10 Tips for Fixing Heart Healthy Recipes

Do you remember Grandma's apple cobbler? Isand dried herbs. To bring out the flavor of dried
spaghetti one of your favorite meals? You can stillherbs rub them with your fingers before adding
eat these things, but new versions of them, ifthem to the recipe.8. Cut back on sugar. Recipes
you know how to swap ingredients. Here are 10made with half the sugar may taste just as
tips for fixing heart healthy recipes.1. Replace eggssweet. Instead of sugar you may use Splenda, a
wih a cholesterol-free egg substitute. If you don'tno-calorie sweetener made from sugar, or half
have a substitute on hand, you may use eggSplenda and half sugar.9. Go lean on protein. Buy
whites. According to the American Heartlean cuts of beef, skinless chicken, extra lean
Association, two egg whites may be substitutedchops and fish. Some recipes, like spaghetti sauce
for a whole egg in baking recipes.2. Use fat freewith mushrooms, may not need protein at all.10.
(skim) milk. This one change saves you caloriesEat normal (not supersized) servings. According to
and lowers your cholesterol level.3. Choose non-fatthe Univesity of Missouri Extension Service, large
cheese. For better melting Dr. Richard Collins,servings add up to 200-500 calories a day, which
author of The Cooking Cardiologist, recommendscan add up to 20-50 extra pounds a year.A few
soaking the cheese in milk for a few minutesingredient changes can have a huge impact on
before adding it to recipes.4. Add fiber -- freshyour heart health. Before you know it these
fruit, dried fruit, vegetables, and grains --swaps will be automatic. The heart is your body's
whenever possible. Fiber is good for you and fillsmain pump so take care of it.Copyright 2005 by
you up.5. Cook with plant oils, such as olive, corn,Harriet Hodgson.Harriet Hodgson has been a
and canola. If you're sauteing food, add anonfiction writer for 26 years and is a member of
teaspoon of butter to the oil for flavor. Use asthe Association of Health Care Journalists. Her
little oil as possible.6. Swap unsweetenedlatest book, Smiling Through Your Tears:
applesauce for shortening in baking recipes. ButAnticipating Grief, written with Lois Krahn, MD, is
cooking is chemistry and, for best results, youavailble on Go to for more information on her
may have to add a teaspoon of oil.7. Hold the salt.work. Hodgson is hard at work on her next book,
Excess salt raises your blood pressure. InssteadDoctor in the House: An Inside Look at Medical
of salt Mayo Clinic recommends citrus zest, freshMarriage.