7 easy, fast, heart-smart dinners

It's always such a bummer to get home from work or the gym and realize you don't have anything ready for dinner. You're already hungry, and you don't have the energy to put together a complicated meal, so what do you do? Call for a pizza? Eat a PB&J or two? Run out to a fast food restaurant?

No, no no! Not only are these choices detrimental to any weight-loss (or maintenance) goals you might have -- they're also not smart choices for heart health. Here are seven alternatives from MSN that are quick, easy, and best of all, heart-smart.

1. Whole wheat penne with broccoli and sausage: Use turkey sausage instead of pork for optimum benefit. Broccoli contains heart-healthy antioxidants, while whole grains help lower cholesterol.
   
   
2. Orange beef and pepper stir-fry: Lean beef, in small portions, can be good for your heart, and peppers have lots of antioxidants. Keep a box of instant brown rice around so you can put dinner together in a snap.
   
   
3. Balsamic chicken and pears: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are the best choice since they provide oodles of protein and are very, very lean. Whole wheat couscous and pears are both packed with fiber and super easy to prepare.
   
   
4. Red lentil and vegetable soup: Lentils will fill you up with soluble fiber while working to lower your "bad" cholesterol. The other veggies, like spinach and tomatoes, have loads of potassium to keep your blood pressure in line.
   
   
5. Chicken quesadillas with avocado-tomato salsa: Incorporate low-fat tortilas and cheese in this dish, and then your only "splurge" is the avocado. And, truth be told, while avocado has a good bit of fat, it's in large part the heart-healthy kind, and avocados actually contain a natural cholesterol reducer.
   
   
6. Salmon provencal with zucchini: Salmon is packed with omega-3 fatty acids, which lower triglycerides (they're bad for your heart) and help to improve the ratio of good to bad cholesterol.
   
7. Sauteed shrimp on warm black bean salad: While shrimp does have some cholesterol, it's still low in fat and calories. And when you add in the antioxidants from the fiber-filled black beans, you have a tasty winner.

See something yummy? Be sure to check the original article from MSN for recipes!