Meals Matter
Meals Matter
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The Meals Matter Blog offers advice and tips on using a positive and realistic approach for meal planning, healthy eating, feeding families and fitness. Posts are written by registered dietitians, staff and guest bloggers of the Dairy Council of California.
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Functional foods have components that provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition. Nutritional research has shown that eating moderate amounts of functional foods on a regular basis, as part of a balanced and varied diet, can enhance health and reduce the risk of many acute and chronic diseases.
As a new feature, once a month Family Meals Matter will feature a different functional food. In honor of Valentine’s Day next week, we’re kicking off our Functional Foods series with chocolate!
Chocolate and cocoa are favorite sweet treats that also have health benefits. Cocoa contains flavonoids, which show anti-inflammatory properties and act as antioxidants. Antioxidants protect the body from aging caused by free radicals, which can cause damage that leads to heart disease. With chocolate, as with all functional foods, moderate consumption as part of a balanced diet is essential for full health benefits.
Show your Valentine how much you care with a chocolate-rich family meal of Grilled Chicken Breasts with Smoky California Dried Plums and Chipotle Mole, Jicama with Chili and Lime Salad and Chocolate Ricotta. Throughout the week, enjoy other recipes like Chocolate Monkey, Three Cheese Black Bean Chili with Cheddar Crust, Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal and Cocoa Crusted Pork Tenderloin.
Register free at MealsMatter.org to add these and other recipes to your meal plan and shopping list. Be sure to follow @MealsMatter on Twitter for more healthy eating ideas, recipes and meal planning tips.
“Family Meals Matter” features recipes selected by registered dietitians from the thousands of user-contributed recipes available at our free online nutrition and meal-planning website, Meals Matter, sponsored by Dairy Council of California. Healthy Eating Made Easier™