• March 31, 2022

simple kitchen

These days, who has time to come home and cook a four course meal? We need good old fashioned simple cooking, and with all the studies telling us that living on fast food is killing us and increasing our weight, our cholesterol levels and shortening our life expectancy, we already know we shouldn’t. Don’t make dinner plans in the drive-thru line!

Not to mention, some of us “home cooks” often feel like we have to cook something prepackaged because we don’t have time to cook all those healthy foods the experts tell us we need, right? Or do we feel that we are not such good cooks? Isn’t there a way we can make simple cooking at home with healthy ingredients, without feeling overwhelmed? Here are some easy steps to get you on the right path to healthier eating and learn how to be a great cook along the way:

* Plan ahead for nights when you already know you’ll be late or busy by keeping a few “ready-to-go” items in the freezer: veggies (for a quick boil), ravioli (you can boil and top with spaghetti sauce and add a salad (out of the bag)… Or you can have your healthy meals pre-made and then in the freezer in personal portions for later.

* Keep “staple” staples in the pantry and “on hand.” Like whole wheat/whole grain pasta or rice, canned vegetables, beans, soups, etc. It could at least be a “go to” when you’re in a hurry and would be a healthy side dish or main course to keep you off the phone and making that pizza delivery call.

* Keep an easy-to-follow cookbook on hand. Many of these cookbooks will offer quick and easy meals for simple cooking that will already use healthier ingredients. Or you can find a recipe you like and easily substitute one or two of the ingredients for something healthier. Like swapping butter for a cholesterol-free spread, swapping vegetable oil for used safflower oil, whole wheat pasta instead of standard, etc.

* Stock your fridge and pantry with “healthier alternatives.” You can usually find on websites or other searches what equivalent or healthier substitutions would be for standard ingredients like vegetable oil, butter, sugar, etc. and if you already have them on hand, you’ll use them anyway.

*A rule of thumb for me has been what I was taught as a child… You have to have color on your plate. Try to have the largest portion on your plate of vegetables (probably the ones you already had prepared for this unplanned dinner)… and the smallest portion of meats, proteins, and complex carbohydrates. Also, vegetables cook much faster than meats or breads.

* Keep fruit on hand for snacks or desserts… They’re already naturally sweet, healthier than that chocolate cheesecake we’ve all been thinking we’ll want, and real fast.

These are just some tips to cook in a simple way and try to eat better. Just remember, have healthy foods automatically stocked in your fridge, freezer, and pantry, so those are the items available to you in no time. These foods should fit into your busy life and be simple. Try to make sure you throw those items in your shopping cart, instead of those unhealthy snacks we always want to grab in a hurry. And don’t get overwhelmed with how to cook healthier, because there’s help to get you started, even if it’s just making a healthier shopping list to get you started… Low-fat or fat-free dairy, plus fruits and “smart” vegetables and fats. One last way to get you on the right track… smaller portions.

These were just a few examples of quick and easy ways to cook and eat healthier, even in a hurry. Don’t be intimidated, do these little things a little more at a time and make it a habit and a rule.
Make conscious eating decisions instead of grabbing what’s most convenient. Make sure it’s something delicious so you can enjoy eating it and feel better about the changes.

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