Heart-healthy eating is about choosing  foods that give you lots of nutrients and help keep your heart  and blood vessels healthy.

When eating a heart-healthy diet, try to  eat a variety of fruits and vegetables.

It can be helpful to think about including  fruits or vegetables with every meal.

One way to do this is by aiming to  fill half of your plate with them.

Choose whole-grain foods.

These include oats, whole-wheat pastas,  whole-grain breads, and brown rice.

They give you lots of fiber and other nutrients.

For heart-healthy proteins, try  to eat more plant-based proteins like beans, nuts, and soy products such as tofu.

Fish and seafood are other  healthy protein sources.

If you eat meat, choose lean cuts and avoid  processed meats like bacon and sausage.

When it comes to dairy, choose nonfat  or low-fat milk, cheese, and yogurt.

Choose liquid fats such as olive  oil, sunflower oil, and canola oil.

And try to avoid solid fats like  butter, lard, and coconut oil.

Try to choose foods that  are low in sodium, or salt.

Some ways you can do this are to look for lower-sodium versions of  canned and packaged foods.

You can also try making more of your meals at home and adding herbs and spices  to your food instead of salt.

Also, try to choose foods and  beverages without added sugar.

For example, try drinking  sparkling water instead of soda.

Or add fruit to unsweetened yogurt  instead of eating sugar-sweetened yogurt.

And don't forget to be patient with yourself.

Changing how you eat takes time  and practice, but you can do it.

And after a while, these changes will start to  feel like just a regular part of how you eat.