The American Heart Association has issued a call for companies and individuals to participate in National Start! Eating Healthy Day on Wednesday.

This new event is aiming to raise awareness for the importance of good nutrition and making the best eating decisions to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Individuals can participate in National Start! Eating Healthy Day by bringing your lunch to work so you can control what you eat and save money in the process, finding a healthy recipe and preparing it for your family or friends, and stopping at the grocery store to stock up on healthy snacks and food items.

A healthy diet and lifestyle are your best weapons to fight cardiovascular disease. It's not as hard as you may think. Remember, it's the overall pattern of your choices that counts.

Make the simple steps below part of your life for long-term benefits to your health and your heart:

- Use up at least as many calories as you take in. Start by knowing how many calories you should be eating and drinking to maintain your weight. Don't eat more calories than you know you can burn up every day. Increase the amount and intensity of your physical activity to match the number of calories you take in.

- Eat a variety of nutritious foods from all the food groups. Nutrient-rich foods have vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutrients but are lower in calories. To get the nutrients you need, choose foods like vegetables, fruits, whole-grain products and fat-free or low-fat dairy products most often.

- Eat less of the nutrient-poor foods. Limit foods and beverages high in calories but low in nutrients, and limit intake of saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol and sodium. Read labels carefully - the Nutrition Facts panel will tell you how much of those nutrients each food or beverage contains.

- Choose lean meats and poultry without skin and prepare them without added saturated and trans fat.

Start! Eating Healthy Day activities for companies can range from serving only healthy foods in the cafeteria, turning off the vending machines for the day or switching out the items in them for healthier ones, passing out green apples at a company meeting, or having a healthy pot luck luncheon in the office during the lunch hour.

Companies can take the time to focus on wellness - and help take a giant step towards healthier nutrition and healthy lifestyles. Worksite wellness programs are a proven strategy to prevent the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Start! is the American Heart Association's movement to get Americans physically active by walking more and eating less.

For more information and to gain access to free tools that will help you lead a healthier life, visit www.startwalkingnow.org.