To lower your risk of heart disease, maintain (or lose) weight, and feel energized throughout your day, being health-minded when you cook is essential. These tips will lay out how cooking healthy can be flavorful and delicious—just the way you want it to be.
Flavor Rich Cooking Methods
If you think that cooking healthy means you have to sacrifice flavor or taste, then you’ve got to approach healthy cooking from a whole new angle! The truth is, there are many different ways you can add rich flavor to lean cuts of meat (such as beef) or poultry (like skinless, boneless chicken breast) or even shrimp, cod or salmon, in an easy way. Instead of frying your meat, simply drizzle it with avocado oil, coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil instead. Skip the flour or panko breading, and instead, add some minced garlic, lemon and dill (along with fresh herbs like basil or oregano) to your dish. The meat will soak up the garlic—which will help to enhance the citrus of the lemon.
Limit the ‘Bad’ Fats
Bad fats, which are fats loaded with fried breading or oil clog your arteries, can cause a major dip in your mood and energy –as well as sabotage your weight loss efforts. Instead, try any of the following methods for cooking, and you’ll be able to instantly enjoy food that tastes great and supports a thriving body and mind:
• First, cook your food over the stove or in the oven at a high temperature (for a perfectly moist chicken, cook for 15 minutes at 450 degrees); then cover the chicken in the juices from the pan.
• For a more flavorful taste, cook your meat in chicken broth or coconut milk. Coconut milk is rich in ‘good’ fats, and can add depth to a meal. Simply let it simmer with the vegetables and enjoy! (An easy meal is a curry meat and veggie stir-fry—all you have to do is cook up ground turkey meat, along with diced onion and peppers, and then sauté with coconut milk for 15 minutes.)
• Steam your vegetables. Not only is this one of the healthiest ways to cook your veggies, but it’s one of the best ways to retain the flavors of the vegetables.
Now that you know some ‘tricks of the trade’ for healthy cooking, it’s going to be easier than ever to execute! When you eliminate the bad fats, and replace it with good carbs, fats and protein, you’ll be well on your way to staying slim, looking youthful and feeling your very best—day after day!
