Breast Cancer Awareness
October is “Breast Cancer Awareness Month” and it is paramount that we raise our voices together to help spread the word about the importance of breast cancer screening and support. In the United States, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. It’s rare, but men can develop breast cancer too. It is critical for every individual to be “body-aware” and perform self-exams frequently. According to the American Cancer Society, when breast cancer is detected early, survival rate is ~99%. Monthly breast self-exams, scheduling clinical breast exams, and getting mammograms can help with early detection. While you cannot prevent cancer, developing healthy habits can significantly reduce your risk. Having more fat tissue raises your likelihood of getting breast cancer by increasing estrogen levels. Therefore, maintaining a healthy weight, staying active, and limiting processed foods/alcohol is critical to cancer prevention.
Pink Greek Yogurt Bark for Breast Cancer Awareness
Ingredients:
2 cups low fat strawberry Greek yogurt
½ tsp vanilla extract
¼ tsp lemon juice
½ cup strawberries, sliced
Pinch of salt
Optional: ¼ cup Grandy Oats Coconola
Directions:
Line a baking sheet with wax paper and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl combine yogurt, vanilla, lemon juice, and salt; whisk until thoroughly combined.
Transfer yogurt mixture to previously prepared baking sheet and spread it around to an even thickness.
Top with sliced strawberries and sprinkle with Grandy Oats Coconola (optional).
Freeze for 2 to 3 hours, or until firm. Cut into 8 pieces.
Creamy Vegan Beet Pasta for Breast Cancer Awareness
Ingredients:
1 (12 oz.) box Durum whole wheat pasta
¼ c unsweetened almond or cashew milk
2 medium beets, peeled
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp basil
2 cloves garlic, minced
¼ c nutritional yeast
olive oil spray
Directions:
If you are using precooked beets, you can skip this step. Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and place peeled beets on pan. Coat beets with olive oil spray and roast for 35-40 minutes, flipping once halfway through, until fork tender. Set aside to cool for 10 minutes.
While beets are roasting, cook pasta according to package directions in a large pot.
When beets are cool enough to handle, chop beets into quarters. Add beets to a food processor or blender along with thyme, basil, almond milk, balsamic vinegar, garlic, and nutritional yeast. Pulse until smooth, adding more milk as necessary to make a pourable sauce. Season with black pepper, garlic powder, etc. if desired.
Pour the sauce over prepared pasta and cook over medium heat until warmed through, tossing to coat the noodles. Serve with a protein such as chicken, fish, or shrimp for a balanced meal! *Optional: Add chopped veggies or greens for extra fiber!