7-day meal plan to help lower cholesterol

This 7-day meal plan to help lower cholesterol contains meal ideas and inspiration for breakfast, lunch and dinner that can be tailored to your needs. Eating a heart-healthy diet can help to reduce and manage cholesterol levels in the blood and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Is there a quick fix to lower cholesterol?

Unfortunately, there is no quick fix to lower cholesterol. No single food or meal will help to lower your cholesterol. Some people will need medication to manage high cholesterol, and others may see an improvement from lifestyle changes. Whatever the case, heart health is about consistently eating mostly heart-healthy foods and looking at the quality of your overall diet.

 

7-day meal plan to help lower cholesterol

 

BREAKFAST

LUNCH

DINNER

DAY 1

Chia and oat pudding

Tuna pasta salad

Chicken and broccoli stir-fry

DAY 2

Basic bircher muesli topped with nuts or seeds

Wholemeal pita with salad or cooked vegetables, hummus, and a choice of cooked lean meat, canned tuna or four-bean mix

Falafel tray bake

DAY 3

Porridge topped with plain yoghurt, seasonal fruit, nuts and seedsSpiced pumpkin, lentil and tofu salad

Blackened fish tacos

DAY 4

Wholegrain toast with avocado, tomato and sesame seedsChickpea fattoush salad

Poke bowl

DAY 5

Natural muesli with plain yoghurt, seasonal fruit and sunflower seeds

Sardines and spinach on toast

Winter vegetable and barley soup

DAY 6

Homemade baked beansTofu salad with miso dressing

Chilli mince and beans served in lettuce cups, wholemeal wraps or on top of brown rice

DAY 7

Cooked mushrooms, spinach and tomatoes on wholegrain toast

Quick toastie quesadillas with avocado salsa

Chicken and chickpea curry

Each meal is based on cholesterol-lowering foods, including fruit and vegetables, whole grains (like oats and barley), plant-based protein sources (like beans and chickpeas) and heart-healthy fats like (avocado, nuts and seeds). These foods contain fibre, heart-healthy fats and a wide range of nutrients that benefit heart health.

Snacks

We all have different appetites, which can vary from day to day. Instead of choosing packaged snacks, base your snacks around plenty of whole foods such as:

  • fruit
  • plain yoghurt
  • veggie sticks (carrot, capsicum, cucumber) with hummus
  • plain nuts and seeds.

Tips to help you get the most out of the meal plan

Use our free meal planner template

Add your own meal ideas to make it relevant to you and use it to plan your food shopping.

Free menu planner template

Mix and match meals

There is no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to your heart health. You can tailor this meal plan to meet your needs. If you don’t like certain foods or eat a specific diet, substitute ingredients for something similar that works for you!

Cultural and traditional eating

If you regularly eat meals relevant to your culture or religion, keep eating this way but look for ways to add in more cholesterol-lowering foods like vegetables, whole grains and legumes.

Keep it cheap

If any ingredients in this plan are beyond your budget, look for a cheaper alternative. Most foods can be substituted for something similar and will still give the same benefits—for example, kale instead of spinach or plain frozen fish instead of fresh fish.

Eat for your appetite

This meal plan is a guide only, and following your own hunger and fullness cues is important. If you don’t usually have snacks during the day or eat a lighter meal at night, it’s best to keep doing this.

Save time and money

Cook a larger meal portion and have the leftovers the next day or the following evening.

Add vegetables where you can

Give your meals a heart-healthy boost. Think about an extra handful of frozen peas or some extra grated carrot. Frozen or canned are great options too.

Keep breakfast simple

This meal plan gives you different heart-healthy breakfast ideas, but that doesn’t mean you have to follow along. Most people enjoy the same breakfast each day, and that’s okay.

Simple swaps

There are plenty of swaps you can make to help improve your cholesterol. To eat more heart-healthy foods, try swapping from butter to olive oil, potato chips to plain nuts, white bread to whole grain bread or choosing reduced-fat dairy products instead of full-fat versions. 

Check your progress

If you’ve been making changes to your lifestyle, such as eating better or getting more active, it’s a good idea to ask your health professional to organise follow-up blood tests. This way, you can see whether any of the changes you have made (even if you are taking medication) have helped to improve your cholesterol levels.