Struggling To Make Healthy Meals? These Tips Can Help!
Deciding to switch to a healthier diet is a big step, but achieving such a milestone is no easy job. Regardless, there’s no doubt that having a healthy diet has multiple benefits and it is worth the extra effort it may require.
So, if you’re one of those people who have made this life-changing decision but are struggling to go about it, this guide is just for you. We’ll tell you all the tips and tricks to help you make the healthiest meals and keep your diet the way you want it to be.
TIPS FOR MAKING HEALTHY MEALS
Be careful with the measurements
One of the most important things when it comes to making healthy meals is measuring ingredients accurately. So whether you’re adding oil or seasoning your meal with salt, make sure to measure them correctly and carefully. Otherwise, you might end up consuming too much fat or sodium.
Use simple ingredients
Some of us love to season our meals with various sauces and dressings, but this may actually make your meal less healthy. This is because such store-bought seasoning ingredients usually contain refined oils and sugar. Instead, try squeezing a lemon into your meal or experimenting with fresh herbs.
Reduce animal fats
Saturated fats can be very risky for your health. So, to make your meals healthier, reduce the amount of cheese and butter you’re consuming. Try replacing these with olive oil instead, as it is less likely to cause cardiovascular diseases or obesity. As an alternative, you can also try using canola oil as it can reduce cholesterol levels and be a good substitute for butter.
Steam your vegetables
There’s a certain way to cook vegetables to ensure they’re not losing their nutrients. This includes steaming them as doing so is believed to retain the most nutrients. But it also has multiple other benefits. For example, steaming can make your vegetables juicier by adding moisture. All you have to do next is season them with some salt and olive oil and you’re good to go.
Minimize processed foods
A very big step in cooking healthy meals is cooking them yourself with fresh materials so that you know exactly what you’re eating. Processed foods such as frozen meals contain higher levels of sugar and salt, which can undoubtedly be unhealthy. Plus, they also have various additives and preservatives which can be bad for your health.
Cook at low temperatures
Cooking at higher temperatures can form chemicals like HCAs (heterocyclic amines) and PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) on your meat. These are extremely dangerous for your health as they can increase the risk of cancer by causing changes in your DNA. So make sure to cook your meat at low temperatures.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The journey to making your diet healthier by cooking healthy meals is not an easy one, and if you’re on it, you should be proud of yourself. But everyone has different milestones or objectives they want to achieve with their diet, which makes it important for you to customize yours.
For example, you might be looking to shed some extra weight or simply eliminate harmful ingredients from your food. In both scenarios, you will have to cook your meals accordingly. And remember, investing in a healthy cookbook can go a long way.