Get a Healthy Taste of the Holidays with Unique, Diabetes-Friendly Recipes

CHICAGO, Dec. 1, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The holiday season is a time for celebration, togetherness and most of all, eating. But since heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and type 2 diabetes affects at least 24 million American adults and children, a healthier take on holiday dishes can benefit the whole family. Cheryl Forberg, R.D., consulting dietitian to NBC-TV's "The Biggest Loser," New York Times best-selling author and James Beard award-winning recipe developer, and Suzanne Steinbaum, D.O., preventive cardiologist, are here to help consumers make smart dietary choices so they can have their cake (or pumpkin flan) and eat it, too.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101115/DC01517)

"Heart disease and diabetes are largely preventable with a heart-smart diet, exercise and other healthy habits," Steinbaum said. "It's important to watch total calories and portions and eat predominantly unsaturated fats along with vegetables, fruits, whole grains and lean meats."

To make it easier to stick to this advice during the indulgent holiday season, Forberg has developed diabetes-friendly, heart-healthy holiday recipes for a meal makeover that's both nutritious and delicious. Recipes include:

• Turkey Roulade
• Cornbread and Dried Fruit Dressing
• Porcini Mushroom Gravy
• Warm Apple and Cranberry Sauce
• Holiday Rapini Saute
• Pumpkin Flan

"A diabetes-friendly diet is really how everyone should eat," Forberg said. "These recipes prove that great-tasting meals can also be healthy. Now that's something to celebrate with family and friends during the holiday season."

As a common ingredient throughout these recipes, canola oil delivers on heart health. It has the least saturated fat and most omega-3 fat of all cooking oils and is free of trans fat and cholesterol. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized a qualified health claim for canola oil on its potential to reduce the risk of heart disease.

"Well-being is about taking ownership of your health and taking small steps each day to improve it," Steinbaum said. "Choosing a healthy cooking oil like canola is one example."

Canola oil is extremely versatile with a light texture, neutral flavor and one of the highest smoke points (468 degrees Fahrenheit) of all culinary oils, making it perfect for any culinary application.

For more info about canola oil, go to www.canolainfo.org, Facebook.com/canolainfo and Twitter.com/canolainfo.  

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Suzanne Steinbaum, DO, MD

https://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=93573

SOURCE CanolaInfo