Answers To Common Healthy Eating Questions (NAPSA)—Here’s a healthy eating Q@ and A that should be easy to digest. The answers were supplied by nutritionists at the American Heart Association. Q. My goal this spring is to eat healthier. What do you recommend? A. Making a series of small, spe- cific changes is the best method. The American Heart Association suggests eating a moderate amount of a variety of foods that are low in saturated fat and cholesterol to help reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke—the number one and three killers in this country. e Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables—theyvre naturally low in saturated fat and cholesterol; In their eyes, you’re a superhero. Be a lifesaver by looking for the heart-check mark when shopping for your family’s favorite hearthealthy foods. eat healthy? A. Most traditional snacks, Look for whole-grain products including oatmeal, rice and whole-grain breads; Use low-fat or no-fat dairy products; Choose lower-fat protein little nutritional value. Try lowfat, low-cholesterol snacks instead, such as baked tortilla legumes and lean meat (six ounces yogurt dip; fresh vegetables and Q. I try to watch what I eat, but reading food labels in the low-fat graham crackers or low- such as skinless poultry, fish, a day total). grocery store is confusing and time consuming. What can I do to make finding heart-healthy choices easier? A. The American Heart Associa- tion created its distinctive red and white heart-check mark to help consumers quickly and reliably find healthy foods throughout the erocery store. Every product bearing the heart-check mark meets the American Heart Association’s Food Certification Program’s nutri- like cookies and chips, are high in fat and empty calories, with chips and salsa; fruit and low-fat low- or no-fat dressing or dip; or fat angel food cake with berries. Q.I’m frustrated by the weight I’ve gained over the past few years. How can I lose it for good? A. Make sure the amount of calories you eat is less than the number you burn each day. Read labels and measure portions to see how many calories you are consuming. Getting physically active for 30 minutes each day can help you use morecalories, lose weight and build heart tional criteria and can be part of a heart-healthy meal plan. Q.I tend to make nutritious health long term. Q. Where can I learn more about heart-healthy eating? healthy-eating wagon whenit comes to snacking. How can I satisfy a snack attack andstill grocery meals—but I fall off the A. For a list of certified foods and to build your heart-healthy shopping list, www.heartcheckmark.org. visit
