Heart-Healthy Meals for Your Sweetheart

We all know that a well-balanced diet full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and unsaturated fats not only help with weight maintenance, but also with overall heart health. What could be a better gift to your sweetheart then a healthy heart for the years to come? Even though Valentine’s Day has come and gone, consider these heart healthy options for an upcoming meal you’re planning on making for your sweetheart:

During the meal, enjoy a glass of red wine. Red wine contains antioxidants that improve HDL cholesterol (the good kind). Remember, moderation is key.

Consider a spinach salad topped with walnuts (to add some crunch). Spinach (along with other dark-leafy green vegetables) is high in vitamins A, C, E, and K, thiamin, vitamin B6, and defends against high blood pressure and hypertension. Pair it with a low-fat dressing and you’re all set!

For the main course, try a simple Italian favorite–pasta with marinara sauce. Tomatoes are loaded with carotene, vitamin C, potassium, folic acid, and fiber, and garlic is known to lower cholesterol and blood pressure. When choosing your pasta, try whole-grain pasta!

End the meal with a piece of dark chocolate. As I mentioned in a previous post, dark chocolate is rich in flavanols which protect the body against oxidative damage and help to lower blood pressure. Indulge a little!

Hope you had a happy Valentine’s Day! Don’t forget to take care of your sweetheart’s heart all year round with heart healthy eating! -SY