Lighten Up

Eating for a healthy heart doesn’t have to mean giving up the foods you love. There are ways to lighten up your favorite recipes. You can substitute ingredients for lower-calorie, heart-healthy treats. Here are six tips from the American Heart Association:

1. Replace half the butter or shortening in baked goods with natural applesauce or fat-free plain yogurt.
2. Use low-fat or skim milk instead of whole or heavy cream.
3. Use half white and half whole-wheat flour when baking.
4. Use olive oil or coconut oil instead of butter, lard or shortening.
5. Use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef or pork.
6. Check labels of condiments, broth and other pantry items and choose those with lower sodium.