Heart-Healthy Eating for Those with Cardiac Problems

You are getting ready to leave the hospital after a heart attack. You've been advised by your doctor to change your eating habits. You think to yourself, "All my favorite meals and munchies are gone forever."

With little effort on your part, this doesn't have to be the case. Rest easy; you don't have to give up tasty food. There are many fun and flavorful recipes for the person who has suffered a heart attack.

Breakfast is the start. A good healthy breakfast is highly recommended for heart-healthy eating. A good breakfast will jump start your day. One that is high in fiber and healthy sugars from fruit not only is good for those who have had a heart attack, but it will help control your weight and give you the energy you need for your day. A good recipe for those who have had a heart attack is a nice, low-fat bran muffin, yogurt and fruit mix.

Muffin Fruit Yogurt Mix-up

3 Low-fat bran muffins crumbled

4 cups of your favorite fresh fruit chunks

2 cups of your favorite low-fat yogurt

Take half of your crumbled muffins and place in the bottom of a bowl. Spoon about 3 ¼ of your fruit chunks on top of the muffins

Cover with the remaining crumbled muffins

Spoon on yogurt and cover with the remaining ¼ of your fruit chunks

Place covered bowl in your refrigerator overnight

Makes 6, 1-cup servings

An easy and fantastic heart healthy lunch can be simple and tasty.

1 piece pita bread

3 ounces of your favorite low-fat lunch meat

1 slice low-fat cheese

Your favorite greens such as fresh spinach or leaf lettuce

1 tablespoon coarsely ground mustard

Just place all on pita bread. Wrap and enjoy

Dinner for those who are heart healthy can be just as delicious. Try this great recipe for pepper steak.

! pound lean flank steak

1 large yellow onion

2 bell peppers

½ cup low sodium soy sauce

¼ teaspoon ground ginger

½ cup mandarin oranges

Put flank steak in freezer for 1 hour. Take out and slice steak into thin strips slicing across the grain

Reseed and cut peppers into thin strips

Dice onion

Put steak, onion and peppers into bowl with the ½ cup soy sauce and the ¼ teaspoon ground ginger. Mix well, cover and place in refrigerator for 2 hours to marinate.

After 2 hours, sauté mixture in medium hot frying pan using 2 tablespoons olive oil or canola oil until meat is brown.

Add 1 cup water. Reduce to medium heat. Simmer for ½ hour.

When ready to serve, mix in mandarin oranges.

Serve over rice or noodles

Makes 4 servings.

Snacking for the heart healthy should include fruits and raw vegetables.

An awareness of what you put in your body can help reduce the risk of another heart attack. Ask your doctor or hospital dietitian for ideas on how to eat healthy after suffering a heart attack. You will be glad you did.