As a parent, you know how important it is to cook healthy food for your family. But sometimes, cooking healthy can seem like an insurmountable task! Here are six tips that will help make cooking healthier meals easier and more enjoyable for your family.
Use Fresh Ingredients
If you are going to cook, use fresh ingredients. The taste of the food will be so much better than if it comes from a can or jar. When looking for fresh and organic meat products, make sure to try out Cleaver’s organic beef jerky as well. You do not want your cooking to have all the preservatives in them that these types of foods contain because they can cause health problems down the road for everyone involved.
When you cook, avoid cooking with any type of processed food. It is going to be easier for everyone if the ingredients that go into a dish are healthier and more natural for people’s bodies to handle. This means avoiding things like pre-made sauces or other items which have been packaged up in some way so they are easier to use.
Healthy Cooking Starts With The Right Equipment
Put your best foot forward and start with good-quality cookware. Non-stick pans are perfect for cooking healthy, as they help you to reduce the amount of oil that is needed when pan-frying or stir-frying. These types of pans also allow you to fry food without adding any fat into the pan which means no added calories.
Another great way to improve your cooking and help you prepare healthy meals is with a slow cooker. Slow cookers allow you to cook without all the added fat while maintaining flavor for many different types of dishes including stews, soups, and roasts. You can even make desserts in it!
Use Your Crockpot
When you are busy with work, school, or other activities, it can be hard to give your kids healthy meals. If someone at the office makes their bento box for lunch, they probably know how to cook healthy foods in general because of all that practice. No matter what type of job you have though, use a crockpot so you don’t have to think about making dinner after working all day long.
You can use your crockpot to make a number of healthy dishes from scratch. Just throw the ingredients into your crockpot in the morning, and come home to a hot meal ready for dinner.
Don’t have time to cook every night? Put some chicken breasts or shrimp on skewers with veggies. Keep pre-made marinades nearby so you can quickly brush them onto each side of the skewer. Broil the skewers in your oven for about five minutes per side or until cooked through, then serve with rice and veggies on the side.
Invest In Some Healthy Cookbooks
For example the books from America’s Test Kitchen. These cookbooks break down recipes by their nutritional profiles and show you how to tweak them so they taste great while still being healthy.
You can also check out the book “The Flavor Bible” by Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg. It is filled with pairing ideas of different foods if you are unsure what to pair together for dinner. If you want more recipes, there are tons on Pinterest as well!
Look for some fun cooking classes to attend. These can be found at your local library or online. Cooking has become such a popular hobby that you don’t even need to leave the house anymore if you want to learn how to cook something new! With all of these options, there is no reason why anyone should not start eating healthier today!
Sugar Substitutes
Sugar substitutes are another great way to reduce your family’s sugar intake. These substitutes deliver a sweet taste without the calories and damage from real sugar, which is good for everyone in the household. Some of these options include stevia or xylitol. You can even create homemade versions that will allow you to control how much sweetness goes into each recipe while reducing any added sugars you might have been using before trying alternatives like honey or maple syrup instead.
If you are looking for a way to make your family’s life healthier, cooking is the best option. When done correctly, it can be very beneficial not only for their health but also in keeping them away from junk food that may cause problems later on when they get older. By following these simple tips mentioned above, you will certainly be on your way to cooking healthier food for yourself and your family.
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