Showing Love with Heart Healthy Food

February is American Heart month. February also holds one of our favorite heart centered holidays too, Valentine’s Day! Coincidence? I think not!

As the Inpatient and Cardiac Dietitian at Magruder, I get the opportunity to teach our Cardiac Rehab outpatients every month on the importance of eating heart healthy. I start the class the same way every month, defining a Cardiac Diet. While I may mention the words “low in saturated fat and salt”, most importantly I emphasize what it is NOT…which is bland, dried out chicken breast and brown rice!!

After all, aren’t we a society who LOVES to LOVE with food? The same holds true for this dietitian too. I want food to be a celebration of life. A celebration of fellowship and friendship. A celebration of love. And I want it to taste good! With up to 80% of heart disease being preventable, there’s no room for boring or bland. I want those in my circle of love to live a long time, and I bet you do too.

Here are 5 menu ideas to show others how much you love them (that are dietitian approved):

1. Make it a party!! Nothing beats the flavors and nutrient profile that a fiesta brings. Start with shrimp tacos, sautéed veggies, laden with fresh salsa and guacamole, along a side of black beans and long grain rice. Don’t forget fresh lime slices. No one will even notice the sour cream and shredded cheese is missing. Ok maybe the cheese. Add just a pinch.
2. Taco’s not romantic enough? Try garlicky grilled shrimp skewers, couscous cooked in low sodium chicken stock with pine nuts and dried cranberries stirred in, with sautéed asparagus.
3. If worried about being too stinky from that meal (I’m looking at you garlic and asparagus), let’s kick it up a fancy notch with chicken, lemon and artichokes (canned). This Paula Dean recipe is a winner. It can also be made with a white flakey fish such as cod. I’ve served it over a bed of zoodles before for a complete heart loving dish. (https://www.pauladeen.com/recipe/lemon-chicken-with-artichokes/).
4. If reservations are already made at your favorite steak house, consider bringing half your steak home for breakfast the next day. Serve alongside roasted peppers, onions, fingerling or baby red potatoes and an egg. Nothing says love like sharing your coveted leftovers (and doing the dishes).
5. Time for dessert… easy peasy. Dark chocolate covered strawberries. No description needed. Just plain yum!

Happy Heart Month!