Track what you eat to support your heart: monitor portions, sodium, cholesterol, and fat, keep a food diary, and read labels to make healthier choices.

We understand that managing heart disease can be a challenge when trying to change your diet. With a balanced plate, you can take control of your health. Tracking what you eat will help you be aware of what types of foods you eat and how you might change them to be more healthy. So why should you track what you eat?

First, track your eating habits. By keeping track of what you eat and drink, you'll be aware of your daily eating patterns. This can help you make better choices and avoid foods that may negatively impact your heart health. Second, it's good to know how much you eat. Portion control, or how much you eat of each food, will help you maintain a healthy diet and make sure you do not eat too much or too little of certain foods. Third, monitor your nutrients, such as your sodium, cholesterol, and fat content, which can all impact heart health. Reading food labels will help you monitor the nutrients in the foods you eat. Eating a balanced, heart-healthy diet is key to managing heart disease and many other conditions, and tracking your nutrition will help you.

So how do you track your nutrition — the foods you eat and drink? First, keep a food diary. Write down everything you eat and drink throughout the day. Record portion sizes, such as a quarter cup or a half cup, as well as how you prepare your food. Be honest with the foods and drinks you enter into your diary. Second, find and use a tracker. You can use a notebook, a smartphone app, or a printed food diary template from the internet. Many smartphone apps can help you — you can use the MyPlate app for more tips and tricks on how to create a healthy plate. Look for apps that are easy to use and allow you to enter your food and drink choices quickly; some apps also provide nutrition information and tips based on what you track. Third, learn to read food labels. Pay attention to the nutrition facts on food labels — look for the serving size, calories per serving, total fat, cholesterol, sodium, and other ingredients. Understanding food labels will help you make healthy choices and track your nutritional intake more accurately. Lastly, seek professional guidance if you have specific nutrition questions. You can talk to a dietitian to get more guidance on your eating habits; they will help you create a plan around your dietary needs, preferences, and medical conditions.

Tracking your nutrition is a powerful tool. It helps you better understand your eating patterns, control portions, and monitor important nutrients for heart health. Remember, small steps today can lead to greater changes in the near future. If you have any specific nutrition questions for good heart health, you can chat with your care manager in the Movn app. Thanks for watching "Tracking Your Nutrition for a Healthy Heart." You can visit the resource section in the app for more information on how to eat a heart-healthy diet.

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