Dr. Ahmed
A list of 8 Heart-healthy Side Dishes is presented here. Side dishes are usually considered an important component of a tasty meal.
Since patients with heart diseases have limited meal options, this list is specifically for them.
Introduction:
We typically work hard to make our fast-food meals low-calorie and healthful, but the side dishes are sometimes overlooked or ignored. However, side dishes might sometimes have more calories than the main course.
The cardiac diet focuses mostly on reducing trans and saturated fat intake, that’s why side dishes should never be neglected. Choose healthy side dishes to make your meals entirely heart-healthy and nutritious!
Not all healthy fast-food sides are available at all places, but if you know what your options are, you’ll have an easier time avoiding the huge bag of fries because you’ll know about tasty alternatives that won’t leave you hungry.
Here we will tell you about some amazing yet perfectly healthy side dishes!
Commonly Ordered Side Dishes
The following are some of the most common side orders that are rich in calories and low in nutrients:
- Chicken Nuggets
- Potato Fries
- Chicken Wings
- Mac and Cheese
- Cheese Balls
- Sauces like mayo sauce, mustard sauce, etc.
8 Best Heart-Healthy Fast Food Options that are Rich in Fiber
Heart-Healthy Side Dishes
Heart-healthy side dishes can be delightful. From colorful vegetable salads to happy servings of mixed greens, these heart-healthy side dishes are rich in flavor and low in fat, cholesterol, and sodium. Furthermore, these are high in fiber and low in calories.
1. Air Fryer French fries:
Instead of going for a bunch of deep-fried potatoes, a healthier alternative is to ask for the air-fried ones. It isn’t easy to find at common fast-food restaurants but when you know your choices you can always find a way!
With the air-fried potatoes, you can get the same crispy, crunchy French-fries taste with far less oil than deep-frying.
2. Garlic flavored Roasted Potatoes:
A roasted potato can also cure all your potato cravings. The key is to keep the butter and sour cream to a minimum, as too much of either will rapidly turn your side dish into an unhealthy option.
Add some tomato sauce and a scoop of salsa to your potato to make it the healthiest fast-food side you’ve ever had.
Roasted potatoes are crispy and flavorful on the outside, and fluffy on the inside, a perfect texture contrast.
3. Potato wedges
Potato wedges can be a good addition to the healthy sides, these soft potato pillows are crispy, crunchy, and full of taste because of the added spices, lemon, and pepper!
These can be easily found on a restaurant menu. So, whenever you can’t find another alternative for French fries go for the wedges!
4. Vegetable and fruit Salads
Salads are an excellent side dish since they include fiber, which satisfies your hunger for only a few calories. You get vitamins A and C as well as potassium at the same time.
Many fast-food restaurants will let you swap your fries for a salad for no extra charge. Avoid cheesy dressings, which are all heavy in fat and calories and can make your already healthy decision even worse.
Protein Rich Diet for Vegetarians (Protein-Rich Fruits and Vegetables)
You may be used to mayo-laden chicken salads, but a low-sodium, veggie-loaded salad is the best alternative. It is a mixture of leafy greens, tomatoes, onions, and other veggies mixed with a dash of olive oil stars poached chicken.
5. Stuffed Avocados:
If you happen to have a surplus of avocados, this is one of the finest heart-healthy recipes for using three of them once they’ve reached peak maturity.
These are often stuffed with whole-grain farro in vegetable broth, then combined with low-calorie flavor boosters like smoky paprika, lemon, and fresh dill to make a plant-based masterpiece.
Health Benefits of Avocados: Nutritional Value, Heart Health, & Weight
You can also customize these and add more heart-healthy veggies, pack avocado halves with them, and sprinkle with a sesame-rich Greek yogurt tahini sauce.
6. Pickled Carrots:
Want to avoid eating chips or any form of potato for lunch?
The best solution is a pickled vegetable! It can be any veggie of your choice but the best one so far is carrot.
With a quick toss of herbs and spices and a dip in a pickle bath, these vitamin-packed carrot sticks are given a new lease on life.
High Protein Lunch Ideas for Weight Loss and Muscle Building
7. Corn Cob and Corn Salads
Simple ideas are sometimes the most effective and easy. Simply find any form of corn on your menu and go for it.
You can try roasted corn cobs or go for spiced corn salads. It is low-calorie and very healthy. You just need to avoid the cheesy or creamy sauces.
8. Yogurt
Skip the mayo sauce, mustard sauce, dip sauce, or any creamy sauce. Just go for plain yogurt with salt and pepper or mint yogurt.
Yogurt not only contains probiotics for digestive health, but it also contains calcium, which is essential for strong bones. It’s also high in protein.
Yogurt is better than creamy mayo sauces, but many varieties are heavy in sugar, so make sure to balance it out with the rest of your day’s meals to avoid becoming too sugary.
Obesity and Heart Diseases: Heart Failure, A. Fibrillation, and SCD
