How to Read a Nutrition Facts Panel for Sodium Content

Posted on September 26, 2018 by Meghan Perkins

Eating too much salt can increase blood pressure, which puts unnecessary stress on our hearts, arteries, and kidneys. But when we eat something we didn’t cook ourselves, it’s hard to know how much salt it contains! Here’s an easy guide for reading the nutrition facts panel to identify sodium content: Continue reading →

Kirkpatrick Bank “Pies it Forward” For People in Need

Posted on November 20, 2017 by Project Angel Heart

What are we thankful for this year? So many things! We’re thankful for our volunteers, the donors who provide financial support, and a giving community. We’re thankful that we have access to healthy food and a network of health care providers who recognize the value of nutrition for their patients. And we’re thankful for pie!

Yep, we’re thankful for pie. Why? Because pie brings people together, inspires happiness, and, at Project Angel Heart, pie also helps fund medically tailored meals for people who are critically ill. Continue reading →

7 Ways to Avoid Overeating During the Holidays

Posted on November 14, 2017 by Project Angel Heart

Guest post by Jihan Boughman, dietetic intern at Metropolitan State University of Denver

1. Put Healthy Food Front and Center

Avoid snacks before dinner or put out only healthy, low calorie snacks like fresh fruit and a vegetable tray with hummus. Position yourself out of reach of food while socializing to avoid mindless snacking.

2. Drink Water Before Eating

Even though water contains no calories, it fills up your stomach, helping you to feel full with less food. Continue reading →

Behind the Scenes in the Project Angel Heart Kitchen

Posted on January 13, 2017 by Project Angel Heart

Project Angel Heart’s chef and volunteers chop, stir, scoop, bake, blend, clean, and pack daily to prepare 1,200 nutritious meals each day.

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$Project Angel Heart\'s Denver Office & Kitchen$

Volunteers chop hundreds of tons of vegetables

Much of our produce comes from local farms, gardeners, and our own backyard

Large-scale prep allows us to make 1,200 meals daily

Volunteers package bread that is donated by local bakeries

Chefs cook almost everything in giant tilt skillets

Each tilt skillet can hold up to 40 gallons of food

$When they\'re all in use, we can make up to 200 gallons of stew, sauce, or meat at once$

Volunteers create an assembly line to fill each meal tray

Meal trays are covered with an air-tight seal

Volunteers label each meal with the name of the dish and dietary restrictions

Meal trays are sorted according to dietary restrictions

Trays are stored on racks in our freezer until packing

We also modify meals according to clients' dietary needs

For instance, we puree meals for clients who have trouble chewing or swallowing

No kitchen is complete without a dishwasher!

Volunteers pack all meals, along with sides like soup and bread

Every Thursday we pack a week's worth of meals

We also pack breakfast bags for clients who need extra nutrition

Volunteers have to be sure to include meals that meet each clients' dietary needs

Want to come see us in action? We’d love to take you on a tour! Contact Brandy Brogan at bbrogan@projectangelheart.org or 303.830.0202 to schedule.

How Do You Know if You’re Getting Enough Fruits & Vegetables?

Posted on November 14, 2016 by Project Angel Heart

Whether you’re vegan, paleo, or somewhere in between, the one thing nearly everyone can agree on is the importance of eating fruits and vegetables. The benefits are too numerous to list- and include longer life expectancy and lower blood pressure.

Vegetables are so important that nutrition experts recommend adults aim for five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables daily. But what counts as a serving? How do you know if you’re getting enough fruits and vegetables in your diet to reap the benefits? Continue reading →