Tips for heart-healthy eating in rural and remote areas
You probably know by now that healthy eating is an important part of your heart health journey and can help reduce your risk of future heart problems. But sometimes accessing heart-healthy food can be tough in some rural and remote parts of Australia.
There are still plenty of ways to help your heart by eating nutritious foods, regardless of where you live.
- If fresh fruit and vegetables aren’t easily available, you can replace them with frozen or canned foods with reduced or no added salt and still get the health benefits.
- Consider buying cans of tuna and salmon in oil or spring water as an alternative to buying fresh fish. These make for an easy and healthy meal, are budget friendly, and have lots of health benefits. Try cooking some of our canned fish recipes such as tuna mornay bake or tuna pasta bake.
- Look for weekly discounts at the supermarket and buy expensive items such as meat when it’s on special. You can compare prices by checking the price per kilo.
- Cooking and freezing meals in advance provides a quick, easy, and healthy alternative to buying takeaway. Check out the Heart Foundation’s Batch Cooking e-book.
- Freeze unused bread to extend its shelf life.
- Look out for local farmers’ markets or farmers selling produce from their property. This supports your local farmers and means you will be eating food that is seasonal and rich in nutrients.
- Consider planting your own small garden with vegetables, fruits and herbs to make sure you have fresh produce within reach.
Download this helpful resource with our top tips for healthy eating in rural and remote Australia.
