Healthy cooking is not always easy, especially when you don’t have much time and are in a hurry to prepare something fast and tasty. It is absolutely clear that nutrition is important for our health. The key to healthy life and great physical form may be hidden even in the smallest detail, so you should be careful and choose your cooking methods wisely.
And still, healthy cooking does not mean that you have to become a chef or a master of complicated cooking techniques. Use standard cooking methods in order to prepare the meals for you and your family in a healthy and safe way. In addition, healthy cooking is not difficult at all, but it is related to reconsidering your cooking habits. One of the most important changes you can do both for you and your family is to learn how to prepare your meals with little or no oil at all. Once you get used to cooking techniques that exclude using fats, healthy eating will easily become a part of your lifestyle.
Healthy cooking tips connected to food preparation
- When buying some food for a longer period of time, always check the manufacture date and the expiry date on the package. Use fresh red meat from three to five days after you bought them, or freeze them immediately after you bought them.
- Fresh poultry and fish should be cooked within two days after you purchased them. Another thing you can do is freeze them immediately. When buying some foods cans, always check their caps. Do not buy food in cans or jars with chipped or bent caps.
- Defrost meat and fish in the refrigerator and not on the kitchen counter or in the microwave oven in order to protect it from germs. However, remember that frozen vegetables should be placed in hot water without defrosting them first.
- Remove all visible fat from meat before cooking and try draining all the oil and fat after cooking. When it comes to soups, casseroles and sauces, this becomes easier once the food has gone cool.
- Before preparing the food, do not forget to wash your hands with soap and water. Always rinse all fruits and vegetables thoroughly, and peel their skin or remove their upper leaves if any. You should also wash your knives and cutting boards every time you used them, especially after you have cut raw meat.
Healthy cooking methods
When cooking, choose the temperature that will preserve all the beneficial ingredients of your food. Most healthy cooking methods and techniques reduce or completely exclude the use of any fats in the overall cooking process, which means that you can choose from baking, grilling, roasting on coals, boiling, steaming and some other methods that will not only guarantee great results but will also make your food healthier.
Healthy cooking tips that you can use when preparing your meals at home
- Boil the vegetables by placing them in boiling and lightly salted water, and remember to always put the lid in order to reduce the destruction of vitamins. Since most vitamins pass in the water when boiling, it is recommendable to boil them in minimum amount of water for a short period of time.
- Use pots and utensils with non-stick coating in order to avoid the need of adding any oil or butter.
- Cook all animal products long enough in order to destroy the microorganisms in these products more easily.
- Try cooking with less salt. This is recommendable especially when you have high blood pressure and other health issues.
- Use herbs and spices. This will not only make the food more delicious, but will also help you lead a healthier lifestyle, because many herbs and spices actually have a therapeutic effect.
Matt Stone loves to write on topics about health and healthy foods. He currently works as a manager a TenancyClean North London.
