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cooking

Gift ideas for a heart-healthy (and happy) kitchen
Miscellaneous, Weight & Health

Gift ideas for a heart-healthy (and happy) kitchen

Cheryl Strachan
November 28, 2019

Black Friday is tomorrow, which is generally my reminder to get it together and start gift planning. Perhaps you organized people are done or even started, but for the rest of us slowpokes, it’s time! So to help you with the cooks in your life, here are 15 of my…

cooking Holiday Read more
Does nutritional yeast promote heart health?
Weight & Health, What to Eat

Does nutritional yeast promote heart health?

Cheryl Strachan
November 8, 2019

A couple of weeks ago I shared my first cooking video and a couple of friends / followers asked about nutritional yeast: It’s used in a few recipes in my 30-Minute Heart Healthy cookbook *, so I thought others might enjoy getting the lowdown on this mystery ingredient… What is nutritional yeast? Nutritional yeast, sometimes called “nooch” by…

cooking Vegan Read more
10 time-saving kitchen tricks I learned writing a 30-minute heart-healthy cookbook
Weight & Health, What to Eat

10 time-saving kitchen tricks I learned writing a 30-minute heart-healthy cookbook

Cheryl Strachan
June 14, 2019

(Note: The book has been released since I wrote this: On Amazon.ca (Canada) / and Amazon.com (USA) .) Gosh, it’s been almost 3 months since my last post, because as many of you know, I’ve been under a rock writing a cookbook. The publisher approached me with a fantastic idea they had, to create…

cooking Read more
The most important, overlooked advice in Canada’s Food Guide
How to Eat, Weight & Health

The most important, overlooked advice in Canada’s Food Guide

Cheryl Strachan
March 15, 2019

The Canada’s Food Guide was updated in early 2019. What can you recall about the changes? The milk group is gone? Choose more plant-based protein? Fill half of your plate with vegetables and fruit? All true, but few are focusing on the idea that “Healthy eating is more than the…

Canada's food guide cooking Nutrition Month Read more
Sea salt: Is it any healthier than table salt?
Blood Pressure, What to Eat

Sea salt: Is it any healthier than table salt?

Cheryl Strachan
November 7, 2018

Since I published my guide to eating well after a heart attack , two people have emailed to ask this question. This FAQ will definitely be in the next version, but for now, I’ll answer it here: Nope. If you like the taste of sea salt better, go for it, but don’t be fooled by slick marketing. It’s…

blood pressure cooking Sodium Read more
From ho-hum to veggie love
Weight & Health, What to Eat

From ho-hum to veggie love

Cheryl Strachan
October 25, 2018

Eating more vegetables and fruit is one of the most effective, most agreed upon practices associated with better cardiac outcomes, but people continue to struggle with it. I’m not naming names, but let’s just say I’ve seen some painfully dull looking salads at Canadian restaurant chains. Don’t martyr yourself in…

cooking Fruits and vegetables Read more
Watching your sodium? 5 surprising ways to boost flavour
Blood Pressure, What to Eat

Watching your sodium? 5 surprising ways to boost flavour

Cheryl Strachan
September 19, 2018

Did you ever notice that people think about salt, sugar, and other demonized foods in all or nothing terms? They’re either good or bad, in or out. So one of the most common questions I get when speaking about blood pressure is, “How can I make food taste good, now…

blood pressure cooking Sodium Read more
June 23 Weekly Meal Plan
Meal Plans, What to Eat

June 23 Weekly Meal Plan

Cheryl Strachan
June 21, 2018

As I explained last week , I’m sharing our weekly meal plans for four weeks, to see if people find it helpful. It’s only been out there a week, and it’s risen to #4 on my blog, after three older posts that get traffic from Google searches, so that’s a good sign! We’re heading into…

cooking Meal ideas Meal planning Salad Vegan Vegetarian Read more
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There are so many creative breakfast ideas out the There are so many creative breakfast ideas out there, but I usually slide right back to my favorites. How about you? #sweetspotfood ❤️😊
You might have been told to lose weight for heart You might have been told to lose weight for heart health, but weight loss is frustratingly elusive and often temporary. But we have studies that have demonstrated benefits to cardiovascular outcomes (both morbidity and mortality) even in the absence of weight loss, and one of the biggest trials that set out to show that weight loss would improve CV outcomes (Look AHEAD) was stopped early because it did not.

If you’re measuring “success” by stepping on a scale, you may be discounting other longer-lasting wins. Swipe for a few food-related examples that you can use as measures of success instead of weight loss. They benefit heart health too, quite possibly more.

This is another excerpt from my free video series, How to Eat Well For Life After a Heart Event. Link in profile to access the whole series.

#heartmonth #hearthealth #cardiacrehab #heartattack #cardiacnutrition #heartdisease #hearthealthy #cardiacrehabilitation #hearthealthyfood #overallhearthealth
Believe it not, simple meal. All roasted in the ov Believe it not, simple meal. All roasted in the oven. Easy peasy!  #sweetspotfood 😋❤️
To tell if bread is really whole great or just pre To tell if bread is really whole great or just pretending, take a peek at the list of ingredients. They’re in order by weight, so there’s more of the first ingredient in the bread than anything else on that list. If the first ingredient is a whole grain, you have a winner. Look for terms like “whole grain” “sprouted grain” “quinoa” “brown rice” “whole rye” or “whole wheat.” Terms that indicate it’s not a whole grain: “Enriched wheat flour,” “wheat flour.” Swipe to see. 

This is another excerpt from my free video series, “How to Eat Well for Life After a Heart Event.” Link in profile to the entire series.

#heartmonth #eatwell #forlife #wholegrain #healthybread #hearthealth #cardiacrehab #heartattack #cardiacnutrition #heartdisease #hearthealthy #cardiacrehabilitation #hearthealthyfood #sweetspotfood
I do love a good pasta. White beans, (!) braised k I do love a good pasta. White beans, (!) braised kale, tomato, Parmesan, olive oil. Easy weeknight meal. #sweetspotfood ❤️😋
Do headlines like this make you want to give up on Do headlines like this make you want to give up on heart-healthy eating? Same news outlet, less than a year apart. First eggs reduce heart disease risk, then they raise it. 

Same with the next one (swipe). Wine is bad for aging brains. Wine could improve brain health.
It’s discouraging I know. Trust me, even clinicians like me get frustrated with the controversies!

Friendly reminder that a headline is supposed to grab your attention. The more controversial the better. “Everything you know about nutrition is wrong!” Yeah, probably not. 

Unfortunately, the nature of nutrition research leads to sometimes conflicting outcomes. Each study is a small piece in a big puzzle. 

When we put together all of the pieces we get a pretty consistent picture for food and heart health: Lots of vegetables, fruit, beans, nuts, seeds, whole grains, fish, olive oil, and some lean meat and dairy if you like. And other stuff is okay, if it’s not MOST of what you eat. 

#heartmonth #nutritioncontroversies #donteattheheadilnes #hearthealth #sticktothebasics #cardiacrehab #heartattack #cardiacnutrition #heartdisease #hearthealthy #cardiacrehabilitation #hearthealthyfood
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  • Cheryl Strachan RDWow. This is refreshing. I appreciate a good apology. Hopefully things will go more smoothly as we move forward. https://t.co/amc9wNwQv5, 6 hours ago
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