Nutrition Corner - A Heart Healthy Valentines Month

Published on February 02, 2026

Stock photo of glass jars filled with beans and grains.

A Heart Healthy Valentines Month

A healthy diet and lifestyle are necessary to prevent and manage cardiovascular disease. It’s not as hard as you may think. Here are smart choices from The American Heart Association as part of your life for benefits to your health and your heart.

Use up at least as many calories as you take in.

Know how many calories you should eat and drink to maintain your weight. Nutrition and calorie information on food labels is typically based on a 2,000-calorie-per-day diet. You may need fewer or more calories depending on several factors including age, gender and level of physical activity.

Physical activity is needed to burn more calories and to strengthen that Heart Muscle. It may be hard to do a regular exercise routine, look for easy ways to sneak in some movement such as parking farther away and taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

Eat an overall healthy dietary pattern that emphasizes:

  • Eat from a wide variety of fruits and vegetables
  • Use Whole grains and cereals
  • Choose Healthy sources of protein (Mostly plants such as legumes, and nuts; fish and seafood; low-fat or fat-free dairy; and, if you eat meat and poultry, ensure it is lean and unprocessed.)
  • Use liquid non-tropical vegetable oils such as canola, olive, soybean and sunflower oils
  • Try to avoid processed foods
  • Minimized intake of added sugars
  • Foods prepared with little or no salt
  • Limited or preferably no alcohol intake

Apply this guidance wherever food is prepared or consumed:

Read the Nutrition Facts and Ingredient List on packaged food labels to choose those with less sodium, added sugars and saturated fat. Look for the Heart-Check mark to find foods that have been certified by the American Heart Association as heart-healthy. 

  • For information on the Home Delivered Meal Program or Meal Cancellation, Call Gateway Hudson Valley: 845-331-2496
  • For information on OFA’s Community Cafés Call Gateway Hudson Valley: 845 331-2180
  • The OFA gratefully accepts voluntary contributions. Your contributions help keep senior programs available. Checks payable to Ulster County.

 

Back to top