Football legend and two-time league MVP Kurt Warner knows what it means to make adjustments on the football field to win a game and to make adjustments in his diet to win a battle over high cholesterol.

"My dad had high cholesterol, and I have to believe heredity played a part in me having high cholesterol," said Warner. "When I was first diagnosed, I was playing football — in great shape, working out. I made adjustments to my diet and continued to exercise, but that wasn't enough. My doctor put me on medication as well."

Like becoming one of the top quarterbacks in the nation, the journey wasn't easy. While in college, Warner worked nights stocking shelves at the local Hy-Vee store in Cedar Falls, Iowa, where he attended the University of Northern Iowa. During the day, he attended classes and trained to become a pro football player. The payoff for his determination came 18 months later when, after signing with the St. Louis Rams, his team won the Super Bowl.

"When I was diagnosed, we weren't eating very well — always on the go, fast food, foods that were kid-friendly," said Warner, who has a family of seven children with his wife, Brenda. "Brenda helped us start eating more fruits and vegetables and making healthy choices when we went out to eat."

A family favorite became a Mexican version of the grain quinoa, with beans, chopped tomatoes, onions, cilantro and chipotle seasoning.

"We try to eat low-fat meals — the family likes chicken and turkey — but we also try new vegetables. We play a game at dinner where I fix different vegetables, and we all taste it at the same time and talk about it," said Brenda. "It's opened up our world to new vegetables."

Here is the family's game plan for keeping the family heart-healthy:

1. Sneak in fitness. "I work out six to seven times a week, but not more than an hour at a time," said Kurt. "I'll do a 20-minute bike ride or walk or 15 minutes of cardio after we put the kids to bed, or maybe play basketball for a couple of hours," he said. "I try not to go to bed without doing something, even if it's only for 15 minutes."

2. Make it a family challenge. "We will do pushups or air squats during commercials when we watch TV," said Kurt. "We've also set up an obstacle course in the backyard where we'll race and have fun for 20 minutes. The key is to get in shape and then figure out ways to stay in shape."

3. Be a role model. "Set a good example by being active yourself and showing your family how much fun it can be," he added.

4. Sit down with your doctor, and don't try to do things on your own.

5. Take small steps toward achieving your goal, and stay committed.

Q & A

Q: Are chickpeas, lentils and split peas beneficial in lowering cholesterol?

A: A new analysis in the Canadian Medical Association Journal combined data from 26 randomized clinical trials that compared diets with and without such legumes. It found that one daily serving of these legumes (about 2/3 cup cooked) reduced LDL (bad) cholesterol by 5 percent on average. Rich in fiber and protein, legumes can often replace animal protein. Many observational studies have linked higher intakes of legumes with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.

Information courtesy of the University of California, Berkeley Wellness Letter.

Recipe

Kurt and Brenda Warner share their recipe for Turkey Burger Sliders.

Turkey Burger Sliders

1 pound extra lean (95 percent lean) or 99 percent fat-free ground turkey meat

1/2 cup low-sodium black beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 cup chopped cilantro

3 green onions, finely chopped

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

3/4 teaspoon chili powder

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 avocado cut into slices

2 cups romaine lettuce, shredded

8 grape tomatoes chopped

1/4 red onion, cut into thin slices

Cooking spray

8-10 whole-wheat mini hamburger buns or lettuce wraps, for serving

Preheat oven to 450F. In a large mixing bowl, combine turkey, black beans, cilantro, green onion, garlic powder, cumin and chili powder, and gently fold together by hand. Separate into 8-10 equal size patties. Season with pepper. Heat a medium-sized skillet and coat with cooking spray over medium heat. Place patties in skillet and cover. Cook 3-4 minutes on each side. Place on bun and top with lettuce, tomato, avocado and red onion. Makes 8 to 10 mini sliders.

Charlyn Fargo is a registered dietitian with Hy-Vee in Springfield, Ill. For comments or questions, contact her at charfarg@aol.com or follow her on Twitter @Nutrition Rd. To find out more about Charlyn Fargo and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.