What does a cardiologist, a doctor who specializes in the heart, eat on the regular?
Dr. Renato Apolito, a board-certified physician in interventional cardiology and cardiovascular disease who has been seeing patients for more than 20 years, said eating well and maximizing nutritional value of meals is important for maintaining a healthy weight and optimizing heart and overall heath.
"Managing your weight will lead to lower incidences of hypertension, diabetes, sleep apnea and all of its associated comorbidities," Apolito, who is also the director of cardiac catheterization at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center, told USA TODAY.
So, what does he eat in a day?
What a cardiologist eats for every meal
- Breakfast. Organic, low-fat milk paired with egg whites. "I find this to be high in protein and quite satisfying in the morning, after I work out," he said. "It's quick and easy, doesn't take up much of my morning and doesn't wind up causing any type of postprandial hypoglycemia that I previously experienced when I used to eat a more carbohydrate-based breakfast." Postprandial hypoglycemia is a condition where blood sugar drops after eating. Plus, his breakfast is completely whole food and non-processed, he added.
- Lunch. Something protein-rich like pork loin or chicken breast paired with as many vegetables as possible. The latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends at least three servings of vegetables a day.
- Dinner. Green vegetables and lean protein or an occasional pasta. "By dinner time, I'm usually less hungry, but typically I will cook for myself and again favor green vegetables with lean protein," he said. "I can’t help but occasionally make a good wholesome pasta dish with vegetables or a protein. My parents are from Italy, so I can’t abandon my roots!"
- Snacks/dessert. Treats include dark chocolate, dark chocolate-covered almonds and dried fruit with ricotta or honey, which Apolito said satisfies him "as much as any candy bar." "I also enjoy high-quality ice cream," he said, but makes sure the ingredients are whole and simple. "It's OK to cheat occasionally, just be mindful about it," he added, pointing to negative health impacts of processed products that are high in added sugar and salt.
What makes a diet heart healthy?
To help lower LDL, or "bad," cholesterol for a healthy heart, eating leafy greens, colorful vegetables and fruit rich in fiber is helpful, Apolito explained.
"Aim for a variety − spinach, broccoli, berries, carrots − and remember, the greener, the better," he said. "Eating whole food (and) lean proteins is much better than eating processed meats like bacon, sausage and deli meats, which are particularly high in sodium and preservatives linked to heart disease."
Unfortunately, living in a society "surrounded and inundated by unhealthy processed food that are advertised ubiquitously and incessantly" makes things more difficult, Apolito acknowledged, but said his motto for patients is: “If you can pick it or you can kill it, you can eat it.”
"It is essentially a farmer's diet and will lead to you eating more whole foods that are seasonal and local," he said.
While nutrition experts agree that whole foods are best, access and affordability is a major factor when it comes to what Americans decide to eat.
More than half of the calories consumed at home by both adults and children in the U.S. come from ultra-processed foods, or UPFs, according to a 2025 analysis from the National Center for Health Statistics.
The latest Dietary Guidelines also recommend avoiding highly processed "packaged, prepared, ready-to-eat, or other foods that are salty or sweet." This includes products like chips, cookies and candy that have added sugars and salt.
While Apolito finds whole foods "as satisfying as any fast or processed food," he understands we all "need a treat occasionally."
