A Healthy Snack

By Sandy Hu

When my kids were young, I used to try a new brown bag recipe or two each fall to kick off the school year. It might be a cookie, a new sandwich filling, or once, I even made sandwich rolls from scratch. Since I worked full-time outside the home, the variety wasn’t sustainable throughout the year, but it was my way of acknowledging to myself and the kids that it was time to refocus and get back to routine.

If you’re looking for a healthy after-school snack for your kids or a sweet treat to brown bag to the office, try these Dried Plum Bars. They’re made with heart-healthy rolled oats as the “crust” of the cookie and dried plums for the filling. Dried plums, also known as prunes, are considered a superfruit because they have unique phytochemicals not found in other fruits, and are a source of important vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber.

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Carrot Salad - a New Way to Eat Veggies

By David Hu

I’m always trying to eat more veggies but most of the time they’re really an afterthought. There are only so many times you can steam or sauté vegetables before they get boring.

Today’s recipe is a carrot salad which can be enjoyed year-round because carrots are always available in the market. This dish has a great burst of flavor that comes from sweet-tart dried plums and Moroccan spices, and the salad will add some nice, vibrant colors to your meal.

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