Keep the Beat:   A New Collection of Heart Healthy Recipes—Just in Time for the Holidays—from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Add some healthy dishes to your holiday table this year with the help of a colorful new cookbook from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health. The cookbook takes aim at heart disease by serving up a collection of simple recipes and tips based on years of research, clinical studies, and educational programs.

“These quick and easy recipes, which are based on the science of heart-health, are geared for the whole family. They are reminiscent of the wonderful food you might find on your grandmother’s table,” said Karen Donato, S.M., R.D., coordinator of NHLBI’s Obesity Education Initiative.

The 145 page book, “Keep the Beat: Heart Healthy Recipes,” contains recipes, such as “Homemade Turkey Soup,” and “Candied Yams,” which are not only tasty, but a perfect complement to any holiday table. Healthier holiday desserts include “Crunchy Pumpkin Pie” or “Winter Crisp.” All recipes are lower in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium, and come complete with detailed nutritional information.

Keep the Beat makes a great gift, too. It includes a wide range of ethnic cuisines in the form of appetizers, main dishes, side dishes, breads, and desserts. Options such as “Zucchini Lasagna” and “Crispy Oven-Fried Chicken” offer a taste for every palate to enjoy year round. Even kids will be tempted by updated favorites like “Delicious Oven French Fries” and “Classic Macaroni and Cheese.”

In addition to over 100 recipes, the book contains morsels of useful information such as how to read nutrition labels, what a serving size really is, and simple substitutions that are heart-friendly. It also contains information on how what you eat can help you to control three key risk factors for heart disease—overweight and obesity, high blood pressure, and high blood cholesterol levels.

“This inexpensive cookbook offers a wide variety of our most frequently requested recipes all in one place,” said Janet Kelly, M.S., R.D., NHLBI nutrition education specialist.

“Keep the Beat: Heart Healthy Recipes” can be downloaded free of charge (at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/ktb_recipebk/index.htm).
Printed copies are available for $4.00 through the website or from the NHLBI Information Center at P.O. Box 30105, Bethesda, MD 20824-0105, or at 301-592-8573 or 240-629-3255 (TTY).

To learn more about heart health visit NHLBI online (at: www.nhlbi.nih.gov).

For information about how to lose extra pounds or maintain a healthy weight,
see: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/lose_wt/index.htm.

To learn about high blood pressure,
see: www.nhlbi.nih.gov/hbp/

To learn about high blood cholesterol,
see: www.nhlbi.nih.gov/chd

To learn about heart health for women,
see: www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/hearttruth/

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