How to Cook Healthy Meals for a Healthier Body

Are you looking for ways to have a healthier body?

Some say that eating healthy starts by prepping and cooking meals using the freshest ingredients you can find.

There are simply a lot of ways for you to cook healthier meals and this starts from choosing the freshest ingredients to use, spending the time to prepare the meal, and cooking using the right amount of ingredients and condiments as well as the right cookware.

Cooking healthy is important for many reasons. It is essential for both physical and mental health, especially when you get the right amount and set of nutrients that your body needs.

If you are working out , a healthy meal will boost your body towards your goals. Cooking and eating healthy is also best to keep your body and immune system strong against various diseases.

If you don't know where to start, here are cooking tips to help you reach your goal of getting a healthier body.

[tweet_box design="box_8"]Cooking healthy is important for many reasons. It is essential for both physical and mental health, especially when you get the right amount and set of nutrients that your body needs.[/tweet_box]

Shop for Healthier Ingredients

A good diet is one of the critical factors that make a workout more effective. No matter how hard your work out, if you fail to eat clean and eat right - then it will all be for naught. Avoid processed meats, chips, crisps, and other fast food. So, take the time to cook!

Cooking healthy food that is best for your body starts from shopping and choosing the right ingredients to create healthy meals. Spend enough time looking for fresh produce from farms or farm-to-market stores.

If that isn't possible, be smart when choosing ingredients at grocery stores. Instead of picking whatever meat is available in the market, be careful to choose only fresh and lean meat cuts. Organic produce like vegetables is an excellent choice since it doesn't contain any traces of pesticide and other harmful chemicals.

Avoid Fat When Cooking

According to this study , even when substituting butter with "healthy" veggie oil, it doesn't lower the risk of coronary heart disease. As such, it will be healthier to steer clear of any excess fat when cooking, and that includes butter.

If you need to use oil when cooking, try using oil misters or sprays or using a pastry brush to oil the pan. This way, you avoid putting in too much oil than necessary. You can also try using monounsaturated fats like canola and olive oil, which are much healthier than other options.

Cut Down on Salt

How tasty would a dish be without salt, the common condiment to add flavor? However, too much salt in the diet can cause a lot of health problems, so it is best to cut down on salt whenever possible.

If you need to use salt when cooking, use it sparingly and opt for iodized salt. You can also try Himalayan salt which health experts claim is the healthiest salt in the market.

Use Fresh Herbs Instead

Skip the artificial seasonings you can get from the market and opt for fresh herbs. Aside from being colorful and flavorful, herbs are rich in phytoestrogens that help in protecting the body from cancer and helping promote heart health. It also helps prevent osteoporosis and relives uncomfortable hot flashes.

Garlic and ginger are especially best for adding to stir-fry recipes. Plus, both are known powerful natural antibiotics. You can buy them fresh from stores and if there's anything left you haven't used; you can plant it in your backyard.

If there's not enough space, put it in a small pot and place it at your kitchen's window. That way, you get fresh herbs whenever you need right at your home.

Other herbs that you can easily grow at home include rosemary, basil, thyme, and parsley.

Prepare Your Ingredients the Right Way to Avoid Nutrient Losses

Even if you choose healthy ingredients, if you fail to prepare them properly, they lose their natural nutrients and minerals. Nutritious food, such as vegetables, herbs, and fruits, are delicate and can be easily destroyed during meal preparation.

If you are going to boil vegetables, use only a small amount of water and make sure not to overcook them. Instead of boiling them, you can also steam the veggies or put them in the oven. Stir-fry cooking is also best for retaining the crunch of vegetables and maximizes the nutritional value you can get from food.

[tweet_box design="box_8"]Even if you choose healthy ingredients, if you fail to prepare them properly, they lose their natural nutrients and minerals. [/tweet_box]

Use Clean and Safe Cookware

Using appropriate cookware is necessary for food safety. According to the American Cancer Society , pans coated with Perfluorooctanoic Acid of PFOA produce fumes that when heated at a certain temperature cause tumors and other health problems.

So, opt for the best ceramic cookware when cooking since it is not PFOA coated, which means it won't produce harmful and toxic fumes.

Practice Healthy Cooking Methods

The cooking methods you use also determine how healthy your dishes will be. For instance, if you always deep fry food, chances are there'll be lots of oil in your meals, and that wouldn't be healthy at all.

Practicing healthier cooking methods will help you create equally healthy dishes. Such methods include steaming, braising, and grilling. Also, you can try removing the fat from meat or taking away chicken's skin to remove excess fat.

Stir-frying is also better than deep frying. Aside from it needing less fat or oil, which means your meals will be full of vegetable nutrients.

Spend Time in Preparing Your Food

Meal preparation is essential if you want to eat healthily. With enough time, you can shop for healthy and fresh ingredients and whip up a sumptuous and nutrient-filled dishes. Without the time to prepare a meal, you are more likely to just get on with whatever is available in the kitchen or order take-out and ready-made meals from the store.

Conclusion

Cooking food for a healthier body is easier said than done. There are factors you have to consider like getting healthy recipes, choosing the ingredients that are free of any harmful chemicals and pesticides, and actually spending the time to prepare and cook meals.

However, with these cooking tips, you can now confidently prepare and whip up the healthiest recipes any time of the day.

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Author Bio: Edna Oneal

I’m Edna Oneal, the founder of Kitchen Aim , where I share my cooking tips and wonderful recipes. To me, cooking is a wonderful chance of creative, fun and fulfilling activity.