Boost Your Energy With Peanuts And Peanut Butter

(NAPSI)-If you have been skipping your favorite peanut and peanut butter recipes, it's time to add them back into your diet.

A handful of peanuts or a two-tablespoon serving of peanut butter remains a delicious, convenient and inexpensive way to add nutrients like protein, vitamin E, niacin, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, folate and dietary fiber to your diet.

People still love a PB&J sandwich, peanut butter on apple slices or celery sticks, but, say the experts at the National Peanut Board, you can also use it to add flavor to any meal or snack. Whether you're on the go or powering up before or after a workout, this Fruity Peanut Butter Spread makes a great sandwich spread or a dip for fresh fruit that is sure to be a favorite of both kids and adults. To use as a dip, add extra orange juice until it's the right dipping consistency. The Blueberry Peanut Shake makes a refreshing snack:

Fruity Peanut Butter Spread

1 medium apple, quartered but not peeled

½ cup dried cherries or dried cranberries

1 cup peanut butter

¼ cup orange juice

½ teaspoon cinnamon

In a food processor, chop apple and cranberries. In a small bowl, combine peanut butter, orange juice and cinnamon. Stir apple/cranberry mixture into peanut butter mixture until combined. Cover and refrigerate.

Makes: 12 servings of two tablespoons each

Blueberry Peanut Shake

2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries

⅓ cup creamy peanut butter

½ cup ice

2 cups frozen yogurt

1½ cups whole (or low-fat) milk

Place all ingredients into a blender. Blend at high speed for 1 minute. Pour in glass and serve.

Makes: three servings of 12 oz. each

For more recipes and nutritional information, go to www.nationalpeanutboard.org.

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Fun Snacks Keep Kids Smiling-And Healthy

(NAPSI)-There are plenty of ways by which parents can get even the most finicky little eaters to enjoy healthful foods. The key is to select foods that are healthy, fun and delicious.

For instance, adding pears to kids' favorite dishes or coming up with some new ways to include pears in your child's daily menu can increase the nutrition content of meals without a lot of added time or trouble. Plus, pears can be used in a number of simple recipes that your child will enjoy making with you.

Try these tips for adding pears-and therefore nutrients like fiber and vitamin C-to your child's diet:

Pear "French Fries"

Using a French fry cutter or a knife, slice firm pears into French fry shapes. Serve these healthy treats raw with yogurt or chocolate sauce for dipping as an after-school or anytime healthy snack.

Pearfect Cheese and Crackers

Top whole grain crackers with sliced pears and low-fat cheese for a slightly sweet snack or lunch.

Yogurt Pearfait

Place pear chunks in the bottom of a clear glass. Have your child add layers of plain or vanilla low-fat yogurt, granola and more pears for an amazing breakfast or snack.

Pear-kebabs with Strawberry Dipping Sauce

1 cup vanilla yogurt

4 tablespoons strawberry preserves

2 Bosc or Anjou USA Pears, cored and cut into 1" cubes

2 bananas, cut into 1" slices

1 can pineapple chunks, drained

2 cups strawberries, stems removed

6 wooden skewers

In a small bowl, combine yogurt and strawberry preserves. Set aside.

Alternate pears, bananas, pineapple and strawberries onto the skewers.

Serve fruit with strawberry sauce on the side.

Serves 6

For more kid-friendly recipes, tips and online games, visit www.usapears.org.

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Winning Almond Snacks

(NAPSI)-This year, you can make game day better than ever.

How? By voting for your favorite almond snack recipe online at www.SnackAlmonds.com to get a chance to win a College Basketball Package valued at $8,500.

Leading chefs from around the country have developed fun and delicious snack recipes to satisfy your game-day hunger and impress your friends. After you vote, if you're eager for more chances to win the Basketball Package, simply forward the site on to friends and earn additional entries in the sweepstakes.

Meanwhile, you can snack on these delicious almond treats while watching the game. The four snacks in play are:

Beer and Bacon Glazed Almonds

Created by Cory Barrett, pastry chef of Michael Symon restaurants in Cleveland, Ohio, and a competitor on "Iron Chef America" on the Food Network, this almond trifecta of favorites is sweet, salty and laminated with flecks of savory bacon and pepper.

Grilled Skirt Steak Sliders with Smoked Almond Romesco, Maytag Blue Cheese and Smoked Almond Butter

The sandwiches may be scaled down in size but not in flavor. Jennifer Wayland, executive sous-chef and pastry chef at Roxiticus Golf Club in Mendham, N.J., crafted five layers of harmonious ingredients: smoked almond butter, grilled steak, pungent blue cheese and voluptuous almond romesco, all on a buttery almond-studded roll.

