Heart Healthy recipes
 

Okay ya all .. here goes .. Hubs was just diagnosed with Heart disease after have a precurser to a heart attack ( a block happened and mimicked a heart attack); he just spent 8 LONG days in the hospital; but the absolutely good thing is they put in 3 stints after removing the calcium blockage in his main right artery and he will be good as new as soon as the body resets itself and heals ..

IF you have any tried and true heart healthy recipes (YES I am looking on the internet); but I am asking for a recipe or recipes that may have been tried by you or your family and found it very good. So if you have one, could you please, share with my Hubs and myself ?

Thank you very much !!

I' m glad the DH is getting along OK. I use ground turkey instead of hamburger for spaghetti sauce,chili,tacos,meat lof. Works fine,has much less fat that is less saturated. I use turkey ham and sausage and bacon.

Chia seeds are high in Omega 6 - good for the heart. We use them in almond milk and it thickens to a sort of pudding. I sweeten with agave syrup. I also use Turkey and chicken more, rare to have any beef. Salmon of course and other fish are good for you. My husband had his first heart attach at 50 due to stress. Glad we have such good doctors to take care of us, but we also need to eat healthier. Best wishes to both of you.

We all cook with different styles, tastes and needs in mind. What one person/family thinks as being the ultimate, another will say, huh? :D

Honestly, the best recipes are your own tried and proven recipes that are your own family's favourites. Learn what is important to change in your own style of cooking, and switch up those old favourites, accordingly.

Eg. butter is still "heart healthy". What is not, is gobs of it. Often time we can stick with the old recipe, just use less butter, and everyone will still like it.

Eg. salt is commonly accepted as not so heart healthy. Again, moderation is key. Salt is not the only way to get flavour in food. Look at other enhancers, particularly herbs, spices, etc.

Eg. more veggies are good when thinking heart healthy. The same old recipes can often be made, by doubling the veggies.

As a suggestion, you could request to meet with a dietitian who could help you understand your new concerns and how to adapt your cooking and menus.

Good Luck! to you and your husband.

Check out the book Wheat Belly, there's also a blog: http://www.wheatbellyblog.com/

Interesting reading, the book is written by a cardiologist who has seen remarkable results in patients when they gave up wheat, sugar and 'junk' carbs.

Hope he's feeling better soon.

I just tried a recipe called "Low Fat Chocolate Cookies" that is AWESOME. Tastes like brownies. There is some butter in it, though. Don't know if it will meet your requirements.

http://laughinglemonpie.com/low-fat-chocolate-cookies/

My mom did a lot of tinkering with favorite recipes after my dad had a heart attack. You can substitute unsweetened apple sauce for some/all of the oil in a lot of baking recipes. Also, I try to use as much whole wheat in most baking as I can get away with - biscuits, pancakes, everything. You can buy ground flax seeds (which have Omega 3's, I think) to add to baked goods.

When I cook things like casseroles, I usually add more veggies than they call for, and less meat. My family isn't on a low fat diet, exactly, I just like to try and keep things moderately healthy NOW so we don't have to go through what my family did when my dad had his heart attack.

If a recipe calls for cream, you can usually use milk without hurting it too much.

I just made this fish recipe with tilapia this week, and my husband really liked it.

Baked Fish With Mushrooms
1 lb. fresh or frozen fish fillets, 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick
2 tbsp. margarine or butter
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1/2 c. sliced green onions (optional)
1/2 tsp. dried tarragon or thyme, crushed
paprika

Thaw fish. Rinse and pat dry with paper towlels. Cut into 4 serving-size pieces, if necessary. Arrange in a 2-qt. rectangular baking dish, turning under thin edges. Sprinkle with salt.

In a saucepan, melt butter. Add mushrooms, onions, and tarragon. Cook over med. heat until tender. Spoon mushroom mixture over fish. Sprinkle w/paprika.

Bake, covered, at 450 degrees for 12-18 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

Makes 4 servings.

I find that Weight Watchers is a good source for recipes. I used to use ground turkey but watch when buying it as some of it has more fat than ground beef. I mostly use 90% lean ground beef. I skip all or most of the butter or oil in recipes. My family is so used to skim milk in recipes they say it tastes funny with anything else. You can add FF half and half to make things creamier. Also the American Heart Assoc and Hungry Girl are good places for inspiration. My DH has extremely high cholesterol so I have been playing with recipes for 30years. I saute veggies in sodium free chicken boullion with a little water. It actually gives them a buttery taste. Laughing cow cheese added to sauces will make them creamier.
Glad to hear you DH is doing OK. Good that he paid attention to his symptoms and went to the doctor before things got worse. Saying prayers for a full and speedy recovery.

Thanks ya all .. and I agree what one may like another may not .. but that is why I asked for recipes if you have any that are tried and true. We try recipes and hold it against no one if we don't like it .. LOL Love the Hungry Girl site and already subscribed to the American Heart Association.

Hubs is on day 3 of being home and just enjoying it immensely .. Thank you everyone for all your thoughts and prayers.. AND especially recipes !!!
Thank you ever so much .....