One person in the United States dies every 38 seconds from heart disease, the American Heart Association states. Having elevated cholesterol levels puts you at risk for heart disease. Meals that are low in cholesterol don't have to taste boring or bland. Many great tasting and low cholesterol meals will satisfy your heart and your taste buds.
Tofu Stir-Fry
Tofu stir-fry is a cholesterol-free dinner with Asian flair. Opting for tofu instead of beef for your stir-fry will significantly reduce the cholesterol content of the meal, as tofu is free of dietary cholesterol. Consistently replacing high-fat meats with soy products like tofu can combat LDL cholesterol, MayoClinic.com states. Delicious ingredients to consider for your stir fry include chopped garlic, onion, broccoli, bok choy and brown rice.
Black Bean Chili
Nothing warms up a winter evening like a steaming bowl of chili. Using fibrous black beans in your chili can reduce high cholesterol levels. Black beans and other legumes are high in soluble fiber. Regularly consuming soluble-fiber rich foods like black beans can reduce total and LDL cholesterol levels, the February 2011 "Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases" states. Other healthy foods to add to your chili include tomatoes, hot chilis, chili powder and diced onions.
Turkey Sandwich
For lunch or dinner, a turkey sandwich is a tasty meal that's ready in a flash. Deli turkey is significantly lower in cholesterol than other deli meats like ham or roast beef. A tasty and healthy turkey sandwich should include fat-free turkey breast, sliced tomato, sliced cucumber and fat-free mayo. Opt for whole grain bread, as it contains more dietary fiber than white bread.
Egg White Omelet
Starting your day off with an egg white omelet will give you the eggs you crave in the morning without the cholesterol from whole eggs. Add vegetables like spinach and tomato to your omelet to enhance the fiber content of your breakfast. Low-cholesterol dishes to eat with an omelet include whole wheat toast, oatmeal and fruit.
References
- American Heart Association: Prevention and Treatment of High Cholesterol
- "Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases"; Non-soy legume consumption lowers cholesterol levels: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials; L.A. Bazzano, et al.; Feburary 2011
- MayoClinic.com: Does soy reduce cholesterol?
