Soy what?
It seems that commercials singing the praises of soy foods are everywhere, but just what do you do with tofu, tempeh and other foods made from soybeans? The American Heart Association recently recommended consuming 25 grams of soy protein every day as part of an overall healthy diet to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Don't think you have to choke down scrambled tofu to protect your heart -- try our surprisingly tasty ideas that your entire family is sure to love:

• Substitute textured soy protein for up to half the ground beef in meatballs, spaghetti with meat sauce or lasagna with meat. Mix the soy protein with a liquid that complements the recipe, such as tomato sauce, tomato juice or milk, until it is the consistency of ground beef. Then mix together with the rest of the meat. No one will know the difference!
  
• Whip up a smoothie based on soymilk or silken tofu. Add your favorite fruit and fruit juice, and a touch of honey or maple syrup for sweetness, and you've got a delicious, nutritious beverage in minutes.
  
• Add small pieces of chopped firm tofu to stir-fry, soup or casserole recipes. The tofu will absorb the flavor of the rest of the ingredients and add healthy protein at the same time.
  
• Munch on soy nuts -- similar to peanuts -- for a snack. Or include a handful of soy nuts in a do-it-yourself trail mix made from dried fruit, a sprinkling of chocolate chips, pretzels and your favorite dry cereal or cracker.