While family get-togethers are typically a time when nutritional caution is thrown to the wind, you can have delicious, satisfying meals and desserts without the guilt. With a little vision, you can create family favorites that will leave a legacy of intelligent and healthy eating. As a first step, take a stroll down the health food aisles of your supermarket, or pay a visit to your local co-op or health food store -- there are plenty of products available that deliver nutritional benefits without sacrificing great taste.

Consider incorporating soy products into your Mother's Day meal. Soy offers special benefits to women of all ages: The isoflavones in soy foods combat the negative side effects of menopause such as hot flashes and decreased bone mass. For women at risk of osteoporosis, soy products deliver high-quality protein that fights the effects of this disease.

Imagine Foods, a health food company in Northern California, has been making best selling natural foods since 1982. The company produces a number of tasty products made from soy and rice that are wonderful substitutes for traditional dairy products. Soy Dream, Imagine Foods' organic soymilk, has 47 mg. of soy isoflavones per serving, along with 300 mg. of calcium - both of great benefit to moms of all ages.

Here are a few practical ways to add soy to your Mother's Day menu. This will lessen the fat and cholesterol in your menu while pleasing even the pickiest eater in your family:

• If your family loves rich and creamy desserts, substitute Rice Dream or Soy Dream non-dairy beverages for the milk or cream in recipes. In doing so, you will eliminate the saturated fat that is inherent in most dairy foods.

• Substitute Soy Dream Frozen Desserts for your favorite ice cream. Your family will be amazed to learn that Soy Dream is dairy free and contains no cholesterol. Because Soy Dream comes in a variety of decadent flavors and novelties (Lil Dreamers ice cream sandwiches are a best seller), no one will feel deprived.

• Fruit smoothies using fresh fruit and Rice Dream or Soy Dream beverages can take the place of calorie- and fat-laden root beer floats or milkshakes (see recipe below).

• If you've given up making a favorite recipe because it contains a cream-style soup, you can cook it again by substituting Imagine Natural Organic Soups and Broths, which are all natural, certified organic, and dairy- and cholesterol-free.

Mother's Day Ice Dream Cake
Ingredients:
1 (10-inch) angel food cake
2 quarts Soy Dream Frozen Dessert (your favorite flavor)

To make:
Take Soy Dream Frozen Dessert out of freezer to soften. It should be easy to spread and not melted.

Tear the angel food cake into chunks (about 2 inches). Place a layer of cake on the bottom of one 9-inch bunt cake pan. Spread a layer of the softened Soy Dream Frozen Dessert on top. Repeat layers until cake and Soy Dream Frozen Dessert are gone.

Put cake in freezer for at least 2 - 3 hours. When ready to serve, remove cake from pan onto serving dish.

To make:
Place all ingredients in a blender and blend to combine. Enjoy!

Imagine Foods was founded in 1982 in St. Louis by Robert Nissenbaum, president and CEO. For the past 20 years, Imagine Foods has maintained its commitment to making the highest quality, most delicious all-natural foods. Imagine Foods makes some of the best-selling organic and natural products available today. For more information, or for additional recipes, visit www.imaginefoods.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content