National Women’s Health Week is traditionally observed the week leading up to Mother’s Day. Why highlight women’s health? It encourages women to take steps to improve their physical and mental health and lower their risk of certain diseases through healthy lifestyle practices.
This is the perfect time for women to get preventive screenings for bone, breast, colorectal, diabetes, heart and reproductive health. Another way to improve our health is the MyPlate way. Healthy eating and physical activity are important for reducing risks of chronic disease along with the preventive health screenings.
Taking steps to include the good food choices and in the right proportions can go a long way to improving your health and quality of life.
Start by loading up on fresh fruits and vegetables. Not only are they naturally low in calories but they help lower the risk of several chronic diseases. Make half your plate fruits and vegetables. In season during the month of May is asparagus. Add this spring vegetable sauté to your menu this week!
This recipe and more can be found on our web page at http://ces.ca.uky.edu/clark/ look for the Taste of the Month link.
Spring Vegetable Sauté
1 teaspoon olive oil
½ cup sliced sweet onion
1 finely chopped garlic clove
3-4 tiny quartered new potatoes
¾ cup sliced carrots
¾ cup asparagus pieces
¾ cup sugar snap peas, or green beans
½ cup quartered radishes
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon dried dill
Heat the oil in a skillet. Cook the onion 2 minutes, add the garlic and cook another minute. Stir in the potatoes and carrots. Cover, turn the heat to low, and cook until almost tender, about 4 minutes. If the vegetables start to brown, add a tablespoon or 2 of water. Now add the asparagus, peas, radishes, salt, pepper and dill. Cook, stirring often, until just tender, about 4 more minutes. Serve immediately. Nutritional analysis per ¼ of recipe: 80 calories; 1/5 g fat; 200 mg sodium; 14 g carbs; 3 g fiber; 5 g sugar; 3 g protein. Source: www.5aday.gov.
Jennifer Howard is the Clark County Extension Service agent for family and consumer sciences.
