Heart Healthy Desserts

Heart smart cooking has become increasing important way of life. When having to watch your fat, sugar and salt intake it seems close to impossible to obtain a tasty dessert.
Just what is Heart Smart cooking? The condensed explanation is: It is using little or no oil when cooking, choosing lean meats, using low-fat dairy products, and monitoring salt, fat, and sugar. Of course it is more than that.

People are being increasingly advised by their doctors to follow a Heart Healthy Diet. One of the diets that seem to be recommend highly is the Dash Diet. When following a diet that restricts fats, sodium, and salt desserts might seem boring and bland, it doesn't have to be. There are many mouthwatering recipes out there that a low in fat and sodium. I have a couple of delicious Heart Healthy dessert recipes for you.

You've been told you need to follow a heart healthy diet, but you're not sure what that involves. Well, I'll break it down for you. According to the American Heart Association, a person who eats 2,000 calories per day should include the following in their daily diet:

•Fruits and vegetables: At least 4.5 cups a day
•Fish (preferably oily fish): At least two 3.5-ounce servings a week
•Fiber-rich whole grains: At least three 1-ounce-equivalent servings a day
•Sodium: Less than 1,500 mg a day
•Sugar-sweetened beverages: No more than 450 calories (36 ounces) a week

They also suggest including the following in your diet:

•Nuts, legumes and seeds: At least 4 servings a week
•Processed meats: No more than 2 servings a week
•Saturated fat: Less than 7% of total energy intake

Many thanks to the American Heart Association for this information. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/NutritionCenter/HealthyDietGoals/Healthy-Diet-Goals_UCM_310436_SubHomePage.jsp

• calories 220
• fat 7g
• cholesterol 25 mg
• carbohydrates 37 g
• sodium 234 mg
• potassium 103 mg
• protein 4 g
• fiber 2 g

Ingredients:

4 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
1 (6 ounce) Keebler shortbread piecrust
3/4 water
1 (1.5 oz) package sugar-free vanilla pudding mix
1 (1.5 oz) package sugar-free strawberry gelatin
1 (8-ounce) package fat-free cream cheese
1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Instructions:

Layer 2 cups of the strawberries in bottom of piecrust.

Mash other 2 cups of the strawberries with a fork.

In a medium saucepan, combine mashed strawberries, water, dry vanilla pudding mix, and dry
strawberry gelatin.

Stirring constantly, cook over medium heat until mixture thickens and starts to boil.

Remove from heat.

Add fat-free cream cheese and almond extract and mix with a wire whisk until well blended.

Pour hot mixture evenly over strawberries in piecrust.

Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

When serving, top each piece with a dollop of sugar free Cool Whip lite, ice milk or frozen yogurt

Serves 8.

***Nutritional Information***

calories 223

fat 5 g

cholesterol 9 mg

sodium 257 mg

carbohydrates 56 g

protein 4g