Food and Beverage
Recurra a los cereales integrales para obtener un refuerzo nutricional
Last Updated on July 23, 2024 by Daily News Staff
(Family Features) Una alimentación nutritiva, incluidos los refrigerios más inteligentes, es una forma importante de proteger su corazón y mantener la salud y el bienestar en general. Si bien muchas personas entienden los conceptos básicos de una alimentación saludable, por ejemplo, evitar demasiados dulces azucarados, algunos están confundidos acerca de las categorías importantes de alimentos que pueden afectar la nutrición.
Según una encuesta realizada por The Harris Poll en nombre de la American Heart Association, los adultos estadounidenses tienen menos conocimientos sobre los granos refinados frente a los integrales en comparación con otras categorías de alimentos como frutas, verduras y proteínas. Los cereales integrales son, de hecho, una característica clave de las recomendaciones de la Asociación para una dieta saludable para el corazón.
Hay dos tipos de productos de cereales: cereales integrales, que contienen todo el grano, y cereales refinados, que se han molido hasta obtener una textura más fina, como la harina o sémola. La mayoría de los adultos, según la encuesta, pueden distinguir los granos integrales de los refinados. Sin embargo, hay algunas percepciones erróneas.
La mayoría cree incorrectamente que el pan multigrano es integral. Además, solo el 17 % cree que el sorgo es un ejemplo de grano entero cuando, de hecho, es una opción de grano entero. Los cereales integrales como el sorgo, la avena y el arroz integral son fuentes ricas en fibra dietética, pueden mejorar los niveles de colesterol en la sangre y proporcionar nutrientes que ayudan al cuerpo a formar nuevas células, regular la tiroides y mantener un sistema inmunológico saludable.
Estas dulces y masticables barras de granola con nueces y dátiles de la iniciativa Healthy for Good de la American Heart Association, respaldada por Sorghum Checkoff, son un refrigerio perfecto para disfrutar durante toda la semana. El sorgo reventado agrega un ingrediente sorpresa para una textura crujiente, mientras que la avena y las nueces tostadas en seco brindan un delicioso sabor tostado.
Para descubrir más recetas integrales que pueden ayudar a tener un corazón sano, visite Heart.org/healthyforgood.
Barras de granola con nueces y dátiles
Receta cortesía de la American Heart Association y Sorghum Checkoff
Porciones: 12 (1 barra por porción)
- Aceite en aerosol antiadherente
- 1 1/2 tazas de copos de avena
- 1/4 taza de rodajas de almendras o almendras enteras, picadas en trozos grandes
- 1/4 taza de pistachos sin cáscara, picados en trozos grandes
- 1 taza de dátiles sin carozo
- 1/2 taza de arándanos secos sin azúcar
- 1/4 taza de sorgo integral crudo
- 1/4 taza de miel
- 1/4 taza de mantequilla de maní baja en sodio
- 1 cucharadita de extracto de vainilla
- 1/8 cucharadita de sal
- Precaliente el horno a 350 F.
- Cubra el fondo y los lados de un molde para hornear cuadrado de 8 pulgadas con una envoltura de plástico o papel pergamino. Rocíe ligeramente con spray antiadherente para cocinar.
- En una bandeja para hornear grande, extienda la avena, las almendras y los pistachos en una sola capa. Hornee de 10 a 15 minutos, o hasta que estén ligeramente doradas, revolviendo ocasionalmente. Deje enfriar un poco.
- En un procesador de alimentos o licuadora, procese los dátiles y los arándanos de 1 a 1 1/2 minutos, o hasta que estén picados y grumosos. Transfiera a un tazón grande.
- Coloque 2 cucharadas de sorgo en un recipiente de silicona apto para microondas o en una bolsa de papel marrón limpia. Si usa un recipiente apto para microondas, cúbralo con una tapa. Si usa una bolsa de papel, ciérrela y colóquela en un plato para microondas con el doblez hacia abajo. Cocine en el microondas a temperatura alta durante 2 minutos o hasta que haya más de 10 segundos entre los saltos. Repita con el sorgo restante, calentándolo en el microondas durante 1 1/2 minutos, o hasta que transcurran más de 10 segundos entre los saltos.
- Revuelva el sorgo reventado, la avena, las almendras y los pistachos en la mezcla de dátiles.
