Pear, mint and fig salad

Fruits and veggies go well together. This summer experiment with fresh herbs and citrus fruits, which also go great with different types of salad greens.

Pear, mint and fig salad

(serves 4)

• 2 TB extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 TB balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 TB freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp honey
• 1 small shallot, minced
• 1 small head Boston lettuce, washed and torn
• 1/4 cup fresh chopped mint
• 1 ripe pear of your choice, seeded, cored and quartered
• 8 dried figs, cut into 4 slices each
• ground black pepper to taste

In a bowl, whisk together oil, vinegar, lemon juice and honey. Stir in shallot and set aside. To prepare salad, arrange lettuce on a serving platter. Sprinkle mint over lettuce. Cut each pear quarter into 4 slices and arrange over mint. Sprinkle dried figs on top. Stir dressing and pour over salad. Serve with freshly ground black pepper.

High in fiber, less than 200 calories per serving, rich in healthy fats.

Healthy Chocolate Pudding Recipe

Healthy Chocolate Pudding Recipe

Made with Greek yogurt

Make delicious chocolate pudding with 4 simple ingredients (serves 4): 1/2 cup dark cocoa powder (or Dutch process) not regular, 2 cups full-fat Greek yogurt, 3 TB pure maple syrup, 1 tsp pure vanilla.

Use a whisk to stir the cocoa powder and remove lumps. Then mix everything together in another bowl. The mixture will be very thick at first and ‘powdery.’ As you stir and incorporate the cocoa powder into the yogurt it will become smooth. Adjust ingredients to your taste (amount of liquid if very thick, cocoa powder for chocolate flavor, maple syrup for sweetness).

Nutrition Facts (per serving without revisions to above): 185 calories, 6 g fat, 21 g carbohydrate, 12 G protein

5 Tips for eating more vegetables this summer

Vegetables are essential for optimal health. Whether you grow your own, browse the farm stand or simply buy them at the grocery store, get creative. Those who eat a wide variety of vegetables daily enjoy health benefits such as lower BMIs and better gut health.

1. Buy a veggie noodle maker for zucchini or buy veggie noodles. Find them in the freezer section at the grocery store (carrot, beet).
2. Grill them – try bell peppers, onions, mushrooms and pineapples on skewers.
3. Have a green smoothie for breakfast. Frozen bananas, apples, leafy greens, Greek yogurt, a bit of honey and squeeze of lemon work well together.
4. Whether you make homemade pizza or buy frozen, add extra sliced/diced veggies as a topping before putting in the oven.
5. Throw some romaine lettuce hearts on the grill with your chicken or burgers for a charred salad.