Chefs at Banner Health hospitals have whipped up some delicious recipes to help keep everyone healthy.

Those chefs are sharing some of their favorite heart-healthy recipes, including selections like Apple Blueberry Crisp and Grilled Salmon and Asparagus Salad.

Diet is critical to fighting cardiovascular disease, the number-one killer of Americans. Poor diet can contribute to:

• Blocking of the arteries
• High cholesterol
• Weight gain
• High blood pressure
• High blood glucose levels.

To combat this, experts recommend a diet that is low in total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol and high in fiber.

Banner Health chefs use a variety of insider strategies to make their dishes tasty as well as nutritious and offer these tips:

• Use herbs instead of salt as seasoning and other healthy substitutions.
• Build your meals around low-fat alternatives such as fish, fruits and vegetables.
• Food seared or caramelized will taste better without adding a lot of fat or calories, says Heather Metell, lead chef at Banner Gateway Medical Center. Before coming to Gateway, Metell worked at resorts and catered weddings.
• Roast vegetables in a hot oven to caramelize their natural sugars and bring out their full flavors says Nancy Romanick, clinical nutrition manager at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center.
• Reduce the amount of salt in a recipe by half, and then reduce that amount by half the next time you make it.
• Another simple trick to make food look better: Serve it on an attractive plate rather than paper or plastic. That’s already standard practice at Banner Gateway, Metell said.
• Warm desserts before serving because the heat increase their sweet flavor, according to Romanick.