Canola oil. Take it to heart

You know canola oil is good for you and every body, but just how good? Good enough for the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to award canola oil a qualified health claim you can take to heart no matter where you live.

The FDA ruled in October, 2006, that just one and a half tablespoons of canola oil per day may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease when used in place of saturated fat. So every day, canola oil is good for every body.

And it's easy to get your daily dose of heart-healthy canola oil. Start with a muffin homemade with canola oil or slide a little canola oil on your omelette pan in the morning. Mix canola mayonnaise with tuna and spread non-hydrogenated canola margarine on your whole-grain bread at lunch. Sauté lean chicken in a few teaspoons of canola oil for dinner. You've just had a day of hearty eating.

Try this hearty recipe that really satisfies.

Zesty Chicken Wrap

1/4 cup canola oil

2 tbsp lime juice

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 tsp ground cumin

2 tsp ground fennel

1 tbsp grated lime zest

2 tsp chopped fresh mint

2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro

4 large skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2 inch strips

6 small tomatoes, chopped

4 green onions, chopped

1/2 English cucumber, diced

6 whole-wheat tortilla wraps

low or no-fat sour cream

In a large bowl, combine canola oil, lime juice, garlic, cumin, fennel, lime zest, mint and cilantro. Add chicken to bowl and toss to coat with mixture. Let stand 15 minutes.

In large, non-stick frying pan, cook the chicken mixture over medium high heat for 6 to 8 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and the juices run clear.

Place chicken on wraps. Add tomato, green onion, cucumber and a dollop of sour cream. Fold and serve immediately. Yields 6 servings.

More hearty recipes with canola oil are available online at www.canolainfo.org. Details of the FDA qualified health claim for canola oil can be found at www.canola-council.org.