Cooking heart healthy

By By Penny Randall / staff writer
October 13, 2004
Put down that piece of fried chicken, eat your roll without butter and pass up the chocolate cake for dessert. Do this on a regular basis and your heart will thank you in the long run.
People can learn more about how to take care of their heart during the upcoming "Heart Healthy" cooking classes at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center. Classes are set for Monday and Oct. 25 in the auditorium of the hospital's health and fitness center.
Sky Joiner, the hospital's clinical nutrition manager, has taught the classes since 1987.
Joiner has a bachelor's degree in nutrition and master's degree in counseling. She also is a certified diabetes educator.
The class is free and open to the public. Joiner usually has 20 to 30 people attend each session.
Joiner said people attend the classes for different reason. Some have suffered heart attacks, been diagnosed with high cholesterol or just want to learn how to cook healthier.
Class participants can sample food Joiner cooks and receive heart healthy recipes.
Joiner will talk about new products on the market that are low in cholesterol. She also talk about portion size and how to read food product labels.
Joiner said people who attend the classes vary in age.
Here are a few tips to reduce your chance of a heart attack:
If you smoke, quit. That can cut your risk of heart attack in half.
Eat a diet low in saturated fat and trans fat.
Eat lots of whole grains, vegetables and fruits.
Reach and stay at a healthy weight.
Do 30 minutes of physical activity each day. Do 10 minutes three times a day if that works better for you.
What: "Heart Healthy" Cooking Class
Next class: Oct. 18 and 25 at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center auditorium in the Health and Fitness Center
Call: Sky Joiner at 553-6184
Cost: Free; preregistration is required