- En una cacerola pequeña a fuego lento, caliente la miel y la mantequilla de maní durante 5 minutos o hasta que la mantequilla de maní esté suave y la mezcla esté tibia, revolviendo ocasionalmente. Retírelo del calor. Agregue la vainilla y la sal.
- Vierta la mezcla de mantequilla de maní sobre la mezcla de dátiles, revolviendo para romper en pequeños grumos. Transfiera la mitad a la fuente para hornear. Usando el fondo de un vaso para beber o los dedos ligeramente rociados con aceite en aerosol antiadherente para cocinar, presione hacia abajo firmemente para aplanar y empaque bien para que los grumos se adhieran entre sí. Repita con la mitad restante. Congele, tapado, alrededor de 1 hora, hasta que esté firme.
- Coloque la tabla de cortar sobre la fuente. Voltee la sartén. Deseche la envoltura de plástico. Con un cuchillo, corte en 12 barras. Refrigere las sobras en un recipiente hermético hasta por 1 semana.
SOURCE:
American Heart Association
(Feature Impact) Game day is about more than the big plays, touchdown-saving tackles and final score. Whether you’re gathering in the stadium parking lot or hosting friends for an at-home watch party, a memorable experience begins long before kickoff.
Start your pregame festivities with an MVP-worthy spread that’s simple to serve, easy to eat and keeps fans full through the final whistle. For example, the flavor of Buffalo is a game-day staple, but wings aren’t the only way to enjoy it.
For less mess, Buffalo Chicken Caesar and Celery Wraps pair convenience with the cool crunch of Dandy Celery, a year-round superstar ingredient for many of your favorite football-inspired dishes. It’s packed with flavor and low in calories, making it a smart choice for snacking.
The contrasting tastes and textures offer a satisfying bite, whether you slice the wraps into smaller portions for appetizer-style serving or leave them whole for fans with hearty appetites.
Nervous nibblers during the game’s most tense moments may prefer a lighter bite, and that’s where a dependable dip can come through in the clutch. This Buffalo Hummus recipe puts a tailgate-spin on the familiar favorite, combining creamy texture with a little heat.
Serve it alongside crackers, chips or crisp vegetables like Dandy celery dippers, fresh-cut celery sticks that are pre-washed and ready to eat at your convenience – a true time-saver when the clock is ticking.
Design your own winning game plan by finding more tailgating recipes at DudaFresh.com.
Buffalo Chicken Caesar and Celery Wraps
Servings: 4
- 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
- 1/4 cup Buffalo sauce
- 2 cups Dandy romaine hearts, chopped
- 1 cup Dandy celery, chopped (about 4 ribs)
- 1/3 cup Caesar dressing
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 large flour tortillas (10 inches)
- In bowl, toss shredded chicken with Buffalo sauce. Set aside.
- To make salad: In separate bowl, combine romaine, celery, Caesar dressing, Parmesan cheese and black pepper. Mix well.
- To assemble wraps: Spoon about 1/4 cup Buffalo chicken along center of each tortilla, leaving small border at each end; top with Caesar salad. Fold up bottom of tortilla over filling then fold in sides and roll up tightly. Slice in half diagonally.
Buffalo Hummus
Prep time: 5 minutes
Servings: 8
- 1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1/4 cup tahini
- 1/4 cup Buffalo sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 lemon, juice only
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2-3 tablespoons ice water
- dairy-free blue cheese, for garnish (optional)
- chopped chives, for garnish (optional)
- paprika, for garnish (optional)
- olive oil, for garnish (optional)
- Dandy Celery Dippers
- pita chips
- In food processor, puree drained chickpeas, tahini, Buffalo sauce, olive oil, lemon juice and garlic until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides as needed. Add water through lid until desired consistency is achieved.
- Spread hummus onto serving plate or bowl. Garnish, if desired, with dairy-free blue cheese, chopped chives, paprika and drizzle of olive oil. Serve with celery dippers and pita chips.
SOURCE:
Food and Beverage
ALDI Rolls Out Its First-Ever Line of Ready-Made Meals
ALDI is entering the ready-made meal market with seven fresh, refrigerated dishes priced under $15. The rollout begins in October, with nationwide availability expected by January 2027.
Busy shoppers looking for a quick dinner option will soon have something new waiting in the refrigerated section at ALDI.
ALDI is launching its first-ever collection of fresh, ready-made meals, introducing seven single-serve and family-size dishes designed to combine convenience, affordability and familiar comfort-food flavors.
