Dignity Health Merced | helloHealthy | Fall 2018

HelloHealthy | Fall 2018 7 Fruit forward Add cubed melon or fresh or frozen berries. Add slices of orange, lemon, or lime, or squeeze in some juice. One cool combo: Lime and cucumber Herbal infusion Fresh herbs, like basil and mint leaves, add unique and flavorful notes. One sweet pairing: Mint and watermelon Break the ice Make flavored ice cubes with 100 percent fruit juice, unsweetened tea, or chopped fruit. Sources: American Diabetes Association; American Institute for Cancer Research Go H 2 O! If plain water doesn’t entice you, how about giving it a refreshing change? Here are some naturally healthy flavor enhancers—and you can also have fun experimenting with what you have on hand. Stay hydratedwith these tasty twists onwater Store smart You don’t want to let fresh herbs go bad before you use them. Leafy herbs—such as basil, cilantro, and mint—will keep for several days with their stems in water, like flowers. Just trim the stems at the bottom first. But keep basil at room temperature, not in the fridge. Wrap woodier herbs, such as rosemary, thyme, and sage, loosely in a paper towel. Then seal in a plastic bag and store them in your refrigerator’s crisper drawer. Source: American Heart Association Make friends with fresh herbs If you want to perk up the flavor of foods without adding salt, here’s a simple solution: herbs. Fresh ones in particular can liven up almost any recipe or food, even bland ones. And there are some especially tasty pairings. For instance, combine: Basil with veggies, eggs, pastas, low-sodium pizza, chicken, and fish dishes. For a simple dish, layer slices of tomato; low-fat, low-sodium mozzarella; and basil leaves. Drizzle with olive oil and add a few shakes of black pepper. Cilantro with beans, tomatoes, corn, peppers, avocados, and rice. For a simple dish, mix together black beans, corn, chopped red bell pepper, chopped jalapeños, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice. Mint with fruit cups, carrots, cucumbers, peas, lamb, beans, and unsweetened iced tea or water. For a simple dish, cut up watermelon and cantaloupe. Drizzle with a mixture of mint and low-fat yogurt.