Three-Chili Honey-Almond Fried Chicken

Randal Shircel, corporate R&D chef at Ventura Foods, created crispy chicken wings with hearty texture from a jalapeño-spiked almond and Japanese bread crumb coating. Made with a tangy-sweet fiery glaze, these wings are well suited for serious snacking.

Almond Beer-Battered Catfish

Created by Elyse Buckley, Erin Harbacek and Kathryn Goddard of Kansas State University's Kansas Value-Added Foods Laboratory, these big pieces of meaty whitefish get a power-packed Cajun coating made with almonds, and traditional garlic-and-herb-infused beer battering adds serious flavor.

If you try one of these recipes, you can e-mail a photo of the completed dish to be entered to win one of 50 Almond Inspiration cookbooks.

Visit www.SnackAlmonds.com to download the recipes and vote before March 13.

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Feel-good Foods to Battle the Winter Blues

(ARA) - It’s that time of year again when temperatures hit single digits, clothing gets heavier and it can be difficult to resist the urge to curl up all day under a warm and comfy blanket with an engaging book.

When the sun starts setting earlier, many people also look forward to enjoying traditional delicious winter comfort foods that evoke warmth and nostalgia. Nothing is cozier and more heart-warming than a flavorful meal of chicken pot pie, a savory casserole, a steamy stir-fry or a piping hot bowl of soup to melt a cold winter day away.

You don’t have to lock yourself away in the kitchen all day either to prepare your family’s favorite dishes. Look no further than your own kitchen cupboard for simple solutions to creating hearty and economical meals that will beat the winter blues. Here are a few easy tips to warm your soul and get you through the chilly season:

Yesterday’s Leftovers Made a Little Richer

Often, you open the fridge and face a daunting stack of containers full of leftovers. But last week’s meals can be perfect for turning into a simple chicken pot pie, a hearty stew or a quick casserole. Suddenly, those leftovers are transformed into five more appetizing weeknight dinners.

An easy tip for making leftovers more rich and flavorful when combined in one dish is to add a ready-made broth or stock to guarantee moisture that may have been lost. For example, College Inn chicken broth enhances the flavor of leftover poultry in recipes. Some great dishes include One-Pot Noodles with Chicken and Broccoli, Santa Fe Chipotle Beef Stew and Tortilla Soup, all of which can be found at www.collegeinn.com/everydayexcitement.

"Nothing makes a dish more moist and delicious than the addition of a simple broth, and with new, exotic flavors, such as College Inn’s new line of Culinary Broths in Thai Coconut Curry or White Wine and Herb varieties, you can surprise your family with rich, new tastes," says Laura Molseed Ali, Del Monte’s resident dietitian. "Adding broth to a favorite dish or stew will give your meals a lighter flavor than what you’d get with a heavy cream or butter."

Simple Snacks and Mood Foods
You can also beat the doldrums with mood-enhancing snack choices. People typically reach for a bar of chocolate or caffeinated beverage for a quick energy boost, but both can cause short-term increases in energy followed by crashes. Try to avoid caffeine and alcohol in high doses as both contribute to irritability and depression.

Instead, try simple mood-boosting snacks like trail mix or a fruit cup which are healthier for you than sugary snacks and easy to take on-the-go. If you are absolutely in need of a chocolate or sugar fix and don’t want to overindulge, drizzle a small amount of fat-free chocolate syrup over a whole wheat English muffin for a smarter mid-afternoon snack. Or pack your favorite instant hot cocoa packets in your lunch bag.

Drinks to Warm You on the Inside
It has been proven that hot drinks can actually make you feel less irritable during the winter season. A recent study at Yale University shows that holding a warm drink 'warms' your personality. A simple solution to reduce cold weather irritability is to sip hot cocoa, savor a cup of flavorful broth, or relish a warm apple cider to brighten a bad mood. You’ll instantly feel a little better during a cold hectic day.

Maintaining a warm, healthy body with the right foods and beverages will no doubt help you to keep a glowing personality this winter season.

For more helpful ideas and recipes this winter, visit www.collegeinn.com/everydayexcitement.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Moms Find Fun, Healthy Snacks That Help Fight Childhood Obesity

/PRNewswire/ -- A number of recent public research studies substantiate the rise in childhood obesity, the health risks in overweight children, and the questionable nutritional value of cereals and other foods kids consume. Yet one manufacturer -- Funky Monkey(TM) Snacks -- offers all natural, freeze-dried real fruit products that are not only fun and convenient for kids, but also provide most, if not all, of the daily fruit servings recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for kids.

The need for healthy snack foods that kids love to eat comes at a time of unprecedented concern over children's health. A recent report by the American Heart Association found that the arterial walls of children and teens who are obese or have high cholesterol are similar to that of an average 45-year-old. USA Today, in a June 2008 article, reported that 32% of all U.S. kids -- 23 million children -- are overweight.

