Heart Healthy Recipes: February is American Heart Month so Eat Healthy for Life

February is American Heart Month giving all of us a chance stop and think about what we can change in our lifestyles to reduce the risk of heart disease. There are many ways to do this through regular exercise, quitting smoking and of course through diet. In America our diet has become filled with fast foods, processed foods and junk foods, this has been a major contributing factor in the soaring rate of heart disease. It is also one of the easiest things to change yet, as a nation we don't seem to be inclined to do so. Hearts healthy foods do not have to be hard to prepare nor do they have to be bland. As we have gotten older our family has learned to adjust our diet to be much more heart healthy and we have found plenty of great easy to fix recipes that even the kids love. Here is an easy crock pot main dish and a delicious desert that makes a very heart healthy meal the whole family will love.

Chicken Chow Mein Crockpot

1 T oil

1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut in 1" pieces

4 carrots, thinly sliced

4 green onions, sliced (include green portion)

3 stalks celery, sliced

1 cup low sodium chicken broth

1 T sugar

1/3 cup light soy sauce

1/4 t crushed red pepper flakes

1/4 t ground ginger

1 clove garlic, crushed

8 oz bean sprouts

8 oz water chestnuts, sliced

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/2 cup water

Heat oil in skillet & brown chicken. Put chicken pieces in crock pot. Add all ingredients except cornstarch & water.

Stir & cover; cook on low 6 to 8 hours. Turn to high.

Combine cornstarch & cold water in a small bowl; stir until dissolved. Add cornstarch mixture to the crock pot and stir. Keeping cover slightly ajar to allow steam to escape, cook until thick, about 15 to 30 minutes. Serve over rice or with chow mein noodles.

May be doubled for 5-quart crock pot. Serves 6.

Berry Bread Pudding

8 slices bread; preferably whole grain oat

2 c strawberries (fresh or frozen)

1 c blueberries (fresh or frozen)

1 c raspberries (fresh or frozen)

1/2 c sugar

½ cup egg substitute

2 T melted smart balance or other light margarine

2 t cinnamon

2 t vanilla

1/2 c nonfat milk

1/2 c light sour cream

Spray with cooking spray a 9x5 loaf pan. Tear bread into chunks, and mix it with the berries in the pan. Combine and pour the other ingredients over the top of the bread and berries, mixing slightly. Bake 30 min with foil, then 30 min w/out foil.

This is great for breakfast or dessert.

Eating healthy for your heart and the rest of your body doesn't have to be dull and difficult as you can see there are recipes out there that will not only please the whole family but take little time to make. While February is American Heart Month don't stop there make each month a healthy heart month so that you will live a long and healthy life.

Sources: Family recipes of our own