Tasty tips for eating for heart health

(ARA) – When it comes to your heart, what you eat matters, but that doesn’t mean having to fill your plate with bland foods. Getting your family to eat with their hearts in mind can be both fun and delicious.

Make sensible eating a family affair with a fresh and flavorful recipe from Buddig lunchmeats and these heart-healthy tips from the American Heart Association:

• Set a good example. Parents who make sensible food choices and lead active lifestyles can help their children develop healthy habits.
• Start with simple changes. Eliminating one or two cookies a day and adding 30 extra minutes of exercise or play time makes a big difference.
• Choose protein sources with less saturated fat and cholesterol. Lean meats, skinless poultry and fish and fat-free or low-fat dairy choices are best.
• Keep fruits and vegetables handy for snacking and include with every meal. New USDA guidelines recommend filling half your plate with nutritious fruits and vegetables.
• Make dinnertime family time. When everyone sits down together to eat, there’s less chance of children eating the wrong foods or snacking too much. Plus, everyone gets the added bonus of shared time together.

Making healthy food choices that your family will love is a snap; just look for heart-healthy options like Carl Buddig Deli Cuts, which, on selected varieties, feature the American Heart Association heart-check mark certification. Here’s a great-tasting recipe sure to tip the scales in your favor:

Southwestern Chicken and Rice Salad

Ingredients:

• 3 cups cooked rice
• 1 (12-ounce) package Deli Cuts Rotisserie Chicken cut into bite-size pieces
• 1 medium-size red bell pepper, cored, seeded and diced
• 1 large yellow bell pepper, cored, seeded and diced
• 2 jalapeno chiles, cored, seeded and minced
• 1 small red onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 6 tablespoons reduced-fat Italian salad dressing
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro

Directions:

Spoon rice into a large salad bowl. Add chicken, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, chiles and onion. Toss gently but well. Stir together chili powder, pepper and Italian dressing in a cup. Pour over salad ingredients. Toss gently but well. Sprinkle on cilantro. Makes 6 (1 1/3-cup) servings.

Nutritional information: 233 calories per serving; 4 grams total fat; 13.5 grams protein; 35 grams carbohydrates; 20 milligrams cholesterol; 1.1 grams dietary fiber and 640 milligrams sodium.

Products displaying the American Heart Association heart-check mark must meet criteria for saturated fat and cholesterol.

To learn more about the heart-check mark and the small changes you and your family can make for healthier eating, visit the American Heart Association at www.heartcheckmark.org.

For more recipes and information about lean, heart-smart deli meats, visit www.buddig.com.