Tag: Heart-smart eating

– posts here focus on what we put into our mouths

Vegetarian-friendly religions

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 10 Comments

by Carolyn Thomas 

The well-known Mediterranean Diet recommended for optimal heart health calls for eating very little meat. Here in Canada, although our meat consumption is steadily decreasing according to Statistics Canada, we still average about 23.4 kilograms (about 52 pounds) of red meat per person per year. That puts us well behind the United States, Hungary, and Australia in total meat consumption.

But if you break it down into types of meat, people in Denmark eat more pork than anybody else in the world, Hong Kong leads chicken consumption, and, to nobody’s surprise, the Argentinians eat more beef.

So a heart-smart vegetarian in Buenos Aires might feel quite outnumbered, but elsewhere on earth would be among the majority.  An Apple A Day recently took a unique look at international vegetarianism and came up with some widespread religion-based connections.  Continue reading “Vegetarian-friendly religions” →

My favourite brunch recipe for heart-healthy Blueberry Almond French Toast

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 12 Comments

by Carolyn Thomas  ♥ @HeartSisters

The best thing about this heart-smart brunch recipe for eight is that you make it the night before. Ten minutes of easy prep time, about eight hours of overnight sitting time in the fridge, and 50 minutes of baking time next morning, filling your kitchen with that irresistible vanilla-cinnamon aroma while you’re off showering or making coffee.

And did I mention that it also looks and tastes fabulously delicious? Perfect for feeding a crowd of hungry (or slightly hungover) houseguests!  

Continue reading “My favourite brunch recipe for heart-healthy Blueberry Almond French Toast” →

My favourite recipe for heart-healthy lasagna

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 5 Comments

food lasagna

by Carolyn Thomas  ♥ @HeartSisters

Is there anything better on a nippy evening than a pan of cheesey, gooey homemade lasagna bubbling away in the oven? For many of us heart attack survivors, however, lasagna may now seem but a dim memory of past high-fat, high-carb, low-fibre dinners.

But thanks to Bonnie Stern and her wonderful cookbook, HeartSmart™ Cooking For Family and Friends, even those wanting a heart-healthy version of this family favourite can rejoice, especially when fresh veggies are so plentiful in our markets.  I’ve made some minor changes here and there to suit our own family’s preferences, but I think you’ll be amazed at how deceptively healthy – and easy – this casserole-style vegetarian version is. You can make this up to two days ahead of time and refrigerate, or a few weeks ahead and freeze it.  And if you have any leftovers (you won’t!) – you can follow the frittata recipe at the end to create one more hearty meal.  Continue reading “My favourite recipe for heart-healthy lasagna” →

Why we don’t crave broccoli

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 2 Comments

broccoli brown

by Carolyn Thomas  ♥ @HeartSisters

When you have a particular craving for a specific food, do you tend to go for something salty like nuts?  Or sweet and creamy like my daughter Larissa’s favourite mint chocolate chip ice cream?

Or crunchy and raw like broccoli?

Well, it’s too bad none of you raised your hand for broccoli, dear Heart Sisters, because researchers at Imperial College London in the U.K. tell us that a chemical in broccoli called sulforaphane can actually boost the body’s natural defense mechanism that protects our coronary arteries from clogging. Please tell me why gooey Tim Hortons maple dips can’t contain sulforaphane, too.  Continue reading “Why we don’t crave broccoli” →