Your site for helpful information about the low cholesterol diet. We know that exercise and diet are important factors in avoiding heart disease. Changing one's lifestyle is not easy but understanding the purpose of a low cholesterol diet helps with compliance. It helps to know why some foods are safe to eat and others are not.

Heart Healthy And Cholesterol Lowering Menu Options

Fruit Salads  Try a fruit salad for breakfast, snack or a later meal. The aromas, colors and flavors of different fruit combinations will allure and tempt you to try and eat more of them. Frozen fruits sorbet style, smoothies, layered masterpieces are all possible. Use lemon juice to avoid apples and other fruits from browning and keep unused portions refrigerated and covered.

Salads  It is not about what goes on top (preferably NOTHING!) It is about what is inside. Avoid croutons, bacon bits, whole milk products such as cheese, eggs, and other high-fat foods. Keeping it simple and drizzling with a little lemon juice (or fresh fruit juice) is all it takes to make for a healthy and filling meal. Salads are quick meals and easy to do; there is no excuse here. You can opt to add in some red peppers, chilies, fruit (apricots) to make it more interesting, but still healthy and not rich in fat-content!

If you do want to add meat to your salad, opt for the lean cuts and again and preferably skinless chicken.

 Pasta  Benefit from a great variety: try whole-wheat, fresh pasta or dried pasta, vegetable pastas and rice pastas. Simply cook the pasta in a pot and avoid using salt. Shred your favorite vegetables or cut them into very small pieces. Add the pasta and toss until the vegetables are the desired consistency. Add your favorite fresh herbs and combine. Combine the vegetables with some low-sodium and low-fat chicken or vegetable broth and cook until vegetables are softer but still crisp. Pasta-meals are easy to prepare in record time and again can give wide variety to your taste-buds.

Sandwiches  A word of caution: avoid highly processed deli and sandwich meats. They are not good for you. Choose lots of vegetables for your sandwiches (try roasted eggplant, zucchini and red peppers for added flavor). Use healthy breads or pitas or tortillas that are low in fat (preferably whole-wheat). Instead of mayo, use fresh sweet onions or mustard. Lean and skinless chicken or other poultry are best for the protein.

Smoothies and Blended Treats  Blend your favorite combinations (even some veggies too!) with fresh fruit juice. Even consider steaming some vegetables like carrots, beets and spinach and adding some pineapple or orange juice to it for a refreshingly healthy treat.

Chilling or even freezing some of the fruit before serving can produce a nice chilled drink that is perfect for summer. Combine until blended for an excellent and very healthy snack anytime and every time. Experiment with different fruit combinations to find different tastes. Great quick breakfast on days when you are in a rush.

If you are craving desserts, you can add a small amount of very low fat frozen yogurt to this recipe as well for a smooth delicacy. Use frozen fruits to get a tasty and heart-friendly alternative to ice cream and other desserts.

Grilled Dishes  Brushing vegetables and lean meats with lemon juice and herbs prior to grilling is healthy and yummy! Grilling is easy to do and culinary excellence fast to create. Enjoy fat-free good-for-you foods. A good example is a butternut or sweet potato, cut open or in pieces, brushed with olive oil and roasted in the oven for a healthier alternative to fries or fat-rich, starchy vegetables.

Desserts and Snack   OCCASIONAL TREATS ARE OK! INDULGENCE and OVER-EATING NOT! Control your weight and your calorie intake by keeping your sweet-tooth in check. The least sugar, calories, fat, and salt in all your food choices should be your goal. Limit the intake of desserts and snacks. Occasionally eating low-fat desserts and snacks such as angel food cake, fig and fruit bars, low-fat yogurt, fruit sherbet, Jell-O, animal or graham crackers, wafers, puddings made with low-fat milk for lower-fat alternatives are acceptable, in moderation. Desserts still do often contain sodium, plenty of calories and some fats. FIND AND MAKE HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES. Try to ward off cravings with fresh fruit.

Lean Meat Dishes  Try planks of cedar, perfect for baking or grilling fish. Cover with lemon juice and possibly herbs. Marinating poultry and other meats in lemon juice and fresh dill or in pureed fruits and vegetables is a heart-friendly way to get plenty of flavors into your cooking. Prepare your meats, without adding MORE fat! Cut off visible fat deposits and pieces, remove skin from chicken.

EAT MORE FISH!