Name: Creamy Avocado Pasta
Ingredients: 2 servings of pasta of choice (about ¼-1/2 of a standard box of pasta) *choose whole grain pasta for more fiber!; 1 ripe avocado; 12 garlic cloves; ½ cup fresh basil; 1 tbsp lemon juice; 2 tbsp olive oil; 2 tbsp milk of choice *Lower saturated fat and higher protein options: skim, 1%, or soy milk; Salt, pepper, and paprika to taste

Creamy Avocado Pasta

CategoryEntrees

2 servings of pasta of choice (about ¼-1/2 of a standard box of pasta) *choose whole grain pasta for more fiber!

1 ripe avocado

12 garlic cloves

½ cup fresh basil

1 tbsp lemon juice

2 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp milk of choice *Lower saturated fat and higher protein options: skim, 1%, or soy milk

Salt, pepper, and paprika to taste

Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Once cooked, set aside.

Cut the avocado in half and scoop the contents out of the peel using a spoon. Put the peeled avocado into a small blender or food processor.

Add the remaining (non-pasta) ingredients to the blender, and blend until smooth.

Mix the avocado sauce and pasta together in a bowl. Add a protein to the top, and serve!

February is American Heart Month, dedicated to focusing on heart health. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the U.S. (https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm.) Several medical conditions, such as diabetes, can put people at higher risk for heart disease. Luckily, there are many modifiable lifestyle factors that can help decrease your risk for heart disease.

Focusing on certain foods and eating habits can help keep your heart healthy. One nutrition area to focus on is types of fats. There are four types of dietary fats which include trans, saturated, polyunsaturated, and monounsaturated fats. Trans and saturated fats can raise bad (LDL) cholesterol levels in your body, while polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats can help lower bad cholesterol levels in your body. Saturated fats are mostly found in meat, full-fat dairy products, and tropical oils. Trans fats can be found in fried and baked goods, and small amounts naturally occurring in meats and dairy products. Unsaturated fats can be found in different types of vegetable or nut oils, avocados, olives, nuts, seeds, and fish.

Here are some ways to incorporate heart-healthy fats:

Snack on nuts
Eat fish a couple of times a week
Top your meals off with avocado slices
Use low saturated fat oils for cooking and dressings

Ingredients