The month of February focuses on the heart. It is National Heart Month and a great time to commit to a healthy lifestyle that can lead to a lifetime of heart health. One of the most important things you can do to protect your heart is eating healthy. A great way to manage your healthy lifestyle is to take full advantage of your beautiful NEMA San Francisco kitchen and make your meals at home.

Salmon, leafy greens, chickpeas and berries all made the list. You'll want to stock up on them and more to keep your heart healthy and strong. Here are a few heart healthy recipes to get you started:

Cauliflower Fried Rice. Ditch white rice for this low-carb veggie option that's tastier than takeout. Plus, it's less than 300 calories.

Grilled Vegetable Wrap. This vegetable wrap is a quick and easy way to get a hearty dose of vegetables in your meal with very little saturated fat.

Air Fryer Fried Okra. Throughout the South, okra is a favorite ingredient in many dishes, including the ever-popular gumbo, but it’s also delicious as the main attraction in this side dish.

Charred Shrimp, Pesto & Quinoa Bowls. These shrimp, pesto and quinoa bowls are delicious, healthy, pretty and take less than 30 minutes to prep. Add extra veggies and swap the shrimp for chicken, steak, or tofu.

Grilled Squash Garlic Bread. If you're craving hearty pizza, satisfy your tastebuds with this fresh veggie version.

Gingered Beef and Broccoli Salad Bowl. Tender steak and crisp veggies load this healthy, five-ingredient spinach salad with flavor and nutrition. Go green with another dozen more salad recipes.

Seared Salmon with Pistachio Gremolata. This salmon recipe is full of fresh herbs like parsley and mint. The pistachio gremolata makes a bright and fresh sauce for this salmon dinner recipe.

Mediterranean Rice Bowl with Rotisserie Chicken. This Mediterranean-inspired meal is a great heart-healthy dinner with a boost of lean protein, a variety of veggies, fiber from the rice, and healthy fat from the olive oil.

Sheet Pan Chickpea Chicken. This recipe has chickpeas and sweet peppers which are packed with heart-healthy protein and vitamins. And it can all be cooked on one sheet which means fewer dishes and less fuss.

Chewy Oatmeal-Raisin Cookies. Don't skip dessert if you're on a heart-healthy diet, just choose wisely. Reach for one of these chewy cookies, packed with oatmeal and low in saturated fat.

An easy first step to eating healthy is to include fruits and vegetables at every meal and snack. All forms (fresh, frozen, canned and dried) and all colors count, so go ahead and add color to your plate – and your life. Here are a few clever ways to fit veggies into any meal.

Find Fresh Fixings.

The nearby Heart of the City Farmers Market is a uniquely independent, farmer-operated, nonprofit farmers market in San Francisco's United Nations Plaza/Civic Center. The market has been open since 1981, running year-round on Sundays and Wednesdays and is located at San Francisco's United Nations Plaza, along Market Street between 7th and 8th Streets above Civic Center BART Station. Click here for a map.

The Ferry Building Farmers Market takes place on Saturday (8am to 2pm), and Tuesday + Thursday (10am to 2pm) year round, rain or shine at Embarcadero and Market Streets.

Along with eating right and being active, real health includes getting enough sleep, practicing mindfulness, managing stress, keeping mind and body fit, connecting socially, and more. Live long and love your heart!

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