Our pages are created to provide medically accurate information that is intended to complement, not replace or substitute in any way the services of your physician. Any application of the recommendations set forth in the following pages is at the reader's discretion and sole risk. Before undergoing medical treatment, you should consult with your doctor, who can best assess your individual needs, symptoms and treatment.

SET YOUR GOALS

By setting a series of achievable goals, you can make progress!

A well-planed shopping list, full of delicious choices,
is the key ingredient for a heart healthy way of eating.

Change your shopping habits one step at a time.

Make a list of goals that will help you improve.

Set reasonable goals that you can achieve comfortably.

Select a few goals to work on now. As each goal on your original list is achieved, replace it with a new goal. In a just a few trips to the grocery store, you'll see improvements in your shopping routine.

Heart healthy shopping can be... budget wise, quick, efficient and deliciously tempting.

Top 10 ways to change:

1. Set weekly goals for improvement.

2. Smart shopping is key. Make a shopping list and follow it. Plan it around food groups or your Action Plan.

3. Don't shop when you're hungry-it makes it harder to follow your list.

4. Add a new heart healthy recipe to your menu each week.

5. Read nutrition panels and labels to see if a food is low in total fat, especially saturated fat.

6. Try lower-fat cooking methods (baking, broiling) instead of frying.

7. Modify family favorites, substituting lower-fat brands and ingredients.

8. Involve those you cook for in menu planning.

9. Start your shopping trip in the right direction-visit the bread and produce section first. Choose plenty of fruit, vegetables, and grain products. Select lower-fat meat and dairy products.

10. Keep track of your progress and celebrate each goal you reach.