Sesame Green Beans

Yield: 8 servings | Prep: 15 mins. | Ready In: 15 mins.

What you need:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil • 2 tablespoons sesame seeds • 2 pounds fresh green beans, cut into 2 inch diagonal pieces • 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth

• 1/2 teaspoon salt (omit to lower the sodium level) • Freshly ground black pepper to taste

What you do:

1. Heat oil in a large skillet or wok over medium heat. Add sesame seeds, stirring constantly to avoid burning seeds.

2. When seeds start to darken, stir in green beans. Cook, stirring, until the beans turn bright green.

3. Pour in chicken broth, salt and pepper.

4. Cover and cook until beans are tender-crisp, about 7-10 minutes. 5. Uncover and cook just until liquid evaporates. Cook’s note: This same recipe can be changed up by replacing the sesame seeds with1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon Italian herb seasoning plus 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder.

Why we love it:

Eating a rainbow of colorful vegetables and fruits each day is the best way to get the vitamins, minerals and fiber you need to stay healthy. Besides being packed with a variety of nutrients, veggies and fruits are also naturally low in calories, fat and sodium and don’t require complicated preparation steps to taste good! Making ½ your plate vegetables and fruits at each meal helps to reach the daily goal of about 4 to 5 cups total (or 2 to 2 ½ cups of each). For vegetables, 1 cup equals 1 cup raw or cooked vegetables; 1 cup 100% vegetable juice; or 2 cups leafy salad greens. Fresh is best, but if you do cook vegetables, use a preparation method that retains the nutritional content (unlike boiling) and brings out the natural flavors, including sautéing, roasting, grilling, steaming and baking. For sautéing, choose olive oil and try not to use more than a tablespoon.