For the body, food acts as fuel that drives us, day in and day out. Whether we earn to eat food, or we eat food to get up the next morning and earn well, it is one of the basic requirements that cannot be ignored. Yet, the wrong kind of food can also lead to a slew of problems for the body as well as the mind. The heart is one such organ which depends on our lifestyle choices when it comes to the proper functioning of the same.

There are a number of foods that we can have for heart health, but the mere sound of some ingredients may be off putting. But if you try different recipes to cook a particular ingredient, you might end up eating it. Let our list of recipes inspire you.

Roasted salmon
This is a delicious and lightweight recipe, which is great for your heart. Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and has other nutrients that makes it part of the best heart healthy foods. You can roast the salmon on a skillet using a drizzle of extra healthy extra virgin olive oil. Season the fish fillet with some salt, pepper and freshly chopped herbs and garlic as well. Garlic is a well known ingredient that is hailed as good food for heart health. You can then add some toasted beans, carrots and shallots to the side of the dish so that you have a wholesome meal ready with minimum preparation and cooking time.

Broccoli pesto
You can prepare pesto with broccoli, an iron-rich green vegetable that’s good for the heart health. This can be had with a rice salad as well as a risotto or even whole-wheat pasta–all of this makes for a healthy meal in a bowl. This is the perfect heart food as it has the goodness of iron which helps in strengthening the muscles of the heart.

Bean tostadas
You can combine crunchy tostadas with one of the best heart healthy foods, beans. Black beans and other legumes are known to be rich in many dietary fibers, much like fruit and vegetables. This can help in creating a metabolic rate so that the bad cholesterol does not get a chance to settle and choke the arteries. You can boil black beans and drizzle some salsa over it before putting a few spoonfuls over a tostada for your dinner. And the best part? The crunchy and fresh taste will make it a mouth watering meal.

Quinoa bowl
This is a heart healthy food which is rich in proteins. Combine this ingredient with plenty of fresh salad greens for a yum salad or a side-dish. A boring, dull and boring Monday can also be transformed into an awesome day with such recipes.