TLC Daily Food Guide

1. Cholesterol Levels Slideshow Pictures
2. Lowering Cholesterol Slideshow Pictures
3. Take the Cholesterol Quiz

Fruits and Vegetables

You should be eating at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Fruits and vegetables are very low in saturated fat and total fat, and have no cholesterol. A diet high in fruit and vegetables may also help to improve cholesterol levels for those with heart disease. So, fruits and vegetables are great substitutes for foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol.

When shopping, remember to:

• Buy fruits and vegetables to eat as snacks, desserts, salads, side dishes, and main dishes.
• Add a variety of vegetables to meat stews or casseroles or make a vegetarian (meatless) main dish.
• Wash and cut up raw vegetables (carrot, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, etc.) and store in the refrigerator for quick and easy use in cooking or snacking.
• Serve fresh fruit for dessert or freeze (banana, berries, melon, grapes) for a delicious frozen treat.
• Display fresh fruit in a bowl in the kitchen to make fruit easier to grab as a snack.

To keep naturally low fat vegetables low in fat and saturated fat, season with herbs, spices, lemon juice, vinegar, fat free or lowfat mayonnaise or salad dressing.

For more, please read the TLC Daily Food Guide to Lower Your Cholesterol

Portions of the above information has been provided with the kind permission of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (www.nhlbi.nih.gov/).