There are many ways you can prevent heart disease. One is by watching what you eat. Choosing heart-healthy recipes will be good for your health and taste good, too!

Before we dive into the nutritious details, it’s also important to remember stay active, refrain from smoking and avoid second-hand smoke.

Back to heart-healthy food, here are some tips from the American Heart Association to get started:

• Use up at least as many calories as you take in. Try to maintain your weight by using physical exercise to burn off the same number, if not more, of the calories you eat.
• Eat nutritious foods from all the food groups. This may include vegetables and fruits, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, skinless poultry and fish, nuts and legumes, and non-tropical vegetable oils (i.e. canola oil, olive oil).
• Eat less nutrient-poor food. Limit eating foods that are high in calories and low in nutrients, and minimize the amount of saturated fat, trans fat and sodium in the food you eat.

What does a day’s heart-healthy menu look like? Here are a few easy, go-to recipes that your heart will appreciate and your taste buds will love:

• Start your morning off right. Try this easy overnight no-cook banana oatmeal for breakfast.
• For lunch, try making this pico de gallo grilled chicken salad. This salad is light and fresh – great for a summer afternoon or a quick lunch at the office.
• Craving a midday snack? Make some hummus and eat it with a side of veggies or crackers.
• For dinner, oven baked chicken breasts with microwave-steamed squash is both delicious and healthy. Preparation and cook time is just under 45 minutes.
• Finally, nothing beats these homemade frozen yogurt pops with peaches for dessert. They are sweet and refreshing.

These are just a few recipes to help keep your heart healthy. Once you start cooking with recipes that are better for you and also taste good, then eating healthy will become easier and more manageable.

Get more heart-healthy tips and facts by checking out these Healthy Driven Hearts blogs.