If you’ve been told you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or that you should follow a heart-healthy diet, you’ll need to learn new ways to prepare your meals. This is especially important to keep in mind as you plan family favorites for the new year. Here are some ways to easily adapt recipes so they’ll be low in fat, cholesterol, and sodium and still taste great:

• Buy the leaner cuts of meat such as round steak, rump roast, flank steak, sirloin tip roast, and porterhouse steak.
• Place the meat on a rack inside the roasting pan or dish so the fat drains off during roasting or broiling.
• When possible, cook meats ahead of time, place in refrigerator, and remove hardened fat before serving.
• Use a non-stick cooking spray instead of butter, margarine, or oil to grease pans.
• Instead of adding salt during cooking, try experimenting with herbs and spices to add flavor.

Here are some helpful substitutions:

• Low-fat or non-fat yogurt instead of sour cream
• Low-fat or non-fat cottage cheese instead of ricotta cheese
• Low-fat or non-fat cheese instead of regular cheese
• Margarine instead of solid shortening
• Evaporated skim milk instead of cream or half-and-half
• Low-salt and low-fat bases for sauces and dressings (such as broth or flavored vinegar) instead of cream, mayonnaise, or oil