Let’s Dish About DASH

U.S. News and World Report recently named the DASH Diet as the “best diet overall,” citing its easy-to-follow, heart-healthy benefits. And, as any long-time Jerry Baker fan knows, my dad has been ringing the praises of DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) for years due to its ability to blast high blood pressure.

So what’s so great about DASH? Plenty! Of course, you have to give up fast-food, sugary treats, and other obviously unhealthy menu items. But with the focus on fruits and vegetables, and lean, low-salt meals, followers are easily satisfied. And there are plenty of delicious whole grains, proteins, and low-fat dairy that’ll keep you happy, too—while you whittle your waistline and tune up your ticker.

Let’s be honest. Most folks know what they need to eat to stay healthy. The DASH Diet solves that problem by spelling out exactly how much of each food group should be consumed every day, based on your number of calories per day. Type “DASH Diet” into an Internet search engine and you’ll discover a slew of websites devoted to the plan.

In the meantime, here’s one of my favorite recipes for a midday snack that fuels you up the right way:

In a cereal bowl, combine 1 cup of fat-free, plain yogurt and 1 tablespoon of apricot preserves. Stir until well-blended. Peel 1 medium, slightly green banana, and cut it into bite-size pieces. Swirl the banana into the yogurt mixture and sprinkle it with a dash of cinnamon. Then spoon it up to your heart’s content!