'Tried and tested' heart-healthy recipes

Your life-giving heart is one of the most important organs in your body, yet sadly around 7.6 million people in the UK are living with heart and circulatory diseases¹. More shockingly, over a quarter (27%) of all UK deaths are caused by heart and circulatory diseases – which equates to one death every three minutes¹.

There are a number of factors which play an important role when it comes to your heart health. Unfortunately some of these, try as we might, we simply cannot change, like our genetics. The good news is there are plenty of changes you can make to take a preventative approach when it comes to your heart health. One such change comes down to what you eat².

Healthy eating for a happy heart

A healthy diet can reduce your risk of developing coronary heart disease and stop you gaining weight, reducing your risk of diabetes and high blood pressure². Even small changes towards a healthy, balanced diet can make a big difference. But, it can be daunting knowing where to start, especially if you’re not wanting to spend hours in the kitchen, or spend a fortune on ingredients!

At Simplyhealth, we dusted off our aprons to test out some of the British Heart Foundation’s heart-healthy recipes, and bring you our recommendations. With cooking often recommended as a mindfulness activity³, getting stuck in and trying new recipes may have a positive benefit for your mental wellbeing. Here are a few tasty favourites, as tried and tested by Simplyhealth employees to get you going!

Recommended for a sweet treat

Oat pancakes with fruit compote

Set yourself up for a busy day at work with this wholesome pancake recipe.
 

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Tested by Sam: ‘Healthy, filling delicious pancakes! This is a meal in itself and it’s truly delicious. The smell of berries, apples, cinnamon and ginger is amazing. Now I’ve made it once I shall definitely be making these again.’

Recommended for a quick mid-week meal

Lemon chicken stir-fry noodles

Enjoy as an easy and tasty way to get your ‘5 A Day’.

Prep time: 20 minutes (plus 1hr marinating)

Cooking Time: 10 minutes

Tested by Chloe: ‘Really quick and easy. It’s so filling and gets all your veggies in. It didn’t cost much to make and a lot of the ingredients I already had in my cupboard. My top tip for anyone trying this recipe, try not to cut down the marinating time – it really brings out the flavour!’

Recommended for date night

Cottage pie

Indulge in nutritious and delicious heart-healthy comfort food with this winter warmer recipe.
 

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Tested by Emma: ‘This dinner is a real treat for a cold winter’s day. Although it takes a while to cook in the oven, the preparation is really easy and it’s well worth the wait. A nice British classic with a heart-healthy twist. I’d definitely recommend.’

Recommended for the family

Macaroni cheese

Look after your heart health with this firm favourite, great for all the family.
 

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Tested by Zoe: ‘‘This was easy cheesy! It was so much easier to make than the classic macaroni cheese made with a roux. I did have to compromise with the fussy eaters in my home and put some lean bacon in there which went down a treat! This is how I will be making macaroni cheese from now on as it was so much easier and a delicious healthier alternative.’

Recommended for flavour

Chicken curry with green beans

Spice things up and show your heart a little love with this Indian treat.
 

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time:  45 minutes

Tested by Ben: ‘For a quick and tasty evening meal, look no further. Whether you’re a curry aficionado, or new to Indian cuisine, give this deliciously healthy recipe a go!’

Recommended for vegan / vegetarian dietary requirements

Spiced roast roots

Spice things up and show your heart a little love with this Indian treat.
 

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 30-40 minutes

Tested by Emma: ‘Unbelievably simple, it’s pretty much a 3-step recipe – chop your roots, mix your oil and spices and bake! The mixed roots were a great hit at the dinner table. They were made even more enjoyable by the fact that we can happily eat this dish knowing we’re looking after our hearts too.’

These are just a few of the British Heart Foundation’s recipes tried and recommended by the team at Simplyhealth. Find more recipes covering a range of dietary requirements and cuisines on the British Heart Foundation’s website.

All that’s left for you to do now is dust off your apron and give some heart-healthy meals a go. Why not upload and share your photos with us on social media using the hashtag #hearthealth, we’d love to hear how you get on.