#EatWellLiveWell: Snatch Up Snap Peas this Spring!

Only recently developed in 1979, snap peas are a cross between green peas and snow peas. In fact, the demand for the snap pea came from people wanting an easily edible-pod, unlike green pea pods. Snap peas are a great vegetable to incorporate into your spring diet, as they are now readily available and fresh at your farmers market and the grocery store!

Packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, snap peas will leave you feeling great for the spring and summer weather. With ample amounts of vitamins C, B and folate, snap peas help your body convert food to energy, helping you remain active during the warm weather. The antioxidants available in snap peas will also help keep your immune system in its best shape. In order to get the most antioxidants out of snap peas, researchers recommend buying snap peas fresh because the longer they are stored the more antioxidants they tend to lose. Snatch up some snap peas today to make our new Snap Pea Sesame Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe!

Recipe: Snap Pea Sesame Chicken Pasta Salad

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces uncooked whole wheat angel hair pasta

• 2 cups cubed cooked chicken breast

• 1-1/2 cups coleslaw mix

• 1 can (11 ounces) mandarin oranges, drained

• 1 medium sweet red pepper, julienned

• 1 cup fresh sugar snap peas, trimmed and halved

• 3 green onions, chopped

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 2/3 cup reduced-fat Asian toasted sesame salad dressing

• 1/4 cup chopped salted peanuts

Directions:

1. Cook the whole wheat pasta until tender yet firm (al dente).
2. In a large bowl, mix together chicken, coleslaw mix, red pepper, mandarin oranges, snap peas, and green onions. Sprinkle with salt and toss together.
3. Drain the pasta and rinse off with cool water to chill the noodles.
4. Add pasta and sesame dressing to the chicken mixture and toss. Top off with peanuts and serve!

Nutrition Facts:

519 calories, 11 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 54 mg cholesterol, 631 mg sodium, 72 g carbohydrate, 10 g fiber, 35 g protein

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