If you don’t feel as though you are as healthy as you could be, then this guide will help you to make the right changes. it’s easier than you think to make home-cooked meals healthier with just a few changes. If you want to find out more, then simply take a look below.
Shop both Fresh and Frozen
Shopping fresh at a local supermarket may be ideal if you need seasonal vegetables and fresh meat, but you should never discount the frozen section. Sometimes people look at frozen food as being unhealthy, but this is not the case at all.
Frozen vegetables or even frozen seafood are all good options, and they are just as nutritious as well. You may even find that they are convenient and far less expensive when compared to other options.
Dark leafy greens are rich in antioxidants and are nutritionally dense too. Cruciferous vegetables, such as cauliflower, cabbage, and even broccoli are all known to support the natural detoxification process of the body and they can also help to lower inflammation as well.
Stock your Pantry
Being prepared will really help you out when it comes to making healthy food. There’s no time like the present for you to get creative with your options. Try and fill your pantry with dry staples, such as lentils, dry beans, chia seeds, quinoa, pasta, and more. This will give you a very quick meal option if you find that you are running low on groceries. You can save a lot of money by shopping in bulk and online too.
As well as considering healthy grains and seeds, you also need to think about shelf staple almond and coconut milk and things like nut butter, tahini, and coconut flour. If you have things like this, then you can whip up a quick meal in no time at all. Simply add your vegetables as well as a protein of your choosing.
When you do this, you will soon find that you have a meal that is both filling and flavorful. You also have pasta and vegetable meals always on hand, if you want to really boost your vegetable intake.
Pay attention to Oils
Olive oil is the most studied when it comes to health benefits. It’s also a very good choice if you want to be healthier. Olive oil, especially olive oil high in polyphenols is an anti-inflammatory, and it is also very high in antioxidants as well. If you want to cook at low heat then this is ideal, as it has a higher smoke point when compared to extra virgin olive oil.
If you intend to cook at a high temperature, then consider using avocado oil. This is full of oleic acid and it will add a great flavor to your meals. If you cook on the stove a lot, then choosing healthier oils will make a huge difference to your health.
Season Well
Don’t use store-bought dressings or even sauces. These are usually full of refined oils, high fructose corn syrup, and a lot of sugar as well. If possible you need to try and use simple ingredients in your kitchen if you want to pack some extra flavor into your meals.
If you have a fresh green salad, then you may want to add some lemon juice over the top. This will give you an additional boost of Vitamin C and it will also help to pack some more flavor into your meals. If you want to add more flavor, then why not look into cilantro as well as parsley? Herbs like this can offer you detoxification benefits while also giving you additional digestive benefits.
Steam or Stir-Fry
Steaming is considered to be the healthiest way for you to cook up vegetables. It is also ideal for making sure that they contain the most nutrients possible. If you want to help yourself then it is ideal to make sure that you do not over-steam them. If you do, then you may find that they go from being crisp and tender to mush. If you want to counteract any blandness, then consider adding some olive oil and then salt to the equation.
This is also a great strategy if you want to cook seafood because it will keep it nice and juicy and it will also help it to retain the most nutrients. Simply cook your seafood en papillote if you want to do it another way. When you do this, you will wrap it in a parchment tent. You can also add lemon slices if you want to flavor it even more. Things like this will help you to ensure that you end up with a very flavorful dish that will truly not let you down.
Focus on Healthy Fats
Fats are a part of your diet, so it’s vital that you choose the right ones. You also need to make sure that you consume them in moderation if you can. Fats that spark inflammation will detract from your health and this usually comes from refined vegetable oils. If you can minimize things like this then you will soon find that you can get the best result out of your healthy eating routine.
Good sources of fat can include chia seeds, nuts, avocados, and eggs. You also have olive oils, coconut oil, and avocado oil too. Fatty fish, including salmon, trout, and even sardines are also ideal. They provide energy as well as a bodily function, so you won’t have anything to worry about there.
Fiber and Gut Health
A diet that is high in fiber is great if you want to keep your digestive system nice and balanced. It also helps to keep your body functioning as it should. Eating vegetables and high-fiber grains is a very important part of the equation.
Probiotics and supplements can also help to diversify the number of bacteria that are in your gut microbiome. There are also many superfoods out there that you can use to help yourself, this can include acai berries and fresh ginger root.
As you can see cooking healthier doesn’t have to be hard and it may even save you some money on your grocery bill but cutting down on waste and shopping in bulk. It will definitely make your family healthier.
