Every February, I invite my clients to celebrate Heart Health Month with Secret Ingredient. One of the reasons I launched Secret Ingredient was to bring healthy, nourishing and flavorful cooking to more people to help them live their best lives. February and Heart Healthy Month gives me the opportunity to renew this commitment, and celebrate a cornerstone of my business with my clientele.
At Secret Ingredient, we offer a range of meal planning options to increase the variety of foods and flavors in our clients’ weekly diets to make sure their palates don’t get bored. Options span breakfast to dinner, and include grain or noodle bowls, salad bowls, soups and wraps, and even breakfast parfaits.
Heart Healthy Foods
We all know eating more leafy greens, grains, legumes and healthy fats are great ways to keep your heart healthy. But, how do you do that on an ongoing basis without falling into a food rut, especially in the winter?
You can find some of our favorite heart-healthy foods, like spinach and kale; quinoa and brown rice; berries, avocado and even dark chocolate in many of the recipes we offer. Here are a few reasons why we love them (and they love us back):
- Dark, Leafy Greens: Great source of Vitamin K, which activate proteins that assist in blood clotting (also helps metabolize calcium to keep bones strong)
- Whole Grains: Rich in fiber, which can lower cholesterol, blood sugar and insulin levels
- Berries: Low caloric intake, but high in fiber, Vitamin C, and antioxidants, which help lower cholesterol and blood pressure, as well as oxidative stress that can contribute to heart disease
- Avocados: Packed with monounsaturated fats, which can lower LDL levels and raise HDL cholesterol simultaneously
- Dark Chocolate: Aside from being delicious, contains heart protective antioxidants called flavonols which can lower blood pressure and improve blood flow to the heart
Discover additional foods that will increase your heart health, and all of the benefits of our favorites on Healthline.com.
Heart Healthy Recipes We Love
Delivering robust flavor profiles, these are some of the selections we are loving right now:
- Smoothie Bowl with Fresh Berries
- Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry
- Beef, Mushroom and Barley Soup
Healthy Bowls for Every Meal
To include more heart health benefits in your diet, another option is pairing a grain or salad bowl with a lean protein, like this Shrimp Rice Bowl with Edamame and Cucumber Salad, or, for breakfast, try this Egg and Cottage Cheese Breakfast Bowl from eggs.ca. Studies have shown that eating a diet rich in fiber, greens, “good” fats, grains and berries can reduce the risk of heart disease. So, how can we help you stay heart-healthy this February?
Contact Secret Ingredient to set up a customized meal/menu plan for your coming week or month.
I look forward to talking with you,
Chris
