How to Stay Social When Living with Heart Disease

Learning you have heart disease can lead to many questions. After you’ve answered the big ones, like what to eat and how to exercise, you may still wonder about the little things (which are still important), like your social life.

A healthy diet doesn’t have to be the end of your girls’ night out or happy hour with coworkers. It just requires a little more planning to make sure your hard work and healthy decisions don’t get lost.

Try these tips to stay social after learning you have heart disease.

1. Research the restaurant before dining

   Review the restaurant menu before you go. This will give you a clear idea of what options are available so you can make healthy choices when you order. Even many chain restaurants offer a healthier version of their menu.

2. Learn to review the menu

   Watch out for dishes with cream and heavy cheese. To lower the salt in your menu choice,  avoid soy-sauce-based dishes, like stir-fry.  If reducing your salt intake is a priority to you, you can also ask that the chef not use salt when preparing your food.

3. Stay moderate

   Meal sizes at restaurants can be very large — so keep your heart health in check by eating smaller portions. Drinking water while dining can help you feel full and not drinking alcohol will help you avoid empty calories. 
   
   If you expect your dinner to be large split the meal with a friend. Or, if you’re not in the mood to share, ask your waiter to box up half your dish to save it for a later meal.

4. Keep liquid calories and fatty snacks in check

   An after-work happy hour can be a great time to catch up with friends and coworkers, but greasy snacks and sugary cocktails can be bad for your heart. Use moderation when drinking alcohol at happy hours (or anytime). If there are small bites available, avoid dips and fried foods, choose healthier options like fresh veggies or edamame.