When it comes to being heart-healthy, we need to focus on our entire family, which includes ourselves. Moms, me included, so often overlook our own healthy lifestyle in favor of looking out for our kids but we have to remember that if we want to be there for our children, we need to take care of us.

Says Melissa of Girlymama:

Its painful that my kids are missing out on an amazing grandpa and I miss him more than words can say – so it motivates me to want to do everything in my power to stay healthy and be there for my kids.

Exercising and eating healthy are the 2 most simple ways to keep our hearts healthy. And while we’re running around busy, we look for easy ways to include healthy food in our diets. Cooking with Hunts tomato sauce can do that. Using Hunt’s tomatoes is a great way to get a significant source of fiber, Vitamin C and the antioxidant lycopene into your diet, as nutrient-rich tomatoes are a primary source of the antioxidant lycopene. “Research suggests a protective relationship between the consumption of tomatoes and tomato products and cardiovascular disease,” said Dr. Kappagoda, director of the Coronary Heart Disease Reversal Program, University of California-Davis. “For instance, in a six-week study, people with high blood pressure who consumed two servings of canned tomato products daily experienced a significant decrease in blood pressure.”

Its pretty easy to include lycopene in your diet when you cook with tomatoes. Which I do, a lot, because the kids and the Huz love it. I mean, who doesn’t like spaghetti or chili? Sloppy Joes and ziti?

I played around on Hunts’ website a bit and found so many recipes you can make with tomato sauce. Ever since my father-in-law was diagnosed with prostate cancer, I’ve been sure to serve cooked tomatoes at least once a week. Afterall, I have a husband and 2 boys and its hereditary! And now that I’m learning how important tomatoes are for heart health, knowing that heart attacks are so prevalent in the US, I’m inclined to seek out ways to cook with tomatoes even more often. so playing on their site, I found a huge listing of meals to make with Hunts Tomato Sauce.

One of my go-to recipes using tomato sauce is chili. I love to make it over the weekend to feed the family through the coming week. I’ve posted this before, but rather than make you search, here’s my easy chili recipe. (This is a starter. I always adjust spices and amounts based on the taste I desire at the moment.)

Ingredients:

2 lbs ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
1 can undrained diced chili tomatoes
2 cans chili kidney beans, undrained
1 can tomato sauce
1 can crushed tomatoes
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
baking potatoes
Shredded Mexican-style cheese

Get Cookin’

Brown beef and saute onions together, drain.
Put all ingredients in crockpot/slowcooker except the cheese and potatoes.
cook on Slow-cook or low for 6-8 hours.

This post is sponsored by The Motherhood and Hunts.

© 2010, Julie Meyers Pron. All rights reserved.

Well, of course it is. And hot chocolate, too. With this major snowstorm attacking the east coast, we need to be prepared.

On Tuesday, I ventured over to Betty Crocker (which is funny, because I never do that) and found a few recipes for our snow-filled, football weekend.  Yesterday I made my own version of Slow-Cooker Family Favorite Chili and over the weekend I’m planning a beef stew, Pizza Dip and a few other warm, indoor weekend favorites.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs ground beef
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 can undrained diced chili tomatoes
• 2 cans chili kidney beans, undrained
• 1 can tomato sauce
• 1 can crushed tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• baking potatoes
• Shredded Mexican-style cheese

Get Cookin’

• Brown beef and saute onions together, drain.
• Put all ingredients in crockpot/slowcooker except the cheese and potatoes.
• cook on Slow-cook or low for 6-8 hours.
• About 1 hour before dinner time, turn oven to 425 to bake potatoes. (this, of course, depends on y0ur oven and preferences.)
• Serve chili on top of or beside the potato, depending on your preference. Garnish with cheese.

Notes for Next Time: While this was loved all around (see below), I’d definitely take out the crushed tomatoes and replace with another container 15-32 ounces of diced tomatoes. I like my chili chunky. I’d also include another can of beans, maybe a different kind. And if I’m adding all that, I’ll need to increase the spices. Of course, its all to taste. This recipe made enough for at least 3 dinners. So we’re set for being housebound all weekend if the snowstorm is a mean one. Plus, chili is perfect Superbowl food. And I’m still making a beef stew.

Star Power Rating: Big gave it 2 thumbs up and ate all of his chili, though not his potato. Middle didn’t eat (he was sick). The Huz commented “wow, this is good.” Then about 5 minutes later he said “this is really good. Are you sure you made this one?” Nice. They gave it a 5 out of 5 but I’m being hard on myself and giving it a 3.5 so that next time it will be chunkier. As for the potatoes, well, it turns out that oven isn’t fixed, at all. After baking them for an hour at 450, or what’s supposed to be 450, the were still really hard. So I nuked them. Someday I’ll get a new oven… Unfortunately, also need a new dishwasher and washer/dryer. But I digress.

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© 2010, Julie Meyers Pron. All rights reserved.