More and more people are making the effort to eat a healthy diet. Red meat used to be a staple for a large number of Americans, but evidence shows that they are eating more fish, because it is a healthier alternative. While choosing fish for your main entree is a good start, to have a balanced meal, you still need heart-healthy side dishes.
Grilled Asparagus
Grilled asparagus is one of the healthiest vegetables you can eat, and it is a perfect complement to grilled fish. Place the asparagus in tin foil and drizzle 1 tsp. of extra virgin olive oil on it. Add a pinch of lemon pepper seasoning. Wrap up the foil, and put it on the grill for 12 minutes.
Carrot Orange Soup
Carrot orange soup is the perfect preamble to a fish main course and is excellent for your heart. Combine 2 lbs. diced carrots with 3 oz. sliced shallots, 9 oz. water and 9 oz. freshly squeezed orange juice (take out the seeds). Add 1/4 tsp. orange zest and pepper to taste. No salt is needed.
Grilled Mushrooms
Sauteed may be the most popular way of serving mushrooms, but to make them heart healthy, try grilling them. Put the mushrooms on a grill pan or tin foil. Add extra virgin olive oil. Sprinkle fresh herbs on the mushrooms. Grill for 8 minutes.
Mashed Potatoes
This may not sound like a heart-healthy dish, but potatoes are healthy on their own. The problem comes when people add ingredients such as whole milk, sour cream, butter, bacon and cheese. When mashing the potato, add 1/2 cup of fat-free milk, fresh pepper and dried herbs for flavor.
Tomato & Cucumber Salad
Use vine-ripe tomatoes and fresh cucumber for this salad. Slice the tomatoes thinly---no more than 1/4 of an inch---and do the same with your cucumber. Mix 1 1/2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar and 1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil. Drizzle the mixture over your salad, and make sure you have fresh ground pepper available.
Wild Rice With Apples
Combine wild rice with whole-grain rice in a pot and boil in water and broth. Once the mixture is boiling, reduce your heat and let it simmer with the top on your pot for 45 minutes. Remove the skin from an apple, core it and slice it. Put the apple slices on your rice.
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