Here Comes...Happy Heart Eat Out Month

The Irish Heart Foundation, safefood and the HSE have joined together for this year’s Happy Heart Eat Out month, which runs in hundreds of participating restaurants, workplaces and communities across the length and breadth of the country throughout June.

Carrying the theme, ‘For a Happy Heart…Think Small’, the campaign hopes to raise awareness of portion sizes when eating out, in addition to encouraging people to choose healthy options from menus. A new Happy Heart Eat Out recipe booklet incorporating tasty and healthy recipes will be available in June, free of charge.    

Participating restaurants, cafés and workplace canteens will be offering additional healthy options throughout June; plenty of fruit and vegetables and meals that are low in fat, sugar and salt and rich in fibre.

A well-balanced diet is very important for a healthy lifestyle, with portion size playing its role - smaller portion sizes are not only good for the waist, they are also good for the heart.

Well-known chefs that have contributed recipes include Kevin Dundon, Dunbrody House; Neven Maguire, MacNean House & Restaurant; Garrett Byrne, Campagne Restaurant and Oliver Dunne of Bon Appetit.



Beetroot, Red Onion and Feta Salad with Walnuts

This pretty recipe comes from Garrett Byrne, chef-proprietor of our Restaurant of the Year 2010, Campagne, in Kilkenny City. This dish is best served at room temperature.

Serves 4

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Cocido of Lamb

This attractive and economical casserole dish was devised for the Irish Heart Foundation by Roland Lambe of Darndale Community Training Centre, Dublin 17.

Chef’s Tip: If you find when cooking with a tomato based sauce that it is a little bitter, try adding some chunks of carrot during cooking, as it adds a natural sweetness. Alternatively roasted red peppers could be added at the end for extra flavour.

Serves 4

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Grilled Mackerel Fillets with Indian Spiced Potatoes and Raita

Deirdre Connolly of the popular Dublin restaurant, Peploes, on St. Stephen’s Green created this unusual, gently spicy, mackerel starter.

Serves 4

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Spiced Poached Pears in Red Wine with Yoghurt

A colourful and healthy dessert with lots of flavour, from Julie Cox, of Beaufield Mews, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin.

Serves 4

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