Embrace a Healthier New Year: Delicious & Fiber-Rich Recipes with Sunsweet Prunes and PlumSmart
As the calendar turns to a new year, many of us set intentions to improve our health. My own New Year’s resolution was no different: to embrace a healthier lifestyle. This journey involves daily walks, a conscious effort to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into my meals, and consistently enjoying a nutritious breakfast. Key to feeling full and energized throughout the day is a diet rich in fiber combined with adequate hydration – aiming for at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily. However, even with the best intentions, maintaining excitement for healthy eating can be a challenge. The monotony of the same breakfasts and lunches can quickly lead to boredom, making it harder to stick to those resolutions. This year, I’ve committed to getting more creative in the kitchen, experimenting with vibrant breakfast ideas and refreshing smoothies designed to banish mealtime monotony, brighten mornings, and keep tummies satisfied.
Discovering the Goodness of Sunsweet
I was thrilled when Sunsweet® extended an invitation to develop a new recipe, sending a wonderful box filled with their wholesome products straight to my door! Having always been a fan and regular user of Sunsweet items, this collaboration felt like an extra special treat. Sunsweet has a long-standing reputation for providing delicious and nutritious dried fruits and juices, making them an ideal partner for anyone looking to enhance their healthy eating habits. Their commitment to quality and natural goodness aligns perfectly with the goal of adding more fiber and essential nutrients to our daily diets, without sacrificing taste or convenience. Let’s take a closer look at some of the fantastic Sunsweet products that became stars in my kitchen.
Sunsweet Products: Your Allies for Healthy Living
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PlumSmart®Light:
This exceptional juice is crafted from a special variety of fresh, succulent plums. With just 60 calories and 15g of carbohydrates per serving, PlumSmart Light is a delicious and refreshing way to support your fitness goals from the inside out. It’s an excellent source of fiber, which is crucial for digestive health and helps promote a feeling of fullness. Enjoy it chilled on its own, blend it into smoothies for a fruity boost, or use it as a healthier liquid base in various recipes, adding natural sweetness and nutritional value without excess calories.
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Amaz!n™Prunes:
These little gems truly live up to their name! Amaz!n Prunes are nature’s perfect solution for nourishing your body with nutrition and a delightful taste. Each serving provides a good source of fiber for only 100 calories, making them an ideal healthy snack. Beyond their fiber content, prunes boast a low glycemic index, meaning they help stabilize blood sugar levels and keep you feeling fuller for longer periods, preventing those sudden hunger pangs. They’re a fantastic way to add a powerful boost of essential nutrients and fiber to your snack time or elevate your favorite recipes with their unique sweet-tart flavor.
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Amaz!n™Diced Prunes:
For ultimate convenience and versatility, reach for a handful of these delicious diced prunes. They offer the same incredible nutritional benefits as whole Amaz!n Prunes but in a ready-to-use form that makes healthy snacking effortless. Sprinkle them over your morning cereal or oatmeal for an added burst of flavor and texture, toss them into salads for a surprising sweet note, or incorporate them into your baking and cooking recipes to infuse dishes with natural sweetness and a significant fiber boost. One serving of Amaz!n™Diced Prunes delivers a good source of fiber for just 100 calories, making them a pantry staple for health-conscious individuals.
I’ve always had a fondness for dried fruit, whether enjoyed on its own as a simple snack, baked into cookies, or mixed into homemade trail mixes. However, with these fantastic Sunsweet products at hand, I was inspired to think creatively and develop exciting new ways to incorporate these wholesome bits of goodness into my everyday meals.
Crafting a Nutrient-Packed Breakfast: Steel Cut Oatmeal with Plums and Pears
My affection for steel cut oats runs deep; there’s a unique chewiness and heartiness to them that I find far more satisfying than regular rolled oats. Given their robust texture and nutritional profile, they were the perfect base for a warm, comforting breakfast. I decided to create a delightful steel cut oatmeal using the versatile Sunsweet®Plum Amazins. To further amplify the fiber content and add a layer of fresh sweetness and crunch, I also incorporated juicy fresh pears and crunchy almonds. This combination not only makes for an incredibly tasty meal but also provides a powerhouse of nutrients to kickstart your day.
The Undeniable Health Benefits of Prunes
Beyond their delicious taste and versatility, prunes offer a remarkable array of health benefits. Extensive studies conducted by Sunsweet® and other research institutions highlight the significant positive effects derived from the unique nutrient profile of prunes. Integrating these ‘Feel Good Fruit’ into your diet can contribute to several aspects of overall well-being:
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Bone Health:
Prunes have shown promising potential in promoting and maintaining healthy bones, a critical concern for many, especially as we age. Dr. Bahram H. Arjmandi of Florida State University has notably stated, “Dried plums (prunes) are the most bone-friendly fruit that I have seen in decades. They are nature’s solution to maintaining good bone health.” Dr. Arjmandi’s hypothesis suggests that the numerous compounds and essential nutrients found in prunes – including Vitamin K, potassium, copper, and boron – likely work synergistically to exert this positive effect. These nutrients play vital roles in bone metabolism and density. Ongoing research continues to delve deeper into the intricate mechanisms by which prunes contribute to robust bone health, making them a valuable dietary addition for skeletal support.
