Eating Smart

• Share

(2 of 3)

WHAT TO DO Order the chicken (but not fried)

THE SCORE

Chicken [2 hearts] Beef [1 heart]

OTHER MEATS

In general, the leaner the meat, the better--and wild game tends to be the leanest

BUFFALO [4 hearts] VENISON [4 hearts] LEAN PORK CHOPS [3 hearts] TURKEY [2 hearts] LAMB [2 hearts] VEAL [2 hearts] HAM [1 heart] BACON [1 heart]

PEANUT BUTTER

WHAT WE USED TO THINK Has lots of protein, so it's good for you

WHAT DOCTORS SAY NOW The kind sold in most supermarkets is full of trans-fatty acids, which are bad for the heart

WHAT TO DO Eat "natural" peanut butter, the kind in which the oil rises to the top

THE SCORE [3 hearts]

OTHER NUTS

Nuts are a good-news, bad-news food. The bad news is that they're full of oils that aren't great for the heart; the good news is that they contain vitamin E

CASHEWS [2 hearts] ALMONDS [2 hearts] MACADAMIA NUTS [1 heart]

COFFEE OR TEA?

WHAT WE USED TO THINK Coffee raises blood pressure, may cause cardiovascular disease. Tea is harmless

WHAT DOCTORS SAY NOW Coffee turns out to be pretty harmless too-yet doesn't provide any benefit either. But black, green and oolong (not herbal) teas are high in flavonoids, which may protect the heart

WHAT TO DO Take a tea break

THE SCORE

Tea [3 hearts] Coffee [1 heart]

OLIVE OIL

WHAT WE USED TO THINK It's a form of fat, therefore fattening. Avoid it

WHAT DOCTORS SAY NOW Your body needs some fat, and since it's mostly monounsaturated, olive oil is easy on cholesterol levels

WHAT TO DO Don't guzzle the stuff, but it's fine for cooking and drizzling on salads

THE SCORE [3 hearts]

OTHER OILS

Oils containing poly- or monounsaturated fat (like olive oil) are good; lots of saturated fat is bad

CANOLA OIL [3 hearts] CORN OIL [2 hearts] SUNFLOWER OIL [2 hearts] PALM OIL [black heart]

THE GREENER, THE BETTER

WHAT WE USED TO THINK Iceberg lettuce and romaine are both green, leafy vegetables, so both are good for you

WHAT DOCTORS SAY NOW Iceberg is barely green. It isn't bad for you, but it's hardly more nutritious than water. Romaine and other dark-green leafy vegetables, however, contain flavonoids

WHAT TO DO Try to get a little color into your salad bowl

THE SCORE

Romaine [4 hearts] Iceberg [1 heart]

ONIONS AND GARLIC

WHAT WE USED TO THINK No nutritional value, give bad breath

WHAT DOCTORS SAY NOW Onions contain flavonoids and garlic has polyphenols, so both could protect your heart

WHAT TO DO Get your date to eat some too

THE SCORE [3 hearts]

OTHER VEGETABLES

The general rule is that dark-green vegetables are good for your heart, pale vegetables are neutral. Orange and red can be good too, in some cases

SPINACH [4 hearts] BROCCOLI [4 hearts] CARROTS [3 hearts] TOMATOES [3 hearts] CELERY [1 heart] CUCUMBERS [1 heart]

SNACKS

WHAT WE USED TO THINK It's all junk food. Eat fruit, or go without