-HEART HEALTH TK

June FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES MONTH

SweetPotato cauliflower tabbouleh

TALKING POINTS y Traveling this summer? Keep your heart health in check by packing a cooler with nutritious snacks and meals. This helps you avoid high-fat and high-sodium options from fast-food restaurants and gas stations. Opt for fresh fruits, vegetables, whole-grain wraps, and lean protein to stay fueled and healthy on the go. Safe travels, and happy eating! y Summer activities like swimming, hiking, and biking are not only fun but also great for your heart health. These exercises boost cardiovascular fitness, help manage weight, and reduce stress. Staying active in the summer sun encourages a healthy lifestyle and supports overall heart health. What’s your favorite summer activity? y June is Men’s Health Month, a perfect time to focus on wellness and celebrate Father’s Day. Men need upwards of 30 grams of fiber each day, but many aren’t meeting this goal. Incorporate fiber-rich foods like oats, chia seeds, berries, and sweetpotatoes into your meals to support digestive health and overall well-being. Enjoy delicious and nutritious sweetpotatoes to help Dad and all the men in your life stay healthy! y June is National Fruits and Veggies Month, making it the perfect time to head to your local farmers market and try a new fruit or veggie. Discover unique summer produce like heirloom tomatoes, purple carrots, and dragon fruit. Eating a variety of colorful veggies offers different antioxidants that support your health in diverse ways. Celebrate the season by adding variety to your meals and boosting your health with these unique, nutrient-packed finds!

SOCIAL POSTS Did you know you sweetpotatoes could be grilled? For a sweet and savory twist on your BBQ try this delicious Grilled Sweetpotato with Peach Cilantro Salsa recipe. It’s perfect for summer grilling. June is National Fresh Fruit and Veggies Month! Celebrate with this vibrant and nutritious Grilled Sweetpotato Blueberry Salad. Packed with fresh greens, sweetpotatoes, blueberries, and a zesty lemon dressing, it’s a delicious way to enjoy the bounty of the season. Pro tip: to lighten up the salt, swap blue cheese for goat cheese. Enjoy a flavorful and heart-healthy meal! #Grilling #BBQ #FreshFruitAndVeggiesMonth #SummerEats #HealthyEating #ncsweetpotatoes

Ingredients

• 1 large sweetpotato (3 cups cut into ½-inch diced cubes) • 3 Tablespoons + 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil (divided) • Kosher salt • Pepper • 1 small cauliflower 1¾ pounds untrimmed

• 1 teaspoon lemon zest • Juice of 1 lemon 3 to 4 tablespoons • 1 cup roughly chopped parsley • ⅓ Cup thinly sliced green onions • ½ cup dried cranberries • ¼ cup roughly chopped mint • ¼ cup roasted salted pepitas

Directions 1. Preheat the oven to 400° Line a large rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.

2. Place the diced sweetpotato in a large bowl with 2 teaspoons of the olive oil and toss to coat evenly. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Arrange on the baking sheet and bake until tender, 18 to 20 minutes, stirring halfway through. When done, remove from the oven, transfer to a plate, and cool to room temperature. 3. Place the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil, the zest, and the lemon juice in a bowl and whisk until well combined. Set aside. 4. While the sweetpotatoes are roasting, trim the cauliflower and cut in half. Shred on the large holes of a box grater. (The cauliflower will end up looking like grains of rice.) Transfer to a large bowl. Gently stir in the parsley, green onions, cranberries, mint, pepitas and sweetpotatoes. Re-whisk the dressing and drizzle over the tabbouleh. Stir to combine. 5. Season with salt and pepper to taste. *Note: You can also shred the cauliflower into “rice” using a food processor. Cut the cauliflower into florets, place in food processor fitted with a grating attachment, and process. TEACHING TOOLS To better assist you and your clients in keeping track of their Blood Pressure Goals we suggest our Teaching Tools:

NEWSLETTER COPY While June focuses on Men’s Health month, it’s a great time to encourage healthy and fun family habits that everyone can benefit from, especially dad! Some of our favorite activities include family walks and bike rides, going swimming, and enjoying meals together. Whether surprising dad with a healthy swap of his regular pancakes for sweet potato pancakes, making a fruit and veggie-rich smoothie for the whole family to enjoy, or helping dad grill sweetpotatoes on the grill, sweetpotatoes are a flavorful ingredient for nearly every recipe that the whole family can benefit from. How many ways can you eat sweetpotatoes this month?

• Blood Pressure Log • Know Your Numbers

14

15