Father’s Day & Men’s Health

    By: Jacqueline Gomes, RDN, MBA

    Parents are truly special people, no matter your age you always feel special around your parents and we want them to live a long and healthy life.

    Encourage the special man in your life to eat a balanced diet rich in lean protein, vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Don’t forget the annual doctor’s visit to make sure he’s in tip-top shape!

     

    Top 5 Health Concerns – talk to your doctor about prevention and treatment if you are suffering from a condition that is not being treated.

    1. Heart Disease
    2. High Blood Pressure
    3. Obesity – especially around the abdomen
    4. Diabetes
    5. Stroke

     

    Tips for your Dad…

    • Eat a balanced diet low in saturated fat and HIGH in Fruits and Vegetables.
    • Get at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week.
    • Get to know your Doc – physical exams and important screenings yearly.
    • Even super-dads need to play it safe – wear a seatbelt and helmet while biking.
    • Don’t abuse alcohol – alcohol abuse causes 100,000 premature deaths in the U.S. each year.
    • Ditch the smoking habit – avoiding tobacco of all kinds dramatically reduces a man’s risk of premature death and disability from heart disease, stroke and cancers of lung, larynx, and esophagus.
    • Spend quality time with your loved ones.

     

    Grilled Salmon & Zucchini with Red Pepper Sauce

    grilled salmon with vegetables on white plate

    Jazz up simply grilled salmon and summer vegetables with a zesty sauce based on the classic Spanish romesco. Made with roasted red peppers, tomatoes and almonds, this sauce is a great match for any seafood, poultry or vegetables. Using smoked paprika brings out the flavors from the grill. Serve with: Grilled baguette.

     

    Makes: 4 Servings

    Total Time: 35 Minutes 

    Ingredients:

    • 1/3 cup sliced almonds, toasted (see Tip)
    • 1/4 cup chopped jarred roasted red peppers
    • 1/4 cup halved grape tomatoes, or cherry tomatoes
    • 1 small clove garlic
    • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
    • 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar, or red-wine vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon paprika, preferably smoked
    • 3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
    • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided
    • 1 1/4 pounds wild-caught salmon fillet, (see Note), skinned and cut crosswise into 4 portions
    • 2 medium zucchini, or summer squash (or 1 of each), halved lengthwise
    • Canola or olive oil cooking spray
    • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

     

    Directions:

    1. Preheat grill to medium.
    2. Process almonds, peppers, tomatoes, garlic, oil, vinegar, paprika, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a food processor or blender until smooth; set aside.
    3. Coat salmon and zucchini (and/or summer squash) on both sides with cooking spray, then sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Grill, turning once, until the salmon is just cooked through and the squash is soft and browned, about 3 minutes per side.
    4. Transfer the squash to a clean cutting board. When cool enough to handle, slice into 1/2-inch pieces. Toss in a bowl with half of the reserved sauce. Divide the squash among 4 plates along with a piece of salmon topped with some of the remaining sauce. Garnish with parsley, if desired.

     

    Nutrition Per serving: 280 Calories; 13 g Fat; 2 g Sat; 7 g Mono; 66 mg Cholesterol; 8 g Carbohydrates; 32 g Protein; 2 g Fiber; 601 mg Sodium; 871 mg Potassium

    1/2 Carbohydrate Serving

     

    Tips & Notes

    • Tips: To toast chopped or sliced nuts, stir constantly in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat until fragrant and lightly browned, 2 to 4 minutes.

    Source: Eatingwell.com