Let’s all level with each other here, sometimes it can be hard to eat healthy even when we’re devoted to preparing and eating meals at home. Maybe we’re living in two different worlds here, but we for sure get carried away when there are a ton of recipes at our fingertips (we mean that literally because Pinterest) that feature rich, creamy sauces, crispy fried anythings, and layers of sweet goodness within a single dessert. But luckily there are some really simple ways to make mealtime a little healthier, and today we’re sharing our best tips with you. Let’s get started!
Ditch the Cream
(image and low-cal alfredo sauce recipe via: food network)
Well, not entirely, but all those delightfully creamy sauces that call for heavy cream? Switch that ingredient out for low-fat milk. We fully understand that there is a huge difference between heavy cream and low-fat milk, so you will want to add flour to your milk so that it still serves as a thickening agent, but this will knock out some of the unnecessary fats in your dish without sacrificing flavor.
Cook Seasonally
We like to think of this as a fun cooking challenge. Do a little research and see what produce is simply thriving during the current season and try to incorporate them into your dishes. If you live somewhere that has a farmers market at any point during the year, this is a great resource to get locally grown fresh produce. Cooking seasonally also ensures you don’t fall into a rut of cooking the same thing over and over.
Opt for Less Oil and Butter
(image via: cooking classy)
We aren’t saying rule it out completely, but finding that sweet spot of how much you actually need vs. how much the recipe calls for will make your meals a little healthier, and we promise, you won’t even notice.
Healthy Convenience Foods Are a Must
We all have those foods hiding in our freezers, pantries, or cabinets that are for those nights when we just don’t feel like cooking, yet everyone is insisting on eating, so the next time you’re stocking up on these convenience items, opt for healthy foods. This way when the time comes you won’t throw a frozen pizza or two in the oven, instead, maybe you’ll have chicken burrito bowls from Trader Joe’s! (Big helpful hint: Trader Joe’s is THE place to stock up on healthier frozen foods!)
Baked Not Fried
(image via: spend with pennies)
We love fried food as much as the next person, but we don’t even have to get into why it’s not good for you. Bake it instead. You really don’t sacrifice flavor, it can still be crispy, and your whole house won’t smell like fried foods and we call that a big win!
Sneak in Those Veggies
We’re big fans of sauteeing up our favorite vegetables and adding them to just about everything! We mean it too, marinara sauce, stir fry, roasted potatoes, on top of burgers, chili, fajitas!