According to Connie Guttersen, RD, PhD, author of The New Sonoma Diet, 

"There’s probably no food choice you’ll make that does more for your health and weight loss efforts than olive oil."

Read more here: Olive Oil Weight Loss Article from The Olive Source

A great deal of research has been done lately concerning the benefits of eating healthy fats such as the Monounsaturated fats in Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Not only do these fats help lower cholesterol, they also allow your body to better absorb fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D and E, which are essential to good health. Olive Oil is the most potent source of monounsaturated fats and Extra Virgin Olive Oil packs the punch of powerful antioxidants to boot!

Crunchy Sweet Brussels Sprouts Salad

What you'll need:

1 lb. Brussels Sprouts

2 Tbsp. of Mazzone Extra Virgin Olive Oil  (Original or Orange)

1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

salt and pepper to taste

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 cup dried cranberries

What to do:

1. Thinly slice Brussels Sprouts

2. Warm olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sprouts, nutmeg, salt, and pepper.

3. Cook, stirring, until the Brussels Sprouts are bright green and slightly wilted. (2-3minutes)

4. Add in walnuts and cranberries. Toss to combine. Turn out into a bowl.

5. Serve and eat hot or refrigerate to serve chilled. It's a delicious salad either way!

Faithful Olio Mazzone Olive Oil user and friend of PaneOlio Jan Spangler suggests a citrus spinach and salad with grilled chicken and Mazzone Orange Infused Olive Oil to add zest to a healthy winter favorite!

You'll need:

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast

1 small can of mandarin oranges in juice

1 bag baby spinach (pre-washed)

A few slices purple onion (or pre-chopped from produce department)

1 can mandarin orange slices (Or Fresh  orange or grapefruit sections from produce dept)

1 little bag (2 oz approx ) sliced almonds.

1 Tablespoon orange juice concentrate

The juice and the zest of one lemon.

1 Tablespoon Mazzone Orange Infused Olive Oil

Directions:

I will say I have a RULE... anytime you BBQ Anything, ever, you Always throw on some extra boneless, skinless chicken breast to keep cooked and on hand.  For this salad I use chicken breast that I have basted at the end of it's cooking with orange juice concentrate (no need to thaw it, just scoop out 2 tbs and use as glaze)  to get a nice black or dark char on the chicken.  Cool, slice, freeze or refrigerate until you need it.  (which will be now for this salad). 

The hard part...Mix throw all the ingredients (except the chicken) into one bowl and toss to coat the fresh spinach with all the toppings.

Lay your pre cooked, pre sliced grilled chicken breast on top the bed of spinach and enjoy!

This salad tastes AWESOME and will not take but 5 min to put together. However , if you let this salad sit for 15 min it is even better... the evoo gets into the spinach deeper,  and wow... so healthy,  love it.

"I can walk in from the barn and have lunch on the table before everyone has washed up.
The trick is having the stuff on hand.    If you are not using chicken breast to top the salad, then sprinkle some Chinese noodles over the top if you like."

Why this combination is SO healthy...? Vitamin C (from citrus fruits and dark-green vegetables) enhances the body's absorption of iron (found in lean meats, fish, beans, and some leafy green veggies) when these foods are consumed at the same time. By adding a few orange  segments that contain vitamin C to a spinach salad, the bioavailability of the iron in spinach also gets a significant boost!

Make popcorn a whole new treat with Mazzone flavor infused extra virgin olive oil. It tastes AMAZING and it's healthier too!

Sweet Citrus Popcorn (Erica's Favorite)

Drizzle Mazzone orange infused olive oil over plain popcorn. Then, sprinkle with splenda and a little salt  for a low calorie, whole grain, totally delicious snack or dessert!

Popcorn Italiano

Drizzle Mazzone Basil infused olive oil over plain popcorn (optional: sprinkle with salt).

Add PIZZAZZ to POPCORN with any of the flavor infused olive oils oils or go traditional with heart healthy our original extra virgin.