Heart-Healthy Chicken Dishes

High cholesterol is one of the major controllable risk factors for heart disease and stroke, with about 38% of American adults diagnosed with high cholesterol, according to the American Heart Association. It can be managed by getting levels regularly tested and making lifestyle changes like eating a heart-healthy diet.

Small changes can make a big impact on heart health. Start with these tips while planning and preparing meals:

• Reduce saturated fat. Select lean cuts of meat or opt for plant protein, limit processed meats, broil or bake rather than pan-fry meats and remove skin from poultry before cooking.
• Lower dairy fats. Low-fat, fat-free or non-dairy milk can be used in many recipes instead of whole milk or half-and-half.
• Increase fiber and whole grains. Add high-fiber vegetables to meals, serve fruit instead of juice and try brown rice instead of white.

The recipes here put these tips into practice to help you eat healthy without sacrificing taste. Find more ideas for managing cholesterol and other risk factors at heart.org.