Healthy Cooking Tips
A big part of being healthy is making sure you're eating healthy. According to the American Heart Association, eating healthy is more than just choosing good foods. It's also about cooking food in a healthy way. Both are vital parts to making sure your body is getting the proper vitamins and nutrients it needs on a daily basis.
AT THE STORE
You can't cook healthy food if you don't choose the right kind of food, and that starts at the grocery store. Pick fresh, unprocessed food as much as possible. Choose lean cuts of protein such as chicken breast and seafood before beef. If your recipe calls for beef, choose the leanest cut possible. Cuts that are labeled "loin" or "round" are the most lean, according to the New York state Department of Health. Choose fresh vegetables rather than those out of a can. Canned foods many times contain excess sodium and other preservatives. Pay attention to food labels at the store before you put an item in your cart. Shoot for items that are low in overall fat, saturated fat and calories.
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IN THE KITCHEN
Rather than boiling those fresh vegetables you've just picked out---which washes out most of the nutrients and vitamins---try steaming or stir-frying them instead, according to the American Heart Association. Even if you're cooking with lean cuts of meat, trim as much fat off as possible before throwing it on the grill or in the oven. Coating meat and fish with breadcrumbs and baking is a great alternative to frying. You'll get the same crunchy texture without all the fatty oil. When cooking ground beef, rinse and drain the meat after it's been cooked and before the next step in the recipe. This will drain off much of the excess fat. Cook up a large batch of healthy meals and store leftovers in the freezer. This will make it easier to eat more healthy meals throughout the week.
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SUBSTITUTIONS
There are many alternatives you can find for classic cooking ingredients, such as substituting low-fat versions of dairy products such as milk, cream cheese, yogurt and sour cream in your recipes. They will taste virtually the same with less fat, saturated fat and calories. The same goes for things like pastas and bread. Rather than going for white bread or pasta, which is low in fiber and other nutrients, try for whole grain. Most classic carbs such as bread, pasta, oatmeal, cornmeal and flour have whole grain alternatives to help you increase your fiber intake.
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Steaming and stirfrying vegetables helps in retaining their minerals and vitamins rather than boiling.