Healthfinder.gov suggests you follow these eating tips for a healthy heart:
- Eat less saturated and trans fat. Stay away from fatty meats, fried foods, cakes, and cookies.
- Cut down on sodium (salt). Look for the low-sodium or “no salt added” brands of canned soups, vegetables, snack foods, and lunch meats.
- Get more fiber. Fiber is in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
Take this list with you the next time you go food shopping.
Healthy Vegetables and Fruits
Eat a variety of vegetables and fruits. To save money, buy vegetables and fruits that are in season, frozen, or canned.
- Fresh vegetables such as tomatoes, cabbage, broccoli, and spinach
- Leafy greens for salads
- Canned vegetables low in sodium (salt)
- Frozen vegetables without added butter or sauces
- Fresh fruits such as apples, oranges, bananas, pears, and peaches
- Canned fruit in 100% juice, not syrup
- Dried fruit
- Frozen berries without added sugar
Healthy Milk and Milk Products
Look for fat-free or low-fat milk products. Or choose soy products with added calcium.
- Fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk
- Fat-free or low-fat yogurt
- Cheese (3 grams of fat or less per serving)
- Soy-based drinks with added calcium (soymilk)
Healthy Breads, Cereals, and Grains
For products with more than one ingredient, make sure whole-wheat or whole-grain is listed first.
- 100% whole-wheat bread
- Whole-grain breakfast cereals like oatmeal
- Whole grains such as brown or wild rice, barley, and bulgur
- Whole-wheat or whole-grain pasta
Healthy Meat, Beans, Eggs, and Nuts
Choose lean cuts of meat and other foods with protein.
- Seafood, including fish and shellfish
- Chicken and turkey breast without skin
- Pork: leg, shoulder, tenderloin
- Beef: round, sirloin, tenderloin, extra lean ground beef
- Beans, lentils, and peas
- Eggs and egg substitutes
- Nuts and seeds
Healthy Fats and Oils
Cut back on saturated fat and look for healthy products with no trans fats.
- Margarine and spreads (soft, tub, or liquid) with no trans fats
- Vegetable oil (canola, olive, peanut, or sesame oil)
- Non-stick cooking spray
- Light or fat-free salad dressing and mayonnaise