The new meals begin rolling out at select ALDI stores in early October, with additional markets receiving them throughout the fall. ALDI expects the entire collection to be available nationwide by January 2027.
Seven New Meals — Ready to Heat and Eat
Unlike frozen dinners, ALDI says its new meals are delivered fresh and sold refrigerated in easy-to-heat trays.
The initial lineup includes five single-serve meals priced under $8:
- Beef Bolognese Spaghetti
- Beef Brisket with White Mac & Cheese
- Butter Chicken & Rice
- Chicken Burrito Bowl
- Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo
Two larger family-size meals will be available for under $15:
- Chicken and Bacon Mac n’ Cheese
- Meat Lovers Pizza Bake
ALDI says the recipes were developed around ingredients including chicken breast, smoked beef brisket, real cheeses and made-from-scratch sauces.
The single-serve meals contain between 30 and 46 grams of protein per serving, according to the company. Family-size offerings provide between 16 and 22 grams per serving.
Convenience Without the Restaurant Bill
The move puts ALDI more directly into the growing market for prepared refrigerated meals — an increasingly attractive option for consumers who want something more substantial than a frozen dinner but don’t necessarily have the time or desire to cook from scratch.
ALDI cited the 2026 International Food Information Council Food & Health Survey, which found that 61% of Americans consider convenience an important factor when purchasing food.
“Our shoppers are looking for meals that fit into busy lives without sacrificing quality or stretching their budgets,” Joan Kavanaugh, Vice President of National Buying for ALDI U.S., said in the company’s announcement.
ALDI supplier Kitchen Food Company said hundreds of recipes were tested while developing the new collection.
Dinner in Just a Few Minutes
Convenience is a major part of the concept.
Depending on the variety, ALDI’s single-serve meals require roughly 3½ to 4½ minutes in the microwave. The company instructs consumers to heat the meals until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
The larger family meals can be prepared in a conventional oven at 350 degrees, with approximately 40 minutes of total cooking time.
Shoppers will find the meals in the refrigerated meals section near the front of participating ALDI stores.
More Meals Are Coming
The seven dishes are only the beginning.
ALDI says it plans to introduce additional ready-made meals through its rotating ALDI Finds selection every month during the next year. That could allow the retailer to experiment with additional recipes, flavors and seasonal offerings while expanding its presence in prepared foods.
The timing also makes the rollout noteworthy. With restaurant meals and takeout competing for household food dollars, prepared grocery-store meals occupy a middle ground: more convenient than cooking from scratch while potentially costing considerably less than feeding a family through restaurant delivery or takeout.
For ALDI shoppers, that means the familiar question of “What’s for dinner?” may soon have a few more answers — and they could be waiting just inside the front door.
Source: ALDI, September 22, 2026
Sources & Related Links
- ALDI — Official Announcement: ALDI Launches First-Ever Collection of Ready-Made Meals
- Original Press Release: ALDI Ready-Made Meals — PR Newswire
- Consumer Research: 2026 IFIC Food & Health Survey — Convenience Outranks Healthfulness
- More ALDI News: ALDI U.S. Newsroom
- More Food & Drink Coverage: STM Daily News Food & Drink
Hungry for More?
Looking for more easy dinner ideas, meal-planning inspiration, and affordable meals? Explore STM Daily News Food & Drink for the latest recipes, food news, restaurant stories, culinary trends and more.
A poached egg may look fancy, but it is surprisingly easy to prepare. With a tender egg white and warm, runny yolk, it makes a delicious addition to toast, salads, breakfast bowls or avocado toast.
Ingredients
- 1 large fresh egg
- Water
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar, optional
- Salt and black pepper
- Toast or English muffin for serving, optional
Instructions
Fill a saucepan with about 2 to 3 inches of water and bring it to a gentle simmer. Avoid a rolling boil, which can break the egg apart.
Crack the egg into a small cup or bowl. Add the vinegar to the water if desired—it helps the egg white hold its shape.
Gently slide the egg into the simmering water. Cook for about 3 minutes for a runny yolk, or 4 to 5 minutes for a firmer center.
Remove the egg with a slotted spoon and place it briefly on a paper towel to absorb excess water. Season with salt and pepper, then serve immediately.
Quick Tip
Fresh, cold eggs usually produce the neatest poached eggs because their whites are thicker and stay closer to the yolk while cooking.
Simple, satisfying and ready in minutes, a poached egg is an easy way to make an everyday breakfast feel a little more special.
