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    Food for Thought... and Healthy Hearts!

    Food for Thought... and Healthy Hearts!

    Stoplight_eating_healthy_heart

    Go are foods that you can eat daily.

    Slow are foods that you should only eat once or twice a week.

    Whoa foods should only be eaten once or twice a month.

    It’s a small taste of the recommendations given to the eight Utah families competing in this year’s Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute’s My Heart Challenge: Family Edition. 

    So what are Go, Slow and Whoa foods? Here’s a list of each of the foods and how often they can be consumed.

    WHOA FOODS
    These foods are not very healthy and should only be eaten once a month or less. They include:
    • Doughnuts
    • Candy
    • Fried foods
    • Processed meats
    • Soda
    • Cookies
    SLOW FOODS
    Foods in this category should only be eaten once or twice a week and include:
    • Refined grains
    • Lean, ground meats
    • Low-sugar cookies & cakes
    • Jelly, Mayo and honey
    GO FOODS
    The foods listed in this category are always the best option and should be consumed daily. They include:
    • Whole grains
    • Fruits
    • Vegetables
    • Healthy proteins
    • Milk, cheese, yogurt
    Need some additional ideas for quick, easy and healthy snacks for the whole family? Give these snacks a taste. Your heart will thank you later.
    • Vegetables: Mini carrots, snap peas, cucumber slices, broccoli and cauliflower florets, celery sticks
    • Fruit: Apples and applesauce, bananas, grapes, oranges, fruit cups in juice (not syrup), kiwis, peaches, berries, melons and nectarines
    • Nuts: Almonds, walnuts, natural peanut butter
    • Cheese: Low-fat cheese and string cheese
    • Fat-free cottage cheese mixed with fruit
    • Light yogurt with fruit
    • Whole-grain crackers
    • Baked chips
    • Popcorn (air popped)
    • Popsicles (sugar free)
    • Pretzels
    • Smoothies: Blend light yogurt with fresh or frozen fruits or vegetables