National Nutrition Month (March) Highlights Karoun Dairies and the Mediterranean Diet

TURLOCK, Calif., Feb. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- You are what you eat. We have heard it a thousand times but for most of us it hasn't translated to our diet and our lifestyles. Healthy diets equal a healthy body. The Mediterranean Diet focuses on natural healthy foods such as fresh vegetables, olive oil, citrus, and healthy dairy. Karoun Dairies (www.karouncheese.com) delicious, natural and growth hormone-free Yanni Grilling Cheese is high in protein and lower in fat making it an ideal addition to our family's meal plan.  Karoun also makes regular and lower fat kefir cheese (labne), plain and flavored fetas, and regular, low-fat, and non-fat natural Mediterranean yogurts.  All of these delicious cheeses are part of the Mediterranean Diet and perfect for inclusion in our daily meals.  

Start your day with Karoun natural Mediterranean yogurt paired with fresh blueberries for a good dose of antioxidants, protein, and calcium.  Mediterranean or Greek-style non-fat yogurts contain twice the protein of regular yogurt, making them ideal for vegetarians or anyone on a high-protein diet.  Spread Karoun's lower fat kefir cheese (labne) on whole grain bread, top with fresh spinach, tomatoes, and red onion for a delicious lunch.  

Then finish your day the Karoun way with Yanni Grilling Cheese and Sauteed Green Beans.  This recipe epitomizes the Mediterranean Diet with lower fat dairy, citrus, olive oil, and fresh vegetables.  Let Karoun and the Mediterranean Diet help you have a healthy body and a healthy family.

Karoun Dairies Yanni Grilling Cheese with Sauteed Green Beans

• 2 packages Yanni Grilling Cheese, cut into 1/4" thick slices
• 4-6 Lemon Wedges
• 1 pound Green Beans, cut into small segments and sauteed in a bit of water, olive oil and salt for just a couple of minutes.
• Chives, snipped
• Fine and coarse grain sea salt

Preheat outdoor grill or stovetop grill pan.  Brush lightly with olive oil.

Place the Yanni Grilling Cheese slices directly on a hot grill. Arrange the lemon wedges on the grill as well. Grill for 5 minutes or until brown on the first side, flipping both the lemons and cheese when they are golden. Brown on second side.

To serve, arrange a small pile of green beans on top of each grilling cheese slice, squeeze a bit of grilled lemon juice on the green beans, and sprinkle with chopped chives and a bit of coarse sea salt.

Serves 4.

About Karoun Dairies, Inc.: Founded in 1992, Karoun is rooted in its heritage as a family-run business started in search of fulfilling the American dream through their history in dairy dating back fifty years. The company has continued to grow from creating hand braided String Cheese for local ethnic and specialty grocery stores, to producing a wide variety of Mediterranean specialty cheeses and yogurt products with nationwide distribution. All Karoun cheeses are natural and handmade using only milk from cows that are free from growth hormones, BGH/rBST, and are Real California Milk certified. All Karoun's yogurt products (yogurt, Kefir Cheese (Labne) and Sour Cream) are all natural and OU Kosher certified. Please visit www.karouncheese.com.

For product samples, press materials, or further information, please contact Christie Communications [www.christiecomm.com] Sheri Catron at 805-969-3744, or [email protected].

SOURCE Karoun Dairies