20 Low-Cholesterol Meals

April 23, 2013
While cholesterol in food is not as dangerous as once thought, it's still better for your heart to limit your intake.
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Low-cholesterol, flavor-packed dishes

Eating a healthy diet doesn't mean the end of taste—just check out this collection of delicious low-cholesterol recipes. You'll forget you're eating for your health!

Parmesan Potato Pancake
With only 4 milligrams of cholesterol, this potato pancake packs a punch of flavor. Olive oil is a healthier way to fry or sauté foods because it's rich in monounsaturated fat.

Try this recipe: Parmesan Potato Pancake

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Ginger-Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream Sandwiches

Instead of buying your own ice cream sandwiches, which may contain saturated or trans fat, use this DIY recipe. And, for a more figure-friendly option, use fat-free ice cream.

Try this recipe: Ginger-Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream Sandwiches

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Sangria

Health experts say that red wine—in moderation—can help raise HDL, the good cholesterol.

Try this recipe: Sangria

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Apple-Cinnamon Granola

Whole grains in granola are a tasty way to promote heart health. The oats in this recipe contain soluble fiber, which reduces bad cholesterol. Making your own granola allows you to keep the sugar content lower than store-bought brands.

Try this recipe: Apple-Cinnamon Granola

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Lighter Penne a la Vodka

Credit: Yunhee Kim

Whole grains in granola are a tasty way to promote heart health. The oats in this recipe contain soluble fiber, which reduces bad cholesterol. Making your own granola allows you to keep the sugar content lower than store-bought brands.

Try this recipe: Apple-Cinnamon Granola

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Morning Glory Muffins

Packing in fruits and nuts into a whole-grain muffin provides a boost of heart-healthy fiber. Enjoy this breakfast treat with a fat-free yogurt.

Try this recipe: Morning Glory Muffins

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Arugula and Goat Cheese Pizza

Even if you have high cholesterol, you can still enjoy pizza. This recipe cuts back on cheese, amps up the veggie intake, and adds walnuts, which may help lower blood cholesterol.

Try this recipe: Arugula and Goat Cheese Pizza

Related video: Arugula and Goat Cheese Pizza

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Carrot-Ginger Soup

Since cholesterol is found in many animal products, this creamy veggie-based soup keeps the cholesterol count low. Carrots are a great source of beta-carotene.

Try this recipe: Carrot-Ginger Soup

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Jane's Vegetarian Chili

Credit: Randy Mayor

Vegetarian chili is cholesterol free and packed with fiber. Topping it with cheese will add some cholesterol, but choose reduced-or fat-free to cut back on saturated fat.

Try this recipe: Jane's Vegetarian Chili

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Bean and Corn Salsa

Most dips are fat-and cholesterol-laden, but salsa is a light yet savory snack. Serve with multigrain tortilla chips that have about 3 grams of fiber per serving.

Try this recipe: Bean and Corn Salsa

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Lemon-Asparagus Pasta

Meat-based sauces quickly rack up cholesterol, but this tangy pasta keeps it heart-healthy with fresh asparagus and lemon. Try whole-wheat pasta to sneak in some fiber.

Try this recipe: Lemon-Asparagus Pasta

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Two-Potato Salad With Mustard-Chive Dressing

Adding sweet potatoes to your traditional potato salad is a great way to get a boost of fiber and vitamin A. Try fat-free mayonnaise to cut back even more on fat.

Try this recipe: Two-Potato Salad With Mustard-Chive Dressing

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Linguine With Red Pepper Sauce

Without meat or dairy, veggie-based sauces get the cholesterol green light. Red bell peppers add a subtle flavor and contain two heart-healthy powerhouses: vitamin B6 and folic acid.

Try this recipe: Linguine With Red Pepper Sauce

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Grilled Scallops With Lemon-Chickpea Salad

Scallops are a great source of vitamin B12 and omega-3 fatty acids. And the combination of vitamin C and A in the spinach prevents cholesterol from building up in blood vessels.

Try this recipe: Grilled Scallops With Lemon-Chickpea Salad

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Mixed Green Salad With Dried Plums and Toasted Pecans

Credit: Beatriz Dacosta

Fill up on a fresh, green salad and feel healthy and satisfied. Dark greens are rich in folate, potassium, and fiber. Be wary of creamy dressings, which can pack on the saturated fat.

Try this recipe: Mixed Green Salad With Dried Plums and Toasted Pecans

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Mediterranean Stuffed Tomatoes

Credit: John Muggenborg

Savor these tomatoes as an appetizer or a snack. They're rich in flavor and high in lycopene, an antioxidant that helps prevent the clogging of the arteries by stopping the oxidation of cholesterol.

Try this recipe: Mediterranean Stuffed Tomatoes

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Marinated Feta and Olive Skewers

These flavor-packed skewers are a great treat. Goat cheese is a great source of calcium, and the serving size doesn't boast too much cholesterol.

Try this recipe: Marinated Feta and Olive Skewers

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Quick Roasted Vegetable Fajitas

This Mexican-inspired vegetarian dish is full of protein and monounsaturated fat. Packed with low-cal spices and salsa, you'll never miss the meat, and fat-free refried beans add a healthy dose of fiber. Choose fat-free cheese to cut out extra fat.

Try this recipe: Quick Roasted Vegetable Fajitas

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Lightened Waldorf Salad

By using fat-free mayonnaise and fat-free yogurt, you can cut back on cholesterol and fat. The lighter the dressing, the more you can taste the fruity and nutty flavors.

Try this recipe: Lightened Waldorf Salad

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Grilled Zucchini Roll-Ups With Herbs and Cheese

These easy-to-make roll-ups are perfect for appetizers or a light lunch. Each roll packs a punch with fiber, protein, and monounsaturated fat.

Try this recipe: Grilled Zucchini Roll-Ups With Herbs and Cheese

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