Category: Health & Well Being

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A delicious Greek appetizer with our healthier twist! @ClevelandClinic #spanakopitas

This savory Greek appetizer is usually made with a lot of butter and a lot of feta cheese, which is delicious, but not really heart-healthy. Our just-as-delicious recipe offers a lighter, heart-healthier alternative!

Ingredients

  • Olive oil cooking spray
  • 1 small onion, minced
  • One 10-ounce package frozen, chopped spinach
  • 1/3 cup crumbled reduced-fat feta cheese
  • 1/4 cup 1% cottage cheese
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
  • Freshly ground pepper
  • 1 tablespoon egg substitute
  • 5 sheets frozen phyllo dough, thawed
  • Refrigerated butter-flavored cooking spray

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Coat a baking sheet with olive oil cooking spray.
  2. Coat a large nonstick skillet with olive oil cooking spray. Add the onion and spinach; saute over medium-high heat until the spinach is thawed and the onion begins to wilt, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir frequently to break up clumps of spinach. Add the feta and cottage cheese along with the nutmeg, dill, pepper and egg substitute; mix well. Remove from heat and cool for 5 minutes.
  3. Cut the phyllo dough into four lengthwise strips, covering the dough you’re not using with a damp tea towel so it doesn’t dry out. Coat each strip with the butter-flavored spray. Place a tablespoon of spinach mix on top of a strip of dough and fold over to make a triangle; continue folding over as if folding a flag. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat, using all the remaining phyllo and filling. Coat each triangle with the butter-flavored spray. Bake for about 20 minutes, until browned. Serve warm.

Nutrition information (per serving)

Makes 20 pieces (10 servings/2 pieces serving)

Calories: 50
Total fat: 1.5 g
Protein: 3 g
Carbohydrate: 7 g
Dietary fiber: 0 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 180 mg
Potassium: 60 mg

— Cleveland Clinic Healthy Heart Lifestyle Guide and Cookbook (© 2007 Broadway Books).

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Recipe: Asparagus Salad With Lemon and Parmesan @ClevelandClinic

This bright, lemony salad is best made with farm-fresh asparagus, which is dressed and eaten raw here. Look for stalks that are bright green with firm, tight tips. Buy it in season from your local farmer’s market.

Ingredients

1 pound fresh asparagus
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon shaved Parmesan
8 fresh chives

Directions

  1. Break off the tough ends of the asparagus and discard.
  2. Use a vegetable peeler to make long thin ribbons of asparagus. Add to a large bowl.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, oil, salt and pepper. Drizzle over the asparagus ribbons and toss well.
  4. Use the vegetable peeler to shave thin strips from a piece of fresh Parmesan (about 1 tablespoon) and scatter over the salad.
  5. Use kitchen shears to cut the chives into small pieces directly over the salad.

Nutritional information (per serving)

Makes 4 servings

Calories: 70
Total fat: 4 g
Saturated fat: 1 g
Trans fat: 0 g
Protein: 4 g
Total carbohydrate: 7 g
Fiber: 3 g
Sugar: 2 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 95 mg

— Developed by Sara Quessenberry for Cleveland Clinic Wellness.

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Get Happy – Why Exercise Can Lift Your Mood @ClevelandClinic #physicalactivity

Here’s a fact that may surprise you: By the year 2020, depression is projected to be a leading social and economic burden worldwide — second only to coronary artery disease! Psychotherapy and antidepressants are effective but aren’t for everyone.

But there’s another treatment for depression that’s free and available to everyone: exercise. It will also lower your blood pressure, improve your cholesterol profile, help control blood sugar, and reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes and common cancers. And, of course, help you achieve or maintain a healthy weight.

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/2016/03/get-happy-exercise-can-lift-mood-infographic/?

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Recipe: Garden Omelet @ClevelandClinic

Full of superfoods to power your day

This superfood omelet is full of nutrient-rich veggies. Brussels sprouts and kale provide folate and glucosinolates. Seaweeds are full of minerals and avocados are loaded with healthy monounsaturated and saturated fats.
Ingredients
2 large kale leaves, stemmed and halved lengthwise
4 Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
3 large pasture-raised eggs
5 large pasture-raised egg whites
freshly ground black pepper and sea salt, to taste
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
6 crimini mushrooms, sliced
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup chopped fresh dill
2 (1/2-ounce) packages roasted seaweed snacks (see note*)
2 cups baby spinach
1 avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced, for garnish
1 teaspoon white truffle oil (optional, for garnish)
Note: If you can’t find roasted seaweed snacks, you can substitute 1 ounce plain nori. Before using nori, brush it with a tiny bit of oil and toast it in a lightly oiled skillet over medium-heat for 10 to 15 seconds on each side. Cut into 3-inch squares before using in the omelet.
Directions
Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high-heat. When it boils, add a large pinch of sea salt. Drop in the kale leaves and Brussels sprouts and blanch just until they turn a brighter shade of green, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain well.
Crack the 3 eggs into a medium mixing bowl, and then add the 5 egg whites. Whisk the eggs together and season with salt and black pepper, to taste.
Heat the oil in a large nonstick pan over medium-heat. Add the eggs and immediately turn the heat down to low. Stir to scramble the eggs, tilting the pan to distribute them in an even layer.
As soon as the eggs are no longer runny, arrange the Brussels sprouts on one side of the omelet and scatter the mushrooms over them. Add the kale and sprinkle the cilantro and dill on top. Cover the herbs all with the seaweed snacks and top with the spinach.
Cover the pan and cook over the lowest possible heat for 5 minutes.
Fold the omelet in half and then cut it into 4 sections. Garnish each portion with a few slices of avocado and a drizzle of truffle oil, if using. Serve immediately.
Nutritional information
Each slice of omelet contains:
Calories 248
Fat 18g
Saturated fat 3g
Cholesterol 123mg
Fiber 6g
Protein 14g
Carbohydrate 12g
Sodium 120mg


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