Eating healthy can be a struggle, especially if you have no idea where to begin. It seems very easy to cook an instant meal, but even healthy instant meals aren’t always good for your diet. Learning to cook healthy food can be good for your health and your diet. Check out these seven healthy cooking tips that you can try the next time you are in the kitchen.
Cook with Olive Oil
To start cooking healthier meals, use olive oil. This oil tends to be healthier than corn oil or canola oil. Olive oil has omega-3 fatty acids, which are beneficial for your heart and can lower your blood pressure. While olive oil can be more expensive than other oils, it is worth the investment if you are trying to eat healthier.
Use Less Salt
Using less salt can be hard at first, but it can be a great way to start eating and cooking healthier meals. Too much salt can raise your blood pressure and can increase your risk for heart and kidney problems. Instead, try substituting salt for herbs or other naturals seasonings. These herbs and natural seasonings will be better for your health and make your food taste even better than just using salt. For added value and flavor, try growing an herb garden. These gardens are generally easy to maintain and are a great way to ensure that you always have fresh, flavorful, and healthy ingredients when you are cooking.
Meal Plan
After a busy day, having to figure out dinner and cook is probably the last thing you want to do. It is easier to order takeout or fix an instant meal. Neither of these options can be very healthy. To stop these unhealthy eating habits, try meal planning. Meal planning is an excellent way to help you cook healthier. By creating a meal plan, you will know what you will be eating in advance and what ingredients you will need to make the meal. By knowing your meals in advance, you will also be able to prepare parts of your meal in advance, making it easier for you when it comes times to cook.
Bake at Home
If you have a sweet tooth, the desire for sugar and sweet dishes can be hard to resist. Eating desserts and sweet dishes can ruin your diet and your plans to eat healthier. Instead, try baking them yourself. By making your desserts at home, you will be able to substitute some ingredients for healthier ones and can better control the number of sweets that you eat.
Use Low-Fat Products
As a general rule, you should avoid adding fats into your diet and cooking if you are trying to eat healthier. Instead, try using low-fat or reduced-fat products when you are cooking. If you need to use fats or oils when cooking, use a brush to apply it to the pan or food. Applying the oils and fats with a brush will reduce the amount that you put into your meals. Dieticians recommend that you have some fats in your diet, so try substituting fatty snacks with healthier foods that contain natural fats like avocados and nuts.
Substitute Your Pasta
Pasta is a popular dish, but it isn’t the healthiest for you. When cooking at home, substitute your pasta with alternatives like zucchini or squash noodles, eggplant, or cabbage. If these ingredients aren’t available to you, you can always replace regular pasta with whole wheat pasta. These whole wheat or whole grain products are healthier for you to eat.
Use All the Nutrition in Your Ingredients
When you are trying to cook healthier meals, you must use all of the nutrition that is in your ingredients. For example, the skin of most vegetables has a lot of nutritional value. Instead of peeling your vegetables, wash them, and incorporate the whole vegetable into your dishes.
