Here are some practical guidelines to help you buy low-saturated
fat, low-cholesterol foods at the grocery store. This list provides
only a small sample of the foods you can eat on a heart healthy
diet. It is still important for you to read food labels.
- Breads (like whole wheat, rye, pumpernickel, or white)
- Buns, dinner rolls, bagels, English muffins, pita breads**
- Low-fat crackers (like bread sticks, saltines, rice
crackers)**
- Soft tortillas, corn or whole wheat
- Hot and cold cereals** (except granola or muesli)
- Pasta, like plain noodles, spaghetti, or macaroni
- Rice: white, brown, wild, basmati, or jasmine
-
Grains: bulgur, cous cous, quinoa, barley, hominy, millet,
amaranth
**If you're watching sodium intake, be sure to find low-sodium
varieties.
- Fruits: any fresh, canned, dried, frozen, without added
sugar
-
Vegetables: any fresh, frozen, or canned without cream or
cheese sauce
(If you're watching sodium intake, be sure to find
low-sodium varieties).
- Fresh or frozen juices, without added sugar
- Skim or 1 % milk
-
Cheese (3 grams of fat or less per serving)
If you're
watching sodium intake, be sure to check the label to find
low-sodium varieties.
- Low-fat or non-fat yogurt
Lean cuts of meat
- Beef: eye of round, top round, sirloin
- Pork: tenderloin, sirloin, top loin
- Veal: shoulder, ground veal, cutlets, sirloin
- Lamb: leg-shank
- Lean or extra lean ground beef
- Chicken or turkey, white or light meat (remove skin)
- Luncheon meats, 95% to 99% fat free
Fish
(most white meat fish is very low in fat, saturated
fat and cholesterol)
- Tuna, light meat canned in water
-
Shellfish: shrimp, scallops, crab
(Shellfish is very high in
cholesterol. Don't consume a total of more than 300 milligrams of
cholesterol per day).
Dry peas and beans
- black-eyed peas
- chick peas
- kidney beans
- lentils
- navy beans
- soybeans
- split peas
- peanut butter
Reduced fat tofu (soy bean)
Eggs, egg whites, egg substitutes
Sweets and snacks
- Cookies that are low in fat: animal crackers, devil's food
cookies, fig and other fruit bars, ginger snaps, graham crackers,
vanilla or lemon wafers
- Angel food cake or other low fat cakes
- Low-fat frozen yogurt, ice milk, fruit ices, sorbet,
sherbet
- Pudding (make it with skim or 1% milk), gelatin desserts
-
Popcorn without butter or oil, pretzels, baked tortilla chips
(If you're watching your sodium intake, be sure to check the
label to find low-sodium varieties).
Fats and oils
-
Margarine: soft, diet, tub, or liquid
(If you're watching
your sodium intake, be sure to check the label to find low-sodium
varieties)
.
- Vegetable oil (canola, olive, corn, peanut, sunflower,
safflower, or sesame oil)
Miscellaneous/condiments
- Herbs
- Spices
- Non-stick cooking spray
- Imitation butter (flakes or buds)
- Reduced calorie or fat-free salad dressing
- Reduced fat or non-fat sour cream
- Reduced fat or non-fat mayonnaise
- Mustard (Dijon, etc.)
- Horseradish
- Ginger
- Garlic
- Catsup
- Vinegar
- Lemon juice
- Lime juice
- Jelly or jam
- Sodium-free salt substitute
- Salsa or picante sauce
-
Soup that is low in fat: broth or tomato-based, bean soup,
vegetable, minestrone
(If you're watching your sodium intake, be
sure to check the label to find low-sodium varieties)
.
- Spaghetti sauce
Beverages
- Water
- Sparkling water
- Milk, non-fat skim or low-fat (1%)
- 100% fruit juice, regular or low-calorie
- Lemonade, regular or low-calorie
- Iced tea, regular or low-calorie
- Tea
Tips for buying frozen foods
Many prepared and frozen foods are high in saturated fat and
cholesterol. Look for frozen food packages that say, "Light,"
"Lean," "Reduced Fat," "Reduced calorie," "Healthy," or "Diet."
These versions will be lower in saturated fat, cholesterol,
calories, and/or sodium than the regular versions.
Tips for buying prepared foods
When choosing prepared foods, choose vegetables, pasta and grain
salads and side dishes made without high fat mayonnaise and oil.
Steer clear from high saturated fat meats, dressing and other
spreads, and dishes with creams and other sauces. Fruit salad is
usually available and is always a great choice.
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care
provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a
substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER
IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the
advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to
starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
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2007
EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.