One of our favorite things about being registered dietitians is getting to be on the pulse of the latest nutrition research as well as the newest food products, information and trends. And the truth is, if we haven’t already heard about the latest nutrition fads or new food products on the shelves, you ask us about it, so you help us to keep our game face on! Thanks for that! 😉
And guess what? Lately you’ve been requesting healthy side dishes—and it turns out this is also one of the hot topic searches on the Internet! Yep, everyone is seeking a “healthy, delicious side dish”—and your requests have kept us creating things that people are looking for! Thank you! We didn’t know this when we created our Skinny Cauliflower Mash, our Edamame Cranberry and Feta Salad or our Cranberry Almond Quinoa but now that we know, this has inspired us to make anew jazzed up number!
Say hello to sweet, creamy,crunchy and savory! Think dark, juicy cherries and crunchy, nutty pistachios paired with sweet potato and feta cheese.
This medley is buzzing with nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. Cherries are antioxidant-packed and are loaded with potassium, which helps counteract the effects of sodium in the body. But, did you know that cherries have been found to improve your quality of sleep, improve your blood pressure, ease muscle soreness, and decrease inflammation? While tart cherries (the ones that taste tart) have the highest antioxidant potential with the most benefits, sweet cherries are nothing to sneeze about and still offer these amazing benefits, just aren’t as potent, or as tart. 😉
Another bonus? Great skin! The vitamin C in cherries is a key element in formation of the collagen that gives skin elasticity and a youthful fullness.
Cherry & Pistachio Sweet Potato Medley
Yield 6 servings
Ingredients:
4 medium sweet potatoes (5.3 oz (150 g)/ per potato)
1 ½ cup dark cherries, diced
½ cup shelled pistachios
½ cup reduced fat or fat free feta cheese
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350F.
2. Dice sweet potatoes; discard the pointed ends of the sweet potato.
3. Place on a baking tray lined with foil. Bake for 45 minutes or until tender to pierce with fork.
4. While cooking, pit and dice cherries.
5. Remove sweet potatoes from oven allow to slightly cool so cherries don’t bleed on sweet potatoes.
6. Top with diced cherries, feta, and pistachio pieces. Stir and serve.
7. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts Per Serving (2/3 cup): 130 Calories; 5 g fat; 0.5 g Saturated Fat; 25 g Carbohydrates; 4 g Protein; 150 mg Sodium; 6 g Fiber
- 4 medium sweet potatoes (5.3 oz (150 g)/ per potato)
- 1 ½ cup dark cherries, diced
- ½ cup shelled pistachios
- ½ cup reduced fat or fat free feta cheese
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- Dice sweet potatoes; discard the pointed ends of the sweet potato.
- Place on a baking tray lined with foil. Bake for 45 minutes or until tender to pierce with fork.
- While cooking, pit and dice cherries.
- Remove sweet potatoes from oven allow to slightly cool so cherries don’t bleed on sweet potatoes.
- Top with diced cherries, feta, and pistachio pieces. Stir and serve.
- Enjoy!
- Nutrition Facts Per Serving (2/3 cup): 130 Calories; 5 g fat; 0.5 g Saturated Fat; 25 g Carbohydrates; 4 g Protein; 150 mg Sodium; 6 g Fiber
