02/17/2015
Quick List of Heart-Healthier Food Suggestions
SNACKS - instead of chips, pretzels, cookies, fries etc.
- Hummus and veggies
- Popcorn with your favorite savory spice instead of butter and salt.
- Raw or dry roasted nuts without salt or flavorings
- Yogurt and fruit -1/4 cup of yogurt instead of more low-fat/no-fat.
- Vegetable salad with a squeeze of lemon, drizzle of olive oil and your favorite fresh or dried herbs such as a salt-free mix
- Homemade chicken and vegetable soup
DAIRY - low-fat/no-fat is not the best option
- Olive, avocado and coconut oils, organic and GMO free
- Avocado with herbs instead of cream cheese
- Full-fat organic yogurt in small amounts is better than a cup of low-fat/no-fat.
- Hard cheeses like Parmesan have more flavor and less fat
- Coffee black or with a dash of organic, hormone/antibiotic-free whole or raw milk
- Goat yogurt in small amounts instead of sour cream
WHOLE GRAINS
- Bread made from whole wheat, rye, teff and other grains
- Oatmeal with raw seeds, dried cranberries and flax meal sweetened with honey and/or molasses
- Brown rice, wild rice, quinoa, or whole grain barley
MEAT - FISH - POULTRY
- Salmon, tilapia or tuna filet
- Lean turkey burger with a whole wheat bun, topped with lettuce and tomato instead of a fast food burger
- Skinless chicken breasts
- Turkey cooked at home for sandwiches instead of processed lunch meats
A special note on yogurt: always be sure it is truly made from Live Cultures, which naturally thicken it, instead of artificially thickened with cornstarch or other fillers and thickeners. These healthy bacterial cultures are good for your digestive system, while cornstarch, carrageenan etc...is not.
