The Simplest of Snacks: Avocado and Sea Salt

When I want a snack, I generally don't want to put a lot of effort into it. I think a lot of people will agree with that. That's why avocado and sea salt is one of my favorite things to munch on. I have no idea what makes it so good, but it's creamy and delicious.

Although salt is not very heart healthy, it does have a place in a healthy diet. The trick is moderation. For The Heart and Stroke Foundation's position and advice about salt, click here.
Avocados, on the other hand are great for heart health. One cup of  the creamy green stuff will give you 23% of your recommended daily value of folate, which studies have shown to reduce the risk of heart disease. They also contain vitamin E, monounsaturated fats, and glutathione - all excellent things for your heart. (More avocado health benefits can be found here)
 
February is Heart Month. To make a donation to the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation, click here. Together, we can make a difference.
   

Is Sushi Heart Healthy?

When ever people talk about heart health, it's always brought up that salmon, and any fish that is high in omega-3 fatty acids, is great for heart health. So, if that is the case, sushi must be great for heart health, right?

Well, yes and no. The fish, the rice, the nori - all very healthy. Some rolls contain veggies - very heart healthy! But watch out for rolls with mayonnaise or cream cheese. They take a super healthy snack and add tons of calories and saturated fats.

So be smart about your sushi! Your heart will thank you.


February is Heart Month. To make a donation to the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation, click here. Together, we can make a difference.

Start Your Day With a Heart Healthy Breakfast

The best way to start your day is by eating a healthy breakfast. And the best breakfast food for heart health is oatmeal!

by cuppycake fiend

Oatmeal is made from oats (duh) and that's what makes it awesome. It's full of both soluble and insoluble fiber, which may lower your LDL cholesterol and has been found to make you less likely to develop heart disease. HOWEVER, stay clear of the little packets of flavored instant oatmeal. They are high in sugar and probably also in sodium. Stick to rolled oats (which come in a quick cooking variety - ready in about 5 minutes) or steal cut oats. I've recently learned that you can make steal cut oatmeal in a rice cooker, which I am very much looking forward to trying!

So, have some oatmeal! Your heart will thank you.

February is Heart Month. To make a donation to the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation, click here. Together, we can make a difference.

Chili Enchiladas

Yesterday I posted an excellent chili recipe. If you want something a little different on day two, try these chili enchiladas!

Aside from your leftover chili, you'll also need 8 small flour tortillas and one cup of shredded Cheddar cheese. (Yes, seriously, that's it!)

Spread 2 cups chili in 13 x 9-inch baking dish; set aside. Spoon 1/2 cup chili onto center of each of 8 small flour tortillas. Roll up; place seam side down in baking dish. Spoon remaining chili over enchiladas. Sprinkle with 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese. Bake in 350º F oven for 30 minutes.


I don't know if I was really hungry or what, but I totally forgot to take a photo of this!

February is Heart Month. To make a donation to the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation, click here. Together, we can make a difference.

Heart Healthy Valentines

Doing your Valentine's Day shopping last minute? If you're thinking about getting your Sweety chocolate, skip the milk chocolate in favor of dark.


by el patojo

There are tons of health benifets associated with dark chocolate. It contans flavonoids, which act as antioxidents and can help lower blood presure. Also, dark chocolate has been shown to lower LDL cholesterol, which is that bad one.

So, this Valentine's Day, conceder you love's heart and grab the dark chocolate!

February is Heart Month. To make a donation to the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation, click here. Together, we can make a difference.

Heart Healthy Beef and Bean Chili

The Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation has named February Heart Month. Heart health is important for all of us. I come from a family with a history of heart disease so this is a cause that is near and dear to me. If you'd like to make a donation to the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation, click here.

The two best things you can do for your heart are eat healthy and exercise. In the most basic of terms, cut your sodium, eats lean meats, lots of fruit and veggies, and get moving. This week I will be posting about healthy eating and some recipes that are excellent for heart health.

Lets start off with a hot, hearty meal for the cold of February that's also healthy!  It's all full of fiber, and veggies and lean meat. I actually didn't make it with beef though. I made it with deer burger. I've got a freezer full of the stuff, and it was great in this recipe. And it is definitely heart healthy. First of all, it is crazy lean. Like, when I brown it, there is so little grease to drain. Even the leanest ground beef I ever buy (which is not extra lean -It's a little out of my price range!) is not even close to as lean as deer burger. Very very lean. Not only that, but it's low in saturated fats. And it's full of B Vitamins. Plus all kinds of other good stuff. Check out this for more detailed info.

 So, what'll you need to get this party started?

Ingredients:

• 1 lb (500 g) Extra Lean or Lean Ground Beef
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 large sweet pepper, diced
• 3 tbsp (25 to 45 mL) chili powder
• 1 tsp (5 mL) ground cumin
• 1 can (28 oz/796 mL) diced tomatoes
• 1 can (14 oz/398 mL) tomato sauce(I used no salt added)
• 1 can (19 oz/ 540 mL) Dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1-1/2 cups (375 mL) frozen corn kernels

Cook beef, onion, sweet pepper, chili powder and cumin in large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat until meat is thoroughly cooked and any liquid has evaporated. Stir in tomatoes, tomato sauce, beans and corn. Cook over medium-high heat until boiling. Reduce heat to medium; simmer, covered, for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

This sucker makes 9 serving. Got leftovers? Come back tomorrow. The best is yet to come. 

February is Heart Month. To make a donation to the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation, click here. Together, we can make a difference. 

 

Homemade Hamburger-Helper-Style Cheesy Pasta Stuff

I'm not going to lie. I really like Hamburger Helper. I don't care what you say, it tastes good and no amount of food snobbery is going to change my mind. One thing it isn't, though, is particularly good for you. I mean, it's a packaged , processed food product full of sodium and preservatives. Tasty tasty preservatives. Anyway, I'm trying to cook more real foods. Or, at least, less processed. So, when I pulled the deer burger out of my freezer, with the craving for Hamburger Helper, I thought I'd try to find a way to recreate it in my kitchen. The results were quite tasty!


Ingredients:

• 2 cups dry short pasta (I used elbow macaroni)
• 1 lb ground meat (I used deer, but beef would be fine. And in my inspiration recipe used bison!)
• a clove of garlic, chopped
• a splash of soy sauce
• salt, pepper and chili powder (A couple of pinches of each)
• 2 cups of broth or stock (I used beef broth because it's what I had, but normally I would use chicken. I imagine vegetable broth would be fine too. I wouldn't recommend lobster stock, but to each their own...)
• a generous amount of shredded cheddar cheese (I used about a cup and a half, but would have used more if I had it)
• a tablespoon of flour
• a splash or two of milk

Cook pasta according to package directions.

Brown your ground meat in a high sided frying pan or sauce pan. Add salt, pepper.garlic and chili powder, along with that splash of soy sauce. Stir and cook for a few minutes to let the flavors combine. Stir in your broth and the flour. Start adding the cheese, a little at a time untill it's all melted. Add in the milk. Bring to a boil to thicken the sauce.

Once the pasta is done, drain it and add it to the sauce pot. Mix everything all together, and let it cook another minute or three. Remove from heat and cover. The sauce will thicken as it stands.

Enjoy!