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You are here: Home / Food & Health / Best Healthy Cooking Tips

Best Healthy Cooking Tips

December 26, 2012 by Demelza Young

The way you prepare your food is just as important as the food you consume.  While healthy cooking is fairly simple, it does require a little effort.  It takes time to budget weekly meals and to write up a healthy shopping list, but the payoff is well worth it.  It should come as no surprise, then, that healthy cooking also takes time, but it doesn’t have to take any longer than it would for you to drive to McDonald’s, decide what you want to eat, wait in a line, and then drive back home to eat it.  There are ways for you to modify many of your favorite recipes, and often there are already healthier alternatives to them available.  For example, there are many cooking substitutes that can help you cut down on the calories and fat in a recipe.  Here are some other simple, healthy cooking tips:

When cooking light, it is advised that you limit your intake of added fats, sugars and salt and include a plentiful variety of vegetables, fruit, grains, and lean protein such as beans.

In general, when cooking light, it is best to broil, roast, bake, steam, or grill foods instead of frying them; stir-frying with just a little added oil or broth is also a tasty and healthy option.

Steam or bake your vegetables (instead of boiling them) to help retain valuable nutrients. When steaming or sautéing, opt for water or a low-fat, low-sodium vegetable broth.

Add flavor to a dish by using seasonings such as herbs, spices (I love black pepper and Mrs. Dash seasonings), lemon juice or vinegar.  Choose these options instead of butter or extra salt.

Opt for whole-grains instead of refined-grain products.  Brown rice, wheat bran, quinoa and oatmeal are all great choices.  You can substitute whole-wheat flour for up to half of the amount of all-purpose flour called for in a recipe (for example, if the instructions call for 1 cup of flour, try 1/2 cup all-purpose flour and 1/2 cup whole-wheat flour).  I find that white whole wheat flour is often less noticeable than regular whole wheat flour, so you might consider that if you’re trying to feed picky eaters.

Add whole grains or vegetables to meaty dishes.  This creates a more satisfying meal by bulking up the portion size without adding a lot of extra calories.  When it comes to recipes for burgers or meatloaf, for example, you might consider adding mushrooms, pepper, bulgur or brown rice.  Try adding 3/4 to 1 cup cooked grains or diced vegetables for each pound of meat.

Trim the fat off of meats before cooking; poultry such as chicken and turkey may even be prepared without the skin.

Skimming the fat from your soup or chili is another ideal tip for healthy cooking.  It floats to the top of the pot as your dish cools, so skim it off before reheating and eating your meal.

Use nonfat or low-fat milk, yogurt, and cheese in your recipes.  You can also save about 45 calories for each 2-tablespoon serving of sour cream that you replace with nonfat Greek yogurt. Try it in recipes for dips and tacos, or use the yogurt as a thickening agent in a cooked dish.

Reduce the amount of cheese in your recipe, but keep the flavor.  In other words, you can reduce the amount of calories and fat in your recipe but still give it a flavorful impact by using smaller amounts of bold-flavored cheeses like extra-sharp Cheddar, low-sodium feta, or Parmigiano-Reggiano (the rind also adds a great flavor to soups).

Substitute two egg whites for each whole egg in a recipe, to cut down on cholesterol and fat (both of which are only found in the yolk).

Opt for frozen or fresh produce over canned.  Processed or preserved vegetables typically contain a high amount of sodium. If you must buy canned, check for low-sodium options and rinse the vegetables under cold water to reduce the amount of salt added to your dish.

Finally, cook larger batches of food but keep an eye on your portion size.  You can cook once during the week and eat the leftovers over the next few days.  For certain recipes like cookies or waffles, you can freeze a batch and have a ready-made healthy treat for days you are simply too tired to cook.

About Demelza Young

Demelza Young is an alumni of Northern Kentucky University. She currently enjoys volunteering her time in her local community, reviewing online content with her cat, and sharing quality recipes.

Filed Under: Food & Health, Healthy Eating Tagged With: family, health, healthy, healthy recipes, natural food, vegetarian

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Michelle G says

    December 26, 2012 at 12:33 pm

    I’m always on the hunt for better ways to cook. Thank you for sharing:)

  2. Jaime Nicole says

    December 26, 2012 at 12:34 pm

    Great article! I sub canola oil for butter when I cook a lot- this saves tons of fat and calories!

  3. Kelly R says

    December 26, 2012 at 12:46 pm

    Thank you for the wonderful tips…

  4. Joanne says

    December 26, 2012 at 3:22 pm

    Awesome tips! Thanks!!

  5. Wendy @ ABCs and Garden Peas says

    December 26, 2012 at 4:22 pm

    Getting rid of refined grains is one of the best things we’ve ever done!

  6. allie says

    December 26, 2012 at 4:23 pm

    Thanks for the great tips!

  7. Ronni Keller says

    December 26, 2012 at 8:35 pm

    I was just saying I need to start eating better! I can’t believe how much garbage I’ve eaten the last few weeks. Blech!

  8. Elizabeth says

    December 26, 2012 at 11:00 pm

    We avoid refined grains and processed sugars as best we can. When we have dairy, it’s generally organic and full fat though, as we have so little of it. After years of so much fresh produce, the family has come to dislike the taste and texture of canned!

  9. becca says

    December 27, 2012 at 9:15 am

    i’m always looking for healthy ways to cook thank you

  10. Pam says

    December 27, 2012 at 2:00 pm

    I have definitely went the way of whole grains. Love brown rice so much better than white. We do try and grill or broil our meats since we can grill year round. Lots of good tips here. Thank you!

  11. JaShawndra says

    December 27, 2012 at 7:10 pm

    Great Tips 🙂 Thanks for sharing.

  12. Nickida says

    December 27, 2012 at 8:55 pm

    Thanks for all the great tips for healthy eating and cooking.

  13. Debi@TheSpringMount6Pack says

    December 28, 2012 at 12:12 am

    I am doing my best to eat healthier. So new recipes are great.

  14. Motherhood on the Rocks says

    December 28, 2012 at 9:12 am

    I’m always looking for ways to make healthier meals for my family. I haven’t tried cooking/baking with yogurt instead of butter yet, but I’ve been meaning to try. I’ll have to try it soon!

  15. Elizabeth Towns says

    December 29, 2012 at 9:08 pm

    These are great tips I need to put into action. Thanks.

  16. Shan says

    December 31, 2012 at 12:44 am

    Great tips, thanks for sharing!

  17. Maria Iemma says

    June 3, 2013 at 10:34 am

    I appreciate the tips.  This summer I am vowing to eat healthier – with all the fresh fruit and vegetables available during the summer months it should be easier for me to stay full without eating junk.

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