauliflower
… Instead of Mashed Potatoes

Low Fat Cream Cheese
Or Low-fat Ricotta Cheese… Instead of Cream Cheese

Evaporated Milk
Low-Fat/Fat-Free Evaporated Milk… Instead of Cream

Brown Rice
… Instead of White Rice

Low Fat Sour Cream
… Instead of Mayonnaise

Low Fat Yogurt
Low-Fat/Fat-Free Regular OR Greek Yogurts… Instead of Sour Cream

Turkey Bacon
Canadian Bacon OR Turkey Bacon… Instead of Bacon

Ground Turkey
… Instead of Ground Beef

Citrus Juices
Garlic Powder, and dried/fresh herbs… Instead of Salt

Pureed Fresh Fruit
Instead of… Maple Syrup
The 7 Major Elements of Nutrition
There are 7 main classes of nutrients that are used by your body and required to perform vital tasks such as breathing, digestion, physical activity, circulation and more. Keep reading to find out what they are, and what they do to help our bodies function properly everyday!
Carbohydrates
These are sugars that provide energy! (1 gram has 4 calories) like white/brown sugar, honey, white grain products and can be more complex such as a whole grain food product which will help sustain your blood sugar levels longer. Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for both your brain and muscles.
Fiber
Dietary fiber comes in two forms, soluble which is found in foods like apples and oatmeal, and insoluble which are found in foods like whole wheat and brown rice. Soluble fiber helps to remove harmful cholesterol from our bodies, while insoluble fiber helps regulate blood sugar levels in the body and also helps us with digestion/preventing constipation.
Protein
Fats
Fats have many functions in our bodies. They serve as a “back up” source of energy if the body’s main source of fuel (carbohydrates) is not available. They also assist the body with the absorption of some Vitamins such as Vitamins A, D, E, & K so that we can process these nutrients and use them effectively for different roles in the body. Fats also serve to provide our bodies with insulation and help to regulate our temperature (keep us warm)!
There are many types of fats, some which are healthier than others… In general you want to look for foods that have “mono or polyunsaturated” fats like olive oils, canola oils, avocados and nuts and try to limit or avoid “saturated and trans” fats like full fat dairy products, red meat, margarine and bacon.
Water
Water is essential for many of our bodily functions to work properly! Like fats, it helps to regulate our body temperature, and also protects our organs and tissues. Water also keeps our eyes, nose and mouth tissues moisturized and helps to provide lubrication for our joints. Other important functions of water include helping to carry both oxygen and nutrients to our cells, helping to digest certain Vitamins such as the B Vitamins and Vitamin C and very importantly to aid in removing waste from our bodies through urine and stool.
Vitamins & Minerals
These nutrients are essential for your body to be able to develop and function properly. Some even interact together to enhance certain functions such as Vitamin C helping the body to absorb iron from plants more effectively. For example if you had a plant based source of iron for breakfast such as a fortified cereal, having a piece of fruit with the cereal will help you absorb more of the iron due to the Vitamin C that fruit contains. Vitamins and Minerals also function to promote heart and blood health such as B Vitamins, and Vitamins C & K, prevent anemia in the blood from Iron sources, build bones and teeth with Calcium, and Vitamins D & K, support immunity with Vitamins C & E, skin health with Vitamins A, C and Zinc, support vision with Vitamin A, energy production with the B Vitamins and lastly to support fertility and reproductive health with Zinc.