Want to Cook and Eat Healthier? Follow the Simple Secrets!
If you mostly prefer to go to the restaurant, then it is quite difficult for you to eat healthy food.
If you want to have nutritious and well balanced diet, then all you need to do is to learn a bit about the art of cooking. And it is a universal fact that nothing is healthier than a food cooked at home.
According to a study published in the year 2014 in Public Health Nutrition stated that frequently cooked meals by people at home are not only healthier but also consumes fewer calories than those who cook sometimes. According to a study, it is also said that a person who cooked for six to seven nights at home also consumed fewer calories on the occasions when they ate out.
According to a study published in the year 2016 in Georgia Public Health Association concludes that improvement of chronic disease management among the patients and the prevention of obesity among the children can be accomplished by healthy diet and cooking.
Again, in study published in the year 2017 in International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, researchers found that eating home-cooked main meals more frequently was associated with a range of indicators of a healthier diet, and several markers of cardio-metabolic health including adiposity, cholesterol and diabetes risk.
Cooking is a talent that anyone can develop.
To cook healthy, you do not have to make restaurant-style dishes. The simple food you can cook at home can be tasty and filling, too. By eating home-cooked meals, you can benefit from all the essential nutrients and preserve your health and well-being.
Also, cooking can be a fun way to spend quality time with your family members and you get to save a lot of money.
- Shop Wisely
Before you start your own cooking, you need to do some grocery shopping. But remember, you need to buy the right ingredients to make healthy food.
- Shop for seasonal fruits and vegetables.
- Opt for whole-grain food items rather than refined grain products like white flour, white rice, white bread and regular cereals.
- Whenever possible, buy organic products.
- Buy herbs and spices for seasoning.
- Buy low-fat dairy products like skim milk and low-fat yogurts and cheese.
- Buy whole-wheat cereals and oats to fix a quick breakfast.
During the weekends, take a trip to the farmer’s market to shop for local seasonal fruits and vegetables, dairy products and organic grains that are more nutritious and healthy.
Before going to the market, check your pantry and refrigerator and prepare a list of things you need. Stick to your list to resist impulse buying. Also, get in the habit of reading food labels before purchasing anything to help you make the healthiest choices.
- Choose the Right Cookware
For healthy cooking, you need to have the right cookware, too. In fact, using the wrong cookware can be bad for your health.
A study published in the year 2017 in the Science of the Total Environment found that aluminum cookware made from scrap metal in countries around the world poses a serious and previously unrecognized health risk to millions of people. Such cookware releases significant levels of lead, aluminum, arsenic and cadmium into the food being cooked.
It is recommended never to use aluminum as well as painted or decorated pots and pans, as some are made of lead and silver toxic materials. This can lead to severe digestive disorders.
Glass, stainless steel and cast iron cookware are some of the safest options. For instance, cast iron cookware supplies you with iron every time you cook, which can help reduce the risk of anemia, muscle weakness, sleep problems, menstrual pain and many other issues.
