Easy Ways to Cook Healthier
By Sara Butler
Healthy cooking often gets shoved to the backburner due to lack of time or lack of motivation. Even if your life is busy, it’s possible to bring healthy meals to your table each day. The key is finding simple strategies to make it work. Here are three easy ways you can make cooking healthier without investing a ton of time!
Shop Smarter
Shopping at your local farmer’s market or food co-op is a great way to get the best price for the best stuff. It’s fun to be inspired by the food you serve, and when you buy fresh produce at its peak, you want to eat it all the time! Think how good juicy red strawberries are in summer or how lovely squash is in the fall. Prepare food that’s a feast for your eyes as well as your mouth by shopping local and choosing wisely.
Get Prep Help
If you lived in a perfect world, you’d have all the time you needed to cook delicious and healthy meals at home. But you know that’s not how reality works! The truth of the matter is you have to find healthy shortcuts to help make life easier -- and luckily, there are several you can utilize.
Fresh or frozen pre-cut vegetables are a great time-saver in the kitchen. So are low-sodium beans and soup stock so you can whip up chili or soup in a jiffy. You may also want to consider a meal delivery kit to help you save time. Local grocery stores are even carrying their own meal kits now -- so give them a try and have a healthy and satisfying dinner on your table in less than 30 minutes!
Forget the Fat
One way to make sure what you’re cooking at home is healthy is to use less of the oils and fats you’re used to in order to build flavor. There are more ways to cook than simply sautéing something and they’ll save you calories too.
Try poaching your meat to lock in moisture or simmer foods such as stews or soups that have a lot of depth. Explore other cooking techniques that can help you save calories for something else in your day!
You don't need to be an expert to cook healthy at home. Simply make sure to understand the basics and you'll be cooking well in no time!
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