Hear information on several exciting initiatives happening at the American Heart Association from special guest Heart Challenge Director Gretta Jacobs; enjoy a fun game that’s sure to get you excited about heart -healthy foods; and lastly, learn about wellness program credit and 1095-C forms during the Mailbag segment.

After the episode...

Check out these great resources that Gretta Jacobs referenced during her interview:

• F.A.S.T- Stroke Awareness Resource
• R.A.P.I.D.O - Los signos de alarma y síntomas repentinos R.Á.P.I.D.O. de un ataque o derrame cerebral
• Life’s Essential 8 - Your Checklist for Lifelong Good Health
• Woman of Impact Campaign and Teen of Impact Campaign
• 2024 Southern New England Heart Walk

If you enjoyed the February podcast game and feel energized about heart- healthy fruits and veggies, check out the Have a Plant website to learn about produce nutrition, explore recipes, and more!

Learn more about the February wellness programs referenced on the podcast.

As promised, your co-hosts are sharing some recipes that provide healthier alternatives to longtime favorites:

A Heart-Healthier Alternative to Spaghetti and Sausage

If you’ve not yet discovered it, that distinctive flavor in sausage is all thanks to a vegetable- fennel! So, it becomes fairly easy to create that yummy sausage taste in a much healthier way than a traditional spaghetti and sausage dinner!

I love this recipe from This Silly Girl Kitchen, and with just a couple of slight modifications (included below), it’s become a favorite quick weeknight meal in the McKay household.

I typically make sure to select lean ground turkey; I reduce the grated cheese to 2-3 tablespoons; and I select an organic, lower sodium marinara sauce. This recipe is fantastic when served with whole wheat thin spaghetti or zucchini noodles!

A Heart-Healthier Chocolate Cake Dessert

April’s heart healthy recipe is King Arthur's Original Cake Pan Cake.

Okay, so it may not be the healthiest, but it is February, and who doesn’t love a good chocolate cake. I chose this recipe because it contains no dairy or eggs and uses ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.

You can easily make it vegan by using plant milk and vegan chocolate chips in the frosting. It’s one of the best chocolate cakes I’ve ever tasted and easy to make.