Healthy Eating Tips

• Treat yourself and your heart to lean meats, poultry, fish, beans and fat-free or low-fat milk products.
• Minimize the salt and focus on pepper and other low- or no-sodium spices to add flavor.
• Boost your energy with foods rich in complex carbohydrates such as wheat pasta, sweet potatoes and whole-grain breads.

Keep in mind it’s not just what you eat, it’s also how you prepare it: Grilling, microwaving and baking are all ways to keep the nutrition high without adding extra oil or fat.

Tempted to skip a meal? It will hurt, not help. Five to six small meals throughout the day help burn fat calories more efficiently, maintain your energy and regulate your cholesterol.

For more information on a heart healthy diet, visit the American Heart Association's HeartHub patient Web site.