Well, the weather this week may make it seem like Spring is just around the corner, but it’s definitely February. Know how I can tell? There are hearts everywhere.
It's nauseating! Pink hearts. Red hearts. Chocolate hearts…well, I guess those aren't so bad. But guys, there are even hearts in my CLASSROOM.
Healthy hearts, that is.
In celebration of National Heart Month (yup, that's this month), our teachers have been talking about nutrition—and the foods that enhance your heart’s health. We learned about five important ones—so I thought I'd share them with you. Consider it my Valentine's gift. <heh>
Blueberries topped the list for their Vitamin C and fiber content. Mom sprinkles them on our salads or sometimes on my cereal. My teacher says they’re available all year round, but we mostly buy them in the summer.
Next up, fatty fish like salmon. I don’t mind fish, which is good since salmon especially is high in omega-3 fatty acids, the kind of fat that’s good for your heart. We’ve got stockpiles of salmon in the deep freeze—Dad and his best friend take a trip to BC every year and catch their limit. Might be time to thaw some out.
Of course, I should have known oatmeal would make the list. Grandma calls it roughage—and we eat a lot of it. The dietician that visited our class said a diet high in oats may reduce the risk of heart disease. Sometimes mom even uses oatmeal in her meatloaf instead of breadcrumbs.
And then there’s the powerhouse of the vegetable kingdom – the mighty spinach. It’s high in iron, and keeps you strong. No wonder Popeye loved it so much. Mom tries to sneak it into my salads…one day I should tell her I don’t mind the taste. Ha ha. Last night we actually had some with garlic and onions...pretty good!
Last on the list? You guessed it. Canola. Canola oil is high in healthy unsaturated fats, is free of cholesterol and has the lowest saturated fat of any common edible oil. I felt pretty proud talking about Grandpa’s farm with my teacher. No surprise we eat plenty of canola at home—most times Mom uses oil instead of a hard fat like butter or lard in her baking. I can’t taste the difference.
Bet you noticed chocolate isn’t on the list—and Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. Don’t worry, you can still have some. Just look for chocolate that’s made with 100% cacao beans, like the chocolate nibs Mom buys from the health food store. She sprinkles them on her cereal sometimes, but uh, I don’t quite get it. They taste bitter to me. What’s the point of chocolate if it doesn’t melt in your mouth? Dad says it’s an acquired taste.
Gotta jet! Have a healthy and heart-friendly weekend!
~ Chase Superman Duffy
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