Heart Health Rice Bowls
We all know that February is the month of Love, but did you know that it is also National Heart Health Month? We are showing our hearts some love this month with four NEW recipes perfectly curated for heart health. As an added bonus: these recipes are perfect for meal prep, making those healthy choices just that much easier!
Our Cilantro Lime Rice Bowl, a favorite with the kiddos, is made with our Golden rice. Not only does our Golden rice have fiber and magnesium necessary for maintaining your heart health, but it is also a lighter-tasting alternative to brown rice…One of the reasons the kiddos love it so much! It’s healthy, delicious, and oh yeah…did we mention it cooks in 15 minutes!
On top of this heart-healthy base, we have a whole spread of colorful ingredients. We believe the more color the better when it comes to healthy foods. In fact, it has been shown that certain colors are linked to certain benefits such as red foods often have Lycopene. Lycopene has been shown to lower the risk of a heart attack. Green foods are known to be packed with folic acid, vitamin K, carotenoids, and omega-3 fatty acids! Beans of all colors are full of folate, a B vitamin that counteracts homocysteine, an amino acid that can form blood clots (1). All of these wholesome colors come together beautifully in this easy-to-make recipe that is perfect for weeknight dinners or weekly meal prep!
Next in our new recipe lineup is our contribution to the ever-popular Mediterranean diet, known for its heart health benefits. Our Greek Chicken Rice Bowl is packed full of all of the delicious and nutritious colors but as an added benefit, it is on a bed of red rice! Red rice not only has fiber and magnesium necessary for maintaining your heart health but it is also packed full of antioxidants such as Anthocyanin. Anthocyanins have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, according to a 2010 review published in Nutrition Reviews! According to the authors of the report, anthocyanins appear to lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels that contribute to heart disease. They also appear to fight oxidative stress (damage caused by free radicals) that plays a role in heart disease (2). This delicious recipe is fresh and delicious and is a great addition to your meal plan!
Though Fall has come and gone, the flavors are still some of my favorites so I couldn’t have a heart-healthy recipe set without adding in some notes of apple, cranberry, and pecan! Our Harvest Rice Bowl has all of these and more. This mixture of ingredients is packed full of health benefits! The apples alone are shown to help improve cholesterol levels, lower risk of high blood pressure, and lower risk of heart disease! (3) When you add the benefits of our Nature’s Blend rice, namely the added fiber, magnesium, and antioxidants…you just can’t pass up this sweet little recipe!
If you are looking for something a little more adventurous for your meal plan, our Spring Roll Rice Bowl is perfect for you! Don’t let the ease of this recipe fool you, this simple spread of ingredients packs a major punch in the fight against heart disease. Our Jasmine Rice is a great source of Vitamin B and energy-giving carbohydrates perfect to help you tackle anything the day throws at you. In addition, we have all of these beautiful colors and their benefits! Orange from the carrots containing Vitamin A and beta carotenes, Red from the radishes containing Lycopene, Purple Cabbage containing anthocyanins, and finally a healthy spread of Green ingredients containing folic acid, vitamin K, carotenoids, and omega-3 fatty acids. (1)
1. Daniels, Joan. “Eating Rainbows.” Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, www.rogelcancercenter.org.
2. Basu A, Rhone M, Lyons TJ. Berries: emerging impact on cardiovascular health. Nutr Rev. 2010;68(3):168–177. doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2010.00273.x
3. Herr, Laurie S. “5 Health Benefits of Apples.” Eating Well, 26 Sept. 2021, https://www.eatingwell.com/article/17769/5-health-benefits-of-an-apple/.
