Tips for Healthy Home-Cooking
With the new year well underway, many of us are thinking of ways we can eat healthier. Trading in your home deliveries and dining out for home-cooked meals can be a great way to start your plan to a healthier you.
You do not need to be a culinary chef to create delicious meals for you and your family. With a little knowledge and the right ingredients, you can soon whip up tasty and easy meals at home. This article will help you to develop healthy eating habits which will keep you and your family fed all year long.
Choose Whole Foods
Whole foods are essentially the opposite of processed or packaged foods. They include foods such as fruits, vegetables and any other food that is as close to its natural state as possible. Without a list of added sugars, preservatives or other additives your food will be fresher and healthier. Whole foods have a higher nutritional content, and are a good way of getting a greater amount of antioxidants and fiber into your diet.
Your local farmer’s market can be a great place to find a wide selection of whole foods and, as this produce is sourced locally, it will also have a smaller carbon footprint.
Use Healthy Fats
With all the different cooking oils to choose from it can be challenging to know which to choose. Many oils become unstable and begin to break down when heated, in a process known as oxidation. This can cause the oil to release free radicals which can cause damage to the cells of the body, which may lead to health problems.
This is why you should choose a cooking oil that is still healthy once it is heated. Some options include avocado oil, olive oil, sesame oil and safflower oil.
Cooking Methods
Rather than deep frying or boiling food, there are a whole host of healthy cooking methods you can experiment with. Some of these include steaming, grilling, braising, sautéing, broiling, poaching and roasting.
Add Flavor
Spice up your mealtimes by adding flavor to your food. By stocking your pantry with a selection of herbs and spices you can also sample flavors from different parts of the world. Season your food and experiment with herbs and spices by trying different recipes. Some easy home recipes to get you started can be found at mahatmarice.com.
Not only do herbs and spices taste great, but many of them also have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits that can help your body stay healthy and ward off certain diseases. Studies have found that consuming spicy food can lower your risk of cancer, ischemic heart disease and respiratory diseases.
Flavoring your meals with herbs and spices such as black pepper, basil, turmeric, chili or cinnamon is a great way of giving flavor to your food while lowering your sodium consumption. It can also reduce your reliance on processed sauces and condiments such as soy sauce, ketchup and salad dressings which often contain high levels of fat, sugar and salt.
With these three tips you will be cooking up culinary creations in no time.