Tips and Recipes

En Español

Green Beans and Tomatoes

green beans

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds fresh green beans
  • 2 teaspoons canola or olive oil
  • 2 onions, finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 2 cups tomatoes, finely chopped
  • 1 green pepper, thinly sliced
  • 2 cups water
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

  1. Wash the beans, cut off the tips, and remove the stringy piece of fiber along the stem by pulling it off. Put the beans in a colander and rinse again.
  2. Over a medium heat setting, add oil to a large saucepan.
  3. Wait approximately 45 seconds until oil is hot, then add raw onions to the pan.
  4. Sauté the onions in oil until they are translucent.
  5. Stir in the garlic and sauté a few minutes more.
  6. Add green beans, tomatoes, green pepper, and water.
  7. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and let simmer covered for 15 minutes or until the beans are tender.
  8. Serve hot.

Yo-Fruit

fresh cut fruit

Makes 2 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 cup canned pineapple chunks, drained
  • 1 banana
  • 1/2 cup grapes
  • 1 kiwi
  • 1 (6-ounce) container low-fat lemon yogurt
  • Nutmeg

Directions

  1. Have an adult wash, peel, and cut kiwi using a vegetable peeler and knife.
  2. Arrange pineapple, kiwi, bananas, and grapes onto your plate.
  3. Top with yogurt and sprinkle with nutmeg.

Whole-Grain Crackers and Cheese

crackers

Makes 2 servings

Serving Size: 3 sandwiches

Ingredients

  • 12 whole-grain, baked, or reduced-fat crackers
  • 2 slices of low-fat cheese (American, cheddar, or Swiss)

Directions

  1. Tear the cheese slices into 3 pieces.
  2. Place one piece of cheese between two crackers. Repeat for the remaining cheese and crackers.

Waffle Fruit Sandwich

waffles with blueberries

Makes 1 serving

Serving Size: 1 sandwich

Ingredients

  • 1 frozen whole-grain waffle
  • 1 tablespoon peanut butter
  • Sliced fruit of your choice (bananas, apples, and strawberries are great choices)

Directions

  1. Toast waffle in toaster.
  2. Spread waffle with 1 tablespoon peanut butter. Cut in half.
  3. On one half of the waffle, place fruit on top of peanut butter. Place other half of waffle on top, peanut butter side down, to make a waffle sandwich.

Toss-Up Snack Mix

dried apple slices

Makes 2 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 cup whole-grain corn and rice cereal
  • 1/2 cup dried apples
  • 1/4 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/2 cup roasted peanuts or soy nuts (for those with nut allergies)

Directions

  1. Measure each ingredient as follows and place in a baggie:
    • 1/2 cup whole-grain corn and rice cereal
    • 1/4 cup dried apples
    • 1/8 cup dried cranberries
    • 1/4 cup roasted peanuts or soy nuts
  2. Toss the bag and shake it side to side to create a mix.
  3. Repeat for the second baggie.

© 2025 North Carolina Cooperative Extension
Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP)

North Carolina State University
Agricultural and Human Sciences Department

Cooperative Extension at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (CAES)

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