In fact, more restaurants are providing more heart healthy choices including some fast food chains.
Eating healthy for your heart is not as difficult as you might think. Making conscious food choices all or most of the time will help you eat more healthy. While there may be some things you may not be ready to give up it doesn't mean you can't start eating more foods that are good for you.
Eating Healthy Choices Good for You
Every time you make a healthy choice whether it be increasing your physical activity, or eating more fruits and vegetables, doing something is better than giving up and doing nothing.
The Canadian Health Network provides a comprehensive web site on just about any topic including a web page that gives tips on how to choose heart healthy food items from a menu.
The following tips may be of interest to you.
Instead of cream for your coffee or tea try milk, or use half cream and half milk. Ask for sauces and butter on the side.
How your food is prepared is important. Choose menu items that are either broiled, stir fried, steamed, poached, roasted, baked, grilled, charbroiled, and/or garden fresh.
By now most people may be aware that restaurant meals and fast foods are typically high in salt (sodium). So check the menu for dishes made with fresh foods rather than processed. And lighten up on the sauces and condiments, they are high in sodium.
Try out menu items that are indicated to be healthy choices or have the Heart & Stroke logo next to the item choice. Look for food choices that are prepared with vegetables, whole grains, beans and/or fruit, either fresh, cooked or as a juice. And choose rice, a baked potato or salad over french fries.
When your plate arrives heaping with food you don't have to eat it all in one sitting; ask for a doggie bag and take the extra food home. Request half orders if you are not really hungry or share your meal. Try a vegetarian sandwich or vegetarian burger.
For the pizza lovers, try a thin baked crust with mushrooms, green pepper, tomato, olives, onion, pineapple, ham or back bacon, or shrimp toppings.
If you have a sweet tooth pick a dessert made with fruit or berries, such as apple crisp or strawberry shortcake, heavy on the berries and light on the whipped cream and share it.
Other healthy desserts choices include: a bowl of fresh fruit, compotes, poached fruit, sorbets, ices, gelato, gelatin, angel food cake, biscotti, fortune cookies, and frozen low fat yogurt.
The following are a selection of menu items that are generally considered to be 'healthier' choices when dining out:
- Hot or cold whole grain cereal
- Poached or boiled eggs
- Back bacon or lean ham
- Waffles or pancakes with fruit
- French toast
- Low fat yogurt
- Light cream cheese, cottage cheese
- Soups like chicken or turkey or tomato based, split pea, bean, lentil, vegetable
- Salad (dressing on the side), coleslaw
- Seafood cocktail
- Steamed shellfish
- Raw or marinated vegetable
- Pretzels, bread sticks, rolls, pitas, whole grain or rye bread, bagels, english muffins
Eating out is meant to be an enjoyable experience. But that doesn't mean you have to forego eating foods that are good for you.
If you have specific questions or health concerns please consult your doctor or appropriate health care professional.
