You don't have to go on a gluten-free or organic diet in order to make more health conscious choices. By simply switching a few cooking techniques you can easily make your food healthier without having to sacrifice any flavor. No one wants to eat cardboard and with these easy techniques you won't have to in order to live a healthier lifestyle.
Cook with oils low in saturated fats, trans fats and cholesterol.
Oil can add a lot of flavor to dressings and food, but they come with a steep price. At 120 calories per tablespoon, use oil sparingly and only opt for oils that are low in saturated fats, trans fats and cholesterol. These oils include canola oil, corn oil, olive oil, sesame oil, soybean oil and sunflower oil.
Look for red meats and pork cuts that use the words “loin” or “round.”
Red meat and pork cuts using the words "loin" or "round" tend to be less fatty than other varieties.
Opt for broiling or grilling.
Grilling is the perfect way to serve meat in the summer. You can also wrap vegetables in foil and place them on the grill as well. Both broiling and grilling expose food to direct heat which causes the fat to drip off.
Dry mustard adds the right amount of zest.
Sometimes your food just needs that extra kick and dry mustard adds the right amount of zest. You can also mix dry mustard with water for a zesty condiment.
Avoid using packaged seasonings.
Packaged seasonings usually contain a lot of unnecessary salt. Instead, use fresh herbs whenever possible.
Make the switch to egg whites.
When a dish calls for eggs, use egg whites instead. Egg whites have 0 fat and 5 grams of protein per 3 tablespoons. To substitute egg whites for eggs, use two egg whites per every egg called for in the recipe.
Baking isn’t just for breads and desserts.
You can actually bake just about anything you'd like. Baking doesn't require you to add fat to the food, so you save on those unwanted calories. From poultry to fish to fruits and vegetables, you can save a lot of calories by simply baking your food.
When choosing your beef, look for “choice” or “select.”
Choice or select grades of beef tend to have less fat than prime grades. Also, be sure to trim that fat off the edges of your beef.
Vinegar and citrus juices are excellent flavor enhancers.
Vinegar and citrus juices play up the already yummy flavors of the foods you add them to. But make sure to add them at the last moment. Vinegar is good on vegetables and citrus juice is great on fruit and fish.
Steam food for an easy cooking method.
Steaming is one of the easiest techniques. All you do is place the food in a perforated basket above a simmering liquid. If you add seasonings or other flavors to the water, it will also flavor your food.
Always choose white meat when it comes to chicken.
The white meat on chicken is a lot leaner and healthier than its fatty counterpart, dark meat. Also be sure to remove the skin for an even healthier piece of meat.
Use non-fat cooking sprays whenever possible.
You'll save a lot of calories and even more fat by opting for non-fat cooking sprays. There are many flavors of cooking sprays that will still make your food taste just as good.
Add dried herbs for flavor without fat.
Adding dried herbs will give your food the flavor and color it's missing. Plus it won't add any unwanted salt or fat.
Stock up on healthy cookbooks.
While Pinterest may be your go-to spot for recipes, stock up on healthy cookbooks and recipes so you have a hard copy on hand. This makes planning meals a lot easier.
If cheese is your guilty pleasure, opt for lower fat versions.
Many cheese products have reduced fat or fat free options. Choose these instead of the full fat varieties to cut back on calories.
