Roast cranberries  to add color and health benefits to a variety of good for you foods including Greek  yogurt and oatmeal.

Disclosure: I was asked to participate in the Cranberry Marketing Committee‘s  #CookwithCranberries campaign as a member of the Healthy Aperture Network. I received fresh cranberry samples and I was compensated for my time.

Timing is everything! Like my trip to Boston to attend the Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo that allowed me to experience the  cranberry harvest in nearby Carver, Massachusetts. Here I am, posing as a cranberry farmer between dietitian colleagues Kristina LaRue, RDN, CSSD of Love & Zest and Kylie Mitchell, MPH, RDN, LD of immaeatthat.
Lucky me! Lucky you!  Because cranberries are harvested just in time for Friendsgiving and the holidays making it the perfect time to entertain with fresh cranberries in delicious dishes and drinks! You can even surprise your friends by decorating with them.  For a chance to win one of eight $500 prizes, feature cranberries at your Friendsgiving celebration! Just snap a picture of your Friendsgiving cranberry creations, post it on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest, with the hashtag  #FriendsgivingCranberryContest,  and upload it at CranberyFriendsgiving.com.  For more information and contest rules, visit CranberryFriendsgiving.com.

As a registered dietitian, I must tell you, fresh cranberries are a versatile fruit that offer BIG health benefits in a little package, including unique polyphenols not commonly found in other fruit. These  nutrients, called PACs (proaythocyanidins), play a role in helping to maintain urinary tract health. In addition to antioxidant polyphenols, a serving of fresh cranberries is a good source of vitamin C, fiber and contains only 1 mg of sodium.  They ‘re  in season in the fall, but you can  enjoy fresh cranberries like this all year long
 if you buy one bag for now and freeze two for later. Note: freeze them in their original packaging for up to one year!

I am building on my cranberry traditions with a novel twist: roasting.  It’s simple to do and roasted cranberries are  the perfect way to add color and health benefits to some of your  favorite good for you foods.  I like to combine  them with  brown and wild rice,  toss into salads,  spread onto sandwiches, and  use as a topping for my Greek yogurt and oatmeal bowls.

This  eye-catching   breakfast is  brimming with protein, whole grains, calcium and polyphenols in a delicious, satisfying warm meal.  Roast cranberries  to add color and health benefits to a variety of good for you foods including Greek  yogurt and oatmeal.Please join me in taking advantage of the many  reasons to love cranberries!

Cranberry Roasted Breakfast Bowl

Roast cranberries  to add color and health benefits to this breakfast bowl with Greek  yogurt and oatmeal

• Author: Diane Boyd
• Yield: 4 aervings

Ingredients

for the roasted cranberries

• • 2 cups cranberries
• • 2 teaspoons olive oil
• • 1 Tablespoon brown sugar

to assemble breakfast bowl

• • 2 cups vanilla Greek yogurt
• • 2 cups cooked oatmal
• • 1/2 cups pecans
• • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

for the roasted cranberries

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

2. Toss fresh cranberries with oil, and brown sugar.

3. Roast in oven until softened and slightly caramelized 15- 20 minutes. Use immediately or refrigerate and reheat in microwave oven until warm.

to assemble breakfast bowl

1.In each of four cereal bowls, divide Greek yogurt, cooked oatmeal and pecans.

2.Top each bowl with warm roasted cranberries. Sprinkle with cinnamon.