Despite the warning signs, many foods commonly consumed by children are less than ideal. A 2008 study by Yale University's Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity determined that children's breakfast cereals are significantly higher in calories, sugar and salt than an equal amount of adult cereal. In a recent University of Calgary study, researchers evaluated the nutritional claims of more than 350 food products marketed to children, finding that while 63% made health claims, 90% were of poor nutritional value.

Practical Fruit Alternative

By contrast, Funky Monkey Snacks contain no added sugar, preservatives, colors or flavors. The snacks are made using a proprietary freeze-drying process on whole slices and large pieces of fruit. The process, not used on any other snack available in the U.S., removes approximately 97 percent of the moisture content of the fruit, providing a crisp, crunchy texture, while retaining nearly all of the fruit's nutrients.

Funky Monkey Snacks are a healthier and more natural alternative to dried fruit or fruit snacks. Dried fruit does not preserve all the nutrients of fresh fruit, and fruit snacks often contain added sugars (including high-fructose corn syrup), colors, flavors and preservatives.

Scientists have learned that fruits and vegetables not only reduce obesity and improve a child's overall health but can also improve academic performance. Earlier this year, a study published in Canada's Journal of School Health, conducted by researchers at the School of Public Health at the University of Alberta, showed that students with an increased fruit and vegetable intake and lower caloric intake of fat were significantly less likely to fail a standardized literacy assessment test.

A "Perfect Choice"

"Our goal for Funky Monkey Snacks is to finally give moms a delicious, organic, truly nutritious and go-anywhere snack that kids will actually enjoy," said Matt Herzog, President of Funky Monkey Snacks. "With the holidays fast approaching, it's more important than ever for parents to have healthy alternatives available amid the rush of activities. Funky Monkey Snacks are the perfect choice to have on hand."

Funky Monkey Snacks come in four varieties: Bananamon(R) (freeze-dried banana and cinnamon), Carnaval Mix(TM) (freeze-dried banana, pineapple, apple, papaya and raisins), Jivealime(R) (freeze-dried pineapple and lime juice), and Purple Funk(R) (freeze-dried banana and acai). Funky Monkey Snacks are available at SuperTarget, Whole Foods Market, Winn-Dixie, HyVee and other grocery stores, as well as through Amazon.com.

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Roasted Olives-Classic Holiday Snacking Favorite

(NAPSI)-Simple to prepare and easy on the budget, savory roasted olives are a delicious seasonal treat at holiday parties and fireside family gatherings. Lindsay Olives transforms everyday olives by roasting them with herbs and spices, French style.

Roasting olives is a fun, quick technique that gives them a slightly chewy outside, a dense flesh and a truly unique bite. Tomatoes, whole garlic and herbes de Provence add color, texture and flavor to a mixture of glossy, black ripe olives, brightly flavored Kalamatas and briny green olives stuffed with garlic. The garlic softens and sweetens as it roasts, a lovely complement to the herbs.

This delicious, simple recipe is ready in just 30 minutes and, if refrigerated, stays tasty for up to two weeks, making it perfect for the nonstop entertaining season.

For more easy entertaining recipes and tips, please visit www.lindsayolives.com.

Lindsay Roasted Olives

(Serves 6-8)

Serve this starter with toasted baguette slices, crackers, pita bread or just by themselves with toothpicks to make it easy to pick them up and enjoy.

1 pint (2 cups) grape or cherry tomatoes

1 cup Lindsay® Black Ripe Olives

1 cup Lindsay® Kalamata Pitted Olives

1 cup Lindsay® Queen Olives Stuffed with Garlic

1 tablespoon herbes de Provence blend or a mix of rosemary and thyme

8 whole garlic cloves, peeled

¼ cup olive oil

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Toasted baguette slices, pita bread or crackers.

Heat oven to 425° F.

Lay out all the ingredients on a sheet pan and toss to combine well. Roast the olive mixture in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until the tomatoes have shriveled and browned lightly. Cool on the sheet pan and transfer all ingredients to a shallow serving bowl. Serve at room temperature with toasted baguette slices or crackers.

Note: Herbes de Provence is a dried herbal blend of rosemary, basil, sage, thyme, summer savory and lavender. It can be found at larger grocery stores or online. If you have trouble finding it, just make your own mix of a few of the designated dried herbs that you have on your pantry shelf.

Serving tip: If you can find them, fresh herbs such as rosemary, thyme or basil look great as a garnish. If you have trouble finding the specified olives, feel free to use any combination that appeals to you.

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Fueling Kids For Sports

(NAPSI)-Whether going all out for the soccer team or training for a dance performance, the energy needs of kids and teens are generally greater than adults. After all, they need nutrition for growth as well as sports performance and that energy largely comes from the foods they consume.

Nutritious snacks that fuel the body for activity go a long way to helping young athletes perform at their best. Portable snacks before and after exercise to achieve a sustained energy boost are as close as your pantry.

Sun-Maid Growers of California have made it especially easy for on-the-go families with a variety of premeasured boxes of Sun-Maid Natural Raisins and soon with new single-serve packages of golden raisins and dried cranberries. Each box is about 90 calories, an ideal serving size for a quick energy boost for older kids and teens.

For very active sports such as football, basketball, hockey and soccer, keeping young athletes fueled before and after practice is essential. That's not always easy when racing to the field after school. The answer can come from this on-the-go snack. Protein from the nuts, whole grains and raisins for energy, and a touch of sweetness from honey are what make granola cups great for a pre- or postgame treat. For more dried fruit recipe ideas, visit www.sunmaid.com.

On-The-Go Granola Cups

1¾ cups old-fashioned oats

¼ cup finely chopped pecans

¼ cup finely chopped almonds

¼ cup pumpkin seeds

2 tablespoons sesame seeds

½ cup maple syrup or honey

2 tablespoons butter, melted

1 large egg white

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup Sun-Maid Fruit Bits or Natural Raisins

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 12-cup muffin tin with muffin papers.

Spread oats, nuts and seeds on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes or until fragrant and lightly toasted. Reduce oven temperature to 300°F.

Combine syrup or honey, butter, egg white and vanilla in large bowl. Add raisins or fruit bits and toasted mixture; stir well. Spoon 1/3 cup mixture into each muffin cup and pack firmly using bottom of flat measuring cup.

Bake 40 minutes until well browned. Cool completely in pan. Makes 12 cups. Store in airtight container.

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100-Calorie Quick Picks

CC Note: Special to the Fayette Front Page

(NAPSI)-Take one look down the snack aisle or at a vending machine and you’ll notice that 100-calorie choices are a popular weight-management trend. And you’re likely to eat less when the package is small than when it’s large, according to research conducted at Cornell University.

To give you plenty of snack options, we’ve put together some of our favorite 100-calorie snacks that you can try at home:

• Frozen banana--Peel a small banana, place on a popsicle stick, roll in 2 tablespoons yogurt and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon crushed Total Cranberry Crunch or low-fat granola. Freeze until yogurt is firm.

• Total trail mix--Toss ¼ cup Whole Grain Total with 1 tablespoon raisins and 2 teaspoons peanuts.

• Salsa dunk--Enjoy ½ cup baby carrots, ½ cup broccoli florets, and 20 pretzel sticks with ¼ cup of your favorite salsa.

• Yogurt parfait--Layer ½ of a 6-ounce container of light yogurt with blueberries in a tall glass. Sprinkle with a couple tablespoons Total cereal.

• Open-face quesadilla--Sprinkle a 6-inch corn tortilla with 2 tablespoons reduced-fat shredded cheese and microwave about 15-20 seconds, or until bubbly. Cut into wedges and top with salsa.

• Minibowl--Enjoy 1/3 cup Total Honey Clusters served with 1/3 cup skim milk.

• Souper snack--Heat a cup of tomato soup; sprinkle ¼ cup oyster crackers over top.

• Cheesy corn--Sprinkle 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese onto 4 cups of freshly popped 94 percent fat-free microwave popcorn.

• Strawberry smoothie--In a blender, blend together 1 cup frozen unsweetened strawberries with ½ cup skim milk.

• Ants on a log--Spread 2 teaspoons peanut butter on 2 celery sticks; top each with 3 or 4 raisins.

• Minipizza--Top half an English muffin with 1 tablespoon pasta sauce and 2 tablespoons reduced-fat mozzarella cheese. Heat in microwave or toaster oven until cheese bubbles.

• Roast beef roll-ups--Wrap thin slices of lean roast beef around 4 asparagus spears, carrot or celery sticks.

• Grilled pineapple--Place 3 slices canned pineapple (canned in juice or water) on a small baking sheet. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon brown sugar and broil until sugar bubbles.

• Middle Eastern snack--Dip 10 cherry tomatoes into 2 tablespoons hummus.

• Sweet potato treat--Microwave a medium sweet potato until soft, about 7 or 8 minutes. Let cool a couple of minutes, cut in half and sprinkle with ground cinnamon or nutmeg.

by Mindy Hermann

Mindy Hermann, M.B.A., R.D., is a nutrition writer for women’s, health and fitness magazines. She is the co-author of “Change One” and the American Medical Association’s “Family Health Cookbook.”

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