Hy-Vee Dietitian:Midday Recipes

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By Ashley Hinson

Story Created: Feb 9, 2010 at 10:16 AM CST

Story Updated: Feb 9, 2010 at 10:17 AM CST

Feature: Lowering Cholesterol Naturally with Plant Sterols

1. Did you know your orange juice for breakfast and crackers for a snack may help lower cholesterol levels?

2. Plant sterols occur naturally in plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds and have powerful cholesterol-lowering properties.

3. Plant foods contain small amounts of plant sterols. Manufacturers have tried to make it easier to get this heart-healthy nutrient by extracting the compound and adding concentrated amounts to food.

4. The National Cholesterol Education Program recommends consuming two grams of plant sterols daily.

Bruschetta Bites
All you need:
1 small tomato, finely chopped
1/4 cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
2 green onions, sliced
1 Tbsp. Light Italian Dressing
40 Kashi Heart to Heart Whole Grain Crackers
1 pkg. (8 oz.) Neufchatel Cheese (light cream cheese), softened

All you do:
Mix first 4 ingredients.
Spread crackers with Neufchatel; top with tomato mixture.

Pear & Swiss Appetizer
All you need:
12 Kashi Heart to Heart Whole Grain Crackers
1 fresh pear, cut into 12 thin slices
6 oz. Laughing Cow Cheese
2 Tbsp. apricot preserves

All you do:
Spread cracker with Laughing Cow Cheese, top with pear and apricot preserves.

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