Cooking Tips For a Healthy Life
Rebecca Gerard
idea of cooking. Yet another category exists that cook just because
they have to. Whether or not you enjoy cooking, it is important that
you cook right whenever you do. Considering the rise in the number of
health disorders associated with obesity, Americans are waking to the
fact that making right food choices is critical for good health.
Healthy eating does not mean consuming the right kind of foods but
also ensuring that they are cooked in the right manner. Most people
avoid eating fast food and switch over to homemade food to eat right
and stay healthy. However, eating homemade food is of no use, if you
do not know the basics of healthy cooking. Read on to know invaluable
cooking tips that can improve your health and the overall well being
of your family.
Go for organic food - The best way to cook healthy is choose organic
foods, vegetables, and fruits that are rich in antioxidants and also
free from pesticide residues unlike their non-organically grown
counterparts.
Cooking with the right oil - The kind of oil you use as well as its
quantity will have a direct impact on your waistline. You may go for
healthier versions like olive oil and canola oil, though olive oil
should be avoided for frying foods, as its smoke point is just about
190C/375F.
Also make it a point to drain excess oil in fried foods using paper
towels so that you can restrict your calorie intake. Cook using
nonstick pans, as it not only makes the task of cooking much faster
and easier but also helps you in minimizing your fat intake.
Utilize the right cooking method - The methods of cooking you choose
is as important as the ingredients that go into the food. Frying
should be avoided as much as possible and should be replaced with
broiling, grilling, braising, and steaming methods that facilitate in
retaining the nutritional value of the food while keeping excess fat
at bay. Boiling vegetables can rob them of their nutrients and should
therefore be steamed instead.
Replace high-calorie ingredients - When trying out a new recipe, look
for options for certain ingredients to get rid of excess calories. For
instance, a certain recipe may allow you to use yogurt or milk instead
of cream so that you can reduce your fat intake without compromising
on the taste.
Cook meat at right temperatures - Failing to cook meat at the right
temperature may give rise to bacteria that cause a number of food-
borne diseases. You need to cook meat at 160'F, poultry at 165'F and
steaks and roasts at a minimum of 45'F. If you need to reheat
leftovers, make sure that you heat till the time sauces and gravy
start boiling.
Sean Carl
Thanks for the wonderful tips! healthy cooking is very important
along with taste. Taste is important but we can't ignore health.
--
Sean Carl
steven_nospam at Yahoo! Canada
> However, eating homemade food is of no use, if you
> do not know the basics of healthy cooking. Read on to know invaluable
> cooking tips that can improve your health and the overall well being
> of your family.
> Go for organic food - The best way to cook healthy is choose organic
> foods, vegetables, and fruits that are rich in antioxidants and also
> free from pesticide residues unlike their non-organically grown
> counterparts.
I don't disagree with the article in its entirety because it brings up
pretty much sage advice. My only contention is with regards to telling
people that the best way to cook is to choose "organic" food.
Organic produce is certainly a big hit with people nervous about the
extra chemicals that may be present in traditional fruits and
vegetables, and people are going for meats without growth hormones,
etc. I would never dissuade someone who chooses to eat only organic
food. That is theirchoice. But claiming it is the best way to cook is
stretching things a bit.
First, there are various studies that have shown that organic food is
not necessarily any better than traditional produce. The most recent
one was published this week and is available on Yahoo! and various
news websites. I found it here:
http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2009/07/30/organic-food.html
Second, there have been published reports in the past that organic
foods are often grown (in the case of meat, "raised") within range of
non-organic items on the same farms. Chemicals leech into the fields
and the groundwater, and are subsequently sprayed and absorbed into
products labelled as "organic" because it is the methods used to grow
that food, not the actual chemical content of the food that makes it
classified organic.
I would therefore state that the best way to cook healthy is to choose
FRESH fruits and vegetables (organic or regular), and cook them in a
way that they retain the majority of their nutritional value. Avoid
the conveniently packaged frozen vegetables that come with sauces or
pasta, which you just heat in the microwave and serve! Salt and fat
content warnings should be going off!
And speaking of sauces, one item for healthier eating that was not
mentioned was to cut down on the creamy sauces and toppings added to
meals. Having steamed green beans that have been tossed in a
tablespoon of heated olive oil and minced garlic, or in a pureed
tomato sauce, are much better for you then pouring a white cream or
butter sauce over top the whole meal!
steven_nospam at Yahoo! Canada
<steven_nos...@yahoo.ca> wrote:
> And speaking of sauces, one item for healthier eating that was not
> mentioned was to cut down on the creamy sauces and toppings added to
> meals.
My bad.... the article posted actually did discuss replacing high-
calorie items. Perhaps I was just getting worked up, but that does go
a long way to reduce calories, and improve nutritional content.
;-)