Healthy Snack, Meal, and Drink Ideas After a Heart Attack

So you just returned home from being in the hospital after suffering a heart attack. The Doc has told you to watch your blood pressure, cholesterol, and body weight. By this, he means you not only have to exercise, but you also need to maintain a healthier diet. If you are eating cheeseburgers, fries, fried chicken, etc for every meal, you are going to have to make changes in your nutrition! Your body and heart likes for you to eat low fat, low cholesterol, and low salt foods. In addition, you should eat lots of fruits, vegetables, grains, and fiber. Don't get discouraged righ yet though - this does not mean that you have to cut out your favorite foods! Let's have a look at some healty drink, snack, and meal choices that will still allow you to enjoy an occasional juicy burger or pizza but put your heart and body in better shape.

Never skip breakfast. We are constantly reminded that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Eat fresh, raw fruits like grapes and strawberries with a bowl of whole grain cereal like Total. If you don't like cereal every day, try rotating it with Oatmeal instead. Whole grain products have such a high fiber and complex carbohydrate content that lowers cholesterol and keeps your digestive system healthy, making them great for both after heart attack and preventing heart attacks. Use fat-free or skim milk in your cereal and oatmeal, and drink a glass of juice, perhaps orange juice, with your breakfast. Low-fat yogurt is another excellent choice for breakfast. Eggs are not perfect for your body, so if you must eat eggs for breakfast, try to limit the amount to 2-3 eggs per week. That means cooking maybe one egg three days a week, or having one day where you cook up all 2-3 eggs, depending on what else you are having for breakfast that day. You do not want to over do it and have big heavy meals each day.

At lunch and dinner, pick fish over red meats. Yes, fish have fat but the fats in many fish actually guard the heart. I recently read in a magazine where the American Heart Association is now advising people with heart disease to eat fish at least once a day or at least take a fish oil supplement once a day. If you do choose to have red meats, buy lean cuts or cut the fat off of it before you cook it. Try not to fry the meats either- bake or grill them instead. Steam up some broccoli and other vegetables to go along with your meal. Potatoes, peas, corn, and beans also contain vitamins and fiber and not much of any fat or cholesterol. If you have fries with your meal, don't add all that salt to them. Add spices instead. Want pizza for dinner one night. That's fine - just remember that one slice of cheese pizza is going to be much better for you than eating 2 or 3 pieces of a Supreme pizza!

Water instead of Cola is always a good choice of drink to wash it all down with. If you get bored of plain water, buy some of these flavor packets to add to it. Most of them have little to no calories and contain vitamins.

If you get hungry, a healthy snack can be anything from nuts to a salad (low fat dressing) to fruit or steamed broccoli. Even low-fat yogurt makes a good snack.

When you are cooking, prepare your food with unsaturated vegetable oils such as corn, olive, or canola oil for instance. Don't use lard or butter. Speaking of salt and sour cream for your healthy baked potato or butter for your broccoli, sprinkle herbs on them instead and use light sour cream.

Don't fill your plate up with food either. Eat in moderation and practice portion control. Heavy meals will not help you get into a better shape.

Eating right and exercise are two things that will lower your risk of a heart attack, or in some cases, another heart attack. Eating healthier is not a hard task. You don't have to give up all of your favorite foods. You simply need to eat less of them. Buy more low-fat foods, and limit the sauces and dressings. Add more fruits and vegetables to your diet as well. Be smart on your nutrition choices because, as you know, your life is depending on it.