Daisy grins as she carries her toddler on one hip and stirs a pot of soup on the stove, knowing how busy life can get. “Being a mother means juggling about a million things at once, but that doesn’s mean we can’t take care of our hearts in the process.”
Daisy thinks in basic, heart-healthy meal designs that save time without compromising nutrition. Sunday preparing of ingredients is one of her regular routines. She will cut vegetables—carrots, bell peppers, onions—then keep them in airtight containers. She can thus toss them in minutes into a stir-fry, omelet, or soup when it comes time for cooking.
She continues, pointing to her cabinet full of brown rice, quinoa, and whole-wheat pasta, “Don’t undervalue the power of whole grains.” Daisy supports heart health by including these into her meals to help to maintain consistent family energy levels.
She also like simple protein sources like chicken breast or canned beans she may add into casseroles or salads. She says, “I love chickpeas and white beans.” “They’re adaptable and I could have soups as well as vegetable burgers using them.”
Daisy says overnight oats are great for hectic mornings. She lets it sit in the refrigerator overnight combining rolled oats with low-fat milk, a spoonful of peanut butter, some fresh berries. She has a grab-and-go breakfast in the morning high in heart-friendly foods and fiber.
Usually accompanied with vibrant vegetables, dinner calls for lean proteins like salmon or skinless chicken. Daisy advised baking everything on one sheet pan if you were rushed for time.
She says she will season the salmon with a little lemon pepper, put sliced zucchini and tomatoes on the other side, and toss everything in the oven. “It takes approximately twenty minutes, and cleanup is easy.”
Daisy naturally believes in balance as well. We are human. You just need a bit of dark chocolate sometimes, she says. “But you can keep your meals wholesome and still satisfy the family by planning ahead and stressing whole foods.”
Daisy’s heart-healthy strategy revolves mostly on convenience and flexibility. One great meal at a time, she shows busy mothers how to fuel their hearts and keep their family happy with a few practical shortcuts—like prepping veggies ahead of time, storing good grains and lean proteins, and using sheet-pan dinners.
