March- A Good Time to Eat Right

Welcome to March. It's easy to gorge on chocolates, Peeps, caramels, and other junk food- after all we have not seen those peeps and chocolate eggs in a year. But try these satisfying recipes which will help you to maintain your healthy diet goals more than those chocolates will! And in case you need that little touch of chocolate, these truffles are sure to please the chocolate lovers, diabetes or not!

Barley and Spinach Skillet Casserole
Makes 4 servings

1 cup water
¾ cup uncooked quick-cooking barley
1 cup chopped green pepper
1 cup chopped red pepper
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 cups coarsely chopped packed fresh washed spinach
1 cup rinsed and drained canned navy beans
1 cup quartered cherry tomatoes
¼ cup chopped fresh basil
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons Italian-flavored dry bread crumbs

1. Preheat broiler.
2. Bring water to a boil in large ovenproof skillet.
3. Add barley, bell peppers, garlic powder and red pepper flakes.
4. Reduce heat; cover tightly and simmer 10 minutes or until liquid absorbed.
5. Remove skillet from heat.
6. Stir in spinach, beans, tomatoes, basil and olive oil.
7. Sprinkle evenly with bread crumbs.
8. Broil, uncovered, 2 minutes or until golden.

NUTRITION INFORMATION
Serving size: 1 ¼ cups
Calories: 288
Fat: 6 grams
Saturated Fat: <1 gram
Calories from fat: 54
Carbohydrate: 45 grams
Fiber: 12 grams
Cholesterol: 0 mg.
EXCHANGES: 2 starch, 3 vegetable, 1 fat


Chocolate Peanut-Butter Truffles
Makes 20 truffles

½ cup reduced fat chunky peanut butter
3 tablespoons sugar substitute
1 cup crisp rice cereal
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ cup mini semisweet chocolate chips

1. Place peanut butter in small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave 10 seconds on high.
2. Mix in sugar substitute using wooden spoon, until smooth.
3. Stir in cereal and mix well.
4. Spray hands with nonstick cooking spray and shape mixture, pressing firmly to form 1-inch balls.
5. Place balls on wax paper lined plate and freeze 15 minutes or up to 1 hour.
6. Spread cocoa powder on plate. Roll each ball in cocoa powder; place back on wax paper-lined plate.
7. Place chocolate chips in small re-sealable plastic bag; microwave 10 seconds on high. Knead bag. Repeat until chocolate is melted and smooth.
8. Smooth melted chocolate into corner of bag (away from re-sealable edge). Snip 1/8 inch from corner.
9. Drizzle chocolate back and forth over truffles.
10. Allow chocolate to become firm before serving.


NUTRITION INFORMATION
Serving Size- 4 truffles

Calories: 220
Total Fat: 12 grams
Saturated Fat: 3 grams
Calories from fat: 108
Carbohydrate: 25 grams
Cholesterol: 0 grams
Fiber: 3 grams
Protein: 8 grams