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Modify Recipes for a Heart-Healthy Diet

You don't have to abandon all your favorite recipes to eat healthier. Several small changes to your current recipes can often greatly lower the saturated fat and sodium in your diet.

These small changes can make a big difference in the amount of fat and calories in your diet. But they won't make much difference in how your meals taste or how much you enjoy them. Here are some ideas for making heart-healthy changes in your recipes.

Recipe modifications
Instead of: Choose:
1 cup shortening or lard ¾ cup canola or olive oil
1 cup whole milk 1 cup fat-free milk
1 cup heavy cream 1 cup evaporated skim milk
1 cup sour cream 1 cup low-fat or fat-free yogurt or sour cream
1 cup cheddar cheese 1 cup low-fat cheddar cheese
8 oz cream cheese 8 oz light cream cheese or 4 oz skim ricotta and 4 oz tofu blended
1 can cream of chicken soup 1 can low-fat cream soup
1 lb ground beef 1 lb ground turkey or 1 lb extra-lean ground beef (97% lean)
6 oz tuna in oil 6 oz tuna in water
1 cup chocolate chips ½ cup chocolate chips

To eat less fat and salt, try these tips while you cook.

Credits

Current as of: October 7, 2025

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Ignite Healthwise, LLC education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

Current as of: October 7, 2025

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

Clinical Review Board
All Ignite Healthwise, LLC education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

© 2025 Ignite Healthwise, LLC. All rights reserved. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Ignite Healthwise, LLC. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Ignite Healthwise, LLC disclaims any liability for your use of this information.