A diet low in cholesterol and saturated fat helps reduce your cholesterol levels and prevent heart disease, according to MayoClinic.com. Starting a low-cholesterol diet is sometimes challenging. Food labels provide key information for selecting low-cholesterol foods. Look for the American Heart Association's heart-check mark on the front of packaging to easily identify foods low in cholesterol. Beyond reading the food labels, there are several strategies for sticking with a low-cholesterol diet.
Buy Lean Foods
Starting with lean foods helps decrease the overall cholesterol and fat levels in your meals. A diet consisting mainly of fruits, vegetables and whole grains helps keep your diet low in cholesterol. The American Heart Association recommends choosing lean meat without visible fat. Cutting off any fat before you cook also helps increase the health value of the meat.
Make Substitutions
Substitutions allow you to eat some of your favorite meals while reducing the fat and cholesterol. The American Heart Association suggests several substitutions that may help lower your cholesterol. Using two egg whites in place of a whole egg in a recipe cuts out the high levels of cholesterol in the yolk. Applesauce works well in many baked goods in place of the oil. Replace whole milk, cream and half-and-half with low-fat versions. The lower-fat versions of cream cheese, sour cream, cheese and cottage cheese also work well in many recipes instead of the higher-fat versions.
Modify Cooking Methods
The way you cook your food also affects its overall health value. An otherwise healthy piece of meat becomes a high-fat, high-cholesterol dish when breaded and fried. Try baking, steaming, roasting, grilling or sauteing your food, especially meats and vegetables. To saute your food, you need only a small amount of a liquid vegetable oil. The American Heart Association suggests using canola, sunflower, olive or safflower oil instead of solid fats, including lard and shortening.
Season with Herbs and Spices
Heavy sauces, butter and high-sodium seasonings don't fit into the low-cholesterol diet. Try using herbs and spices without high sodium content as a way to season your dishes. Your meals may taste bland in the beginning, but your taste buds will adjust and you may start enjoying the natural flavors of the food. This also gives you a chance to experiment with various herbs and spices.
