February is a month of love, so why not show your body some and fill up on heart-healthy foods? It also happens to be National Heart Month and National Cancer Prevention Month. Last week in cooking club, the students and I discussed what foods are good for our hearts as well as did a little light exercise to get our hearts beating. We then made the following three-ingredient cookie, which features oatmeal and dark chocolate or walnuts. All fantastic foods for showing your ticker some affection!
Three-Ingredient Heart-Healthy Cookies from skinnytaste.com.
Ingredients:
- 2 medium ripebananas, mashed
- 1 cup of uncooked quick oats
- 1/4 cup crushed walnuts, dark chocolate or other mix-in
Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a non-stick cookie sheet with cooking spray or use a Silpat. Combine the mashed bananas and oats in a bowl. Fold in the walnuts and place a tablespoon of each on the cookie sheet. Bake 15 minutes. Makes 16 cookies.
In our Pick a Better Snack lesson this month, kindergarten through third-graders will be sampling bell peppers. Red bell peppers are another heart-healthy food, so I incorporated them into a smoothie in celebration of Valentine’s Day. I know that red pepper in a smoothie can sound a little odd, but it adds a nice kick to this fruity drink.
Red Bell Pepper + Navel Orange + Coconut Oil Smoothie from Jessica Seinfeld on BuzzFeed
Ingredients:
- One red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
- One navel orange, peeled and chopped
- 1 Tablespoon coconut oil
- Ice, if desired
Add all ingredients into a blender and blend until icy and smooth.
Great post!! I make this cookie recipe! It’s a great alternative to some other more processed treats… you are influencing children’s long held assumptions about treats… that’s the highest level of system change we can influence… great job.