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Potassium Power:
Prunes are a good source of potassium, an electrolyte mineral essential for numerous bodily functions. Potassium is well-known for its potential role in helping to prevent hypertension (high blood pressure) and reducing the risk of stroke by counteracting the effects of sodium in the body. Furthermore, potassium plays a crucial role in supporting cellular energy by regulating fluid balance, facilitating nerve impulses, and aiding in muscle contraction. This regulation of physiological processes contributes directly to increased energy levels and overall bodily function, helping you feel more vibrant throughout your day.
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Fiber for Heart Health:
A diet rich in fiber is a cornerstone of good health, particularly for the cardiovascular system. Prunes are an excellent source of both soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber can help lower cholesterol levels by binding to cholesterol particles in the digestive tract and preventing their absorption, while insoluble fiber adds bulk to stools, promoting regular bowel movements. By incorporating fiber-containing foods like prunes into your diet, you can naturally replace less healthy fats and sweets, leading to improved dietary patterns and a significantly reduced risk of heart disease. This contribution to heart health makes prunes a smart choice for anyone looking to maintain a strong and healthy heart.
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Digestive Regularity:
Perhaps one of the most well-known benefits of prunes is their ability to support digestive health and regularity. The high fiber content, coupled with sorbitol (a natural sugar alcohol), makes prunes an effective natural laxative. A diet rich in fiber contributes to maintaining a consistent and healthy digestive tract, which is fundamental for overall well-being. Regular bowel movements help eliminate waste products from the body efficiently, preventing discomfort and supporting a healthy gut microbiome. By including prunes in your daily routine, you can promote a feeling of lightness and ensure your digestive system functions smoothly.
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With all this deliciousness comes an abundance of incredible benefits, making Sunsweet prunes and plum products a truly smart and enjoyable choice for a healthier lifestyle!
I prepared this hearty oatmeal one Saturday morning, making sure my husband was home to enjoy it with me. He has always been a great lover of hot cereals, so he was particularly enthusiastic about being my taste tester for this new creation! His verdict? A resounding two thumbs up! We even had some leftovers, which he gratefully warmed with a splash of milk later that evening for a satisfying and healthy snack before bed. It truly proved to be a versatile and comforting meal that delighted us both.
So, why not treat yourself and your loved ones to a batch of this delicious steel cut oatmeal? Made with the wholesome “Feel Good Fruit” from Sunsweet®, it’s not just a breakfast; it’s a bowl of nutritious comfort. Keep it on hand for a quick and satisfying start to your day, or whenever you need a healthy snack that truly nourishes and keeps you feeling full. It’s an easy and delightful way to stick to those healthy eating goals all year round.
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Print Recipe
Steel Cut Oatmeal with Plums and Pears
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon Coconut Oil
- 1 cup Steel Cut Oats
- 2 Cups Water
- 1 Cup Skim Milk
- 2 Tablespoons raw honey
- pinch salt
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 cup Sunsweet® Plum Amazins Dried Plums
- 1 Medium sized pear cored and skin removed, diced
- 4 Tablespoons almonds roughly chopped
Instructions
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In a medium pot on the stove top, melt coconut oil over medium heat. Add the steel cut oats and stir constantly to coat them evenly with the oil. Cook for about 3 minutes, allowing the oats to toast slightly and develop a nutty aroma.
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Carefully add the milk, water, raw honey, and a pinch of salt to the pot. Stir well to combine all ingredients. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a low simmer, cover the pot, and cook for approximately 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. After 10 minutes, add the diced fresh pears and the Sunsweet Amaz!n Dried Plums. Cover again and continue simmering for another 10 minutes, or until the oats are tender and have absorbed most of the liquid.
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Once the oats are cooked to your desired consistency, turn off the heat. Stir in the almond extract, which adds a lovely subtle flavor. Cover the pot and let the oatmeal stand for 5 minutes; this allows the flavors to meld and the oatmeal to thicken perfectly.
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To serve, spoon the warm steel cut oatmeal into bowls. Garnish each serving with a generous sprinkling of roughly chopped almonds and a few extra Sunsweet Amaz!n Plums for an added touch of sweetness and crunch. Enjoy this wholesome and satisfying breakfast!
Nutrition
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Beyond Oatmeal: A Refreshing Perfect Plum Smoothie
My enthusiasm for experimenting with the wonderful products Sunsweet® sent me was so high that I couldn’t stop at just oatmeal! I was also eager to try my hand at creating a smoothie. While I had never previously considered using dried fruit in a smoothie recipe, the idea of incorporating Sunsweet prunes and plum juice felt like a natural extension of their versatility. To my delight, it worked exceptionally well, adding a unique depth of flavor and a boost of fiber that fresh fruit alone sometimes can’t provide. This experience truly opened my eyes to the endless possibilities of using dried fruit in new and exciting ways, proving they are not just for snacking or baking.
Here is the recipe for the incredibly delicious and nutritious Perfect Plum Smoothie I crafted using both Sunsweet®PlumSmart®Light Juice and Amaz!n™Prunes. This smoothie is a fantastic way to enjoy the goodness of plums in a liquid form, perfect for a quick breakfast, an energizing afternoon snack, or a post-workout recovery drink. It’s vibrant, flavorful, and packed with the natural benefits of Sunsweet products